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West Virginia University REHABILITATION COUNSELING. Best Practices Employment and Service Dogs: Perspectives from Assistance Dog Experts. JAN Webcast. Margaret K. Glenn, EdD, CRC Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling, Switzer Fellow West Virginia University
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West Virginia University REHABILITATION COUNSELING Best Practices Employment and Service Dogs: Perspectives from Assistance Dog Experts JAN Webcast Margaret K. Glenn, EdD, CRC Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling, Switzer Fellow West Virginia University Marcie Davis, President of Davis Innovations, Inc. Founder of International Assistance Dog Week, Author of “Working Like Dogs: The Assistance Dog Guidebook,” Host of the Working Like Dogs radio show
Definition What is a service dog?
Service Dog Definition under the ADA A dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
Definition What types of service do service dogs provide?
Examples of tasks: • Guiding people who are blind; • Alerting people who are deaf; • Providing physical assistance to someone who uses a wheelchair such as retrieving dropped items or pulling a wheelchair; • Protecting a person who is having a seizure; • Reminding a person with mental disabilities to take prescribed medications; • Calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder during an anxiety attack, etc. Definition
I help to: • Lower blood pressure, • reduce epinephrine and norepinephrine, • reduce anxiety, • increase endorphins, • increase oxytocin. • What's your superpower? • INSERT SUPER POWER DOG SHOT HERE neurochemicals connection with others physical & psychological pain blood pressure Service DogSuper Powers
Increased confidence • Decreased health concerns • Increased independence • Increased social interactions What this looks like for the person with a disability
Healthy work relationships • Modification of tension • Productivity increases • “Winston’s naked!” What might this look like at work?
ADAAccess Where are service dogs allowed?
ADAAccess ADA Title II and III - State and local governments, businesses, & nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
Service Dogs and the ADA Does Title I of the ADA require employers to automatically allow employees with disabilities to bring their service animals to work?
Rests on the standard of reasonable accommodation Service Dogs and the ADA
What are some of the questions an employer can ask an employee or applicant about their service dog? What kind of documentation can employers ask for? Service Dogs and the ADA:Questions from employers
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? • Accommodation documentation • Allows for medical needs & • What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? • Specifics about training Service Dogs and the ADA :Main questions for the employment arena
Allergies • Fear of dogs • Disruption in the workplace • Etiquette Service Dogs and the ADA :Potential concerns in Accommodation
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal unless: • The dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it or • The dog is not housebroken. • Undue hardship is determined by employer. ADA Title II and Title III - Must offer the person with a disability the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal’s presence Service Dogs and the ADA:Disruption
Service Dogs and the ADA:What you will most likely experience
Service Dogs at Work How do you create a successful partnership in the workplace? What issues should you anticipate and be prepared to address?
Exploratory Study of Elements of Successful Service Dog Partnerships in the Workplace • Categories • Dog preparation • Monitoring • Employee competence • Legal knowledge • Information and education • Coworker preparation • Switzer Distinguished Research Fellowship, National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research • 27 Medications • Force hospitalizations So how do we make it work at work?
Dog Preparation Maintenance of behavior and task completion is expected of the service dog team. AKA - Training a Dane to ride in a plane
Monitoring Every owner is responsible for his/her dog’s behavior (and well-being).
Feeding • Bathing • Behavior • Vet Care • Creating boundaries (physical and social) • Walking dog • Rest breaks for dog during the day Employee Competence Able to articulate the specific job related or supportive task(s) that will include the service dog.
An informed understanding by employer & employee or applicant of the parameters, including limits, regarding the person with disabilities' legal rights, both state & federal, to the use of service dogs in the workplace. Legal Knowledge
Information & Education Availability of educational materials about service dog teams in the workplace for potential employers & job seekers
Service Dogs at Work How can an employer and the employee prepare for a service dog to come to work?
Communication is key Addressing it as an accommodation Talking to the employee about his/her individual needs is important Think of the service dog as an assistive device & A new coworker! Service Dogs at Work: Remember
JAN Resources on Service Animals http://askjan.org/topics/servanim.htm www.workinglikedogs.com www.assistancedogweek.org www.servicedogsintheworkplace.com Glenn, M. (2013). Exploratory study of the elements of successful service dog partnerships in the workplace, ISRN Rehabilitation, Vol. 2013,http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/278025 Questions?Resources
Hearts of Gold Service Dogs Human Animal Bond Org & WVU Morgantown, WV Gander the Service Dog Operation Fetch with Veteran Traveler http://veterantraveler.com/fetch-travels-gander/ Sir Thomas Parkinson Service Dog http://www.limyoga.com/service_dog_parkinsons/ Rethy - http://www.respectthevest.com Parker Pup Therapy Dog - http://www.parkerpup.com We would like to thank our rock star canine models
West Virginia University REHABILITATION COUNSELING Questions?Contact information: Margaret Glenn, EdD 304.293.2276 MKGlenn@mail.wvu.edu Marcie Davis 505-424-6631 davisinnovates@gmail.com