SERVICE ANIMALS: A PRIMER
If you have a child with a mental, physical, emotional or other impairment, a service animal could provide a number of benefits that add to their quality of life. Since 2010, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has had updated rules and regulations to accommodate the contributions of service animals.
What service animals are trained for
According to the ADA, service animals have specific training to help humans who have “a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” Depending on the owner’s unique needs, the training prepares the animal to perform a wide range of tasks. These may include:
guiding people with visual impairment
alerting people with hearing loss to dangers
summoning help for a person in distress
disrupting someone who is self-harming or behaving impulsively
providing physical balance or stability
calming a person suffering from trauma or anxiety
This description might remind you of the mid-20th century TV character Lassie. But what sets service animals apart from a trusted and beloved family pet is, basically, training. And they receive a lot of it—far beyond sitting, staying, heeling, and the “obedience training” people give their pets. To understand the role of today’s highly-trained service animals, imagine the prototype: seeing-eye dogs. Focused, reliable even in a stressful situation, and deeply bonded with their assigned human.
How a service animal can help a child with special needs
Beyond the fact that most kids naturally love animals in general, service animals can help in a number of specific ways. For example:
If a child has issues with emotional or behavior regulation, a service animal can model how and when to behave appropriately.
If a child has mobility problems, they can help the child manage transfers, retrieve hard-to-reach objects, or avoid collisions. Some service animals can even help pull a wheelchair.
If a child has visual, cognitive or auditory impairment, they can help the child navigate their world more safely and independently.
If a child is having a medical emergency, like a seizure, they can summon help by alerting others.
If a child lacks social or communication skills, they can respond to commands and react predictably.
The child gains a sense of self-esteem and accomplishment by taking responsibility for the animal’s care and well-being (by feeding, playing, walking).
The ADA is careful to distinguish service animals from other kinds of domesticated animals. They’re legally different from emotional support animals (available with a doctor’s prescription, sometimes seen in “no-pets-allowed” spaces); therapy animals (often seen in nursing homes and rehab or other facilities to provide comfort and connection) and household pets.
Technically, a service animal is considered “medical equipment.” The vast majority of service animals are dogs, though some are members of other species. At Hope Haven, the Discovery School allows service animals on campus if needed by the student.
Is a service animal a good choice for your child?
Not all children with disabilities are good candidates for a service animal. Some issues to explore:
Eligibility: Not all children with special needs qualify for a service animal. Generally, the child must have a disability that limits their ability to perform one or more activities of daily living (ADL) without help. These include self-care activities like brushing teeth, skin and hair care, bathing, dressing, etc.
Age: the child should be old enough (about 12 or older) to work with and care for the animal. If younger children are present, they should be comfortable with the animal without confusing it with a family pet.
Training: Just as service animals are highly trained, the child may also need to undergo training in the proper ways to manage and care for their new partner.
Space: the living environment should be able to accommodate the service animal and its needs. A home inspection may also be required.
Commitment: Bringing a service animal into the family is a long-term commitment. Though highly trained, the animal has emotional needs of its own that will require consistent attention from the child and other family members.
Accommodation: Under ADA rules, service animals must be allowed to travel with their assigned human, including inside spaces where other animals are forbidden or discouraged. Schools, offices, theatres and other facilities should be alerted in advance.
Cost: The cost of a fully-trained service dog maxes out at about $20,000. Fortunately, numerous nonprofit organizations and programs exist to help defray the cost.
If you think a service animal is right for your child, your first step should be to ask the child’s primary care physician, who can guide your family on ways to start the application process.