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Harper College is committed to compliance with state and federal laws regarding individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities may be accompanied by their service animals on Harper College’s main campus and its satellite and extension locations where members of the public or participants in services, programs or activities are allowed to go. By law, a service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals. In some cases, Harper College may permit miniature horses on campus on a case-by-case basis, consistent with applicable law.
Federal law does not require the individual to provide documentation that an animal has been trained as a service animal. Federal law does not require that the animal wear any type of vest or badge indicating that it is a service animal. Federal law does not prohibit any particular breed of dog from being a service animal.
Where it is not readily apparent that an animal is a service animal, Harper College may ask if the animal is required because of a disability, as well as what work or task the animal has been trained to perform.
The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability. Examples of such tasks include, but are not limited to: assisting an individual with low vision with navigation; alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or objects; pulling a person's wheelchair; or providing assistance with stability or balance to an individual with a mobility disability.
Dogs who sole function is to perform as an emotional support animal are not considered as service animals. Emotional support animals are not allowed at Harper College.
Harper College may exclude a service animal from campus if its behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or when its presence fundamentally alters the nature of a program or activity. Furthermore, Harper College may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the classroom or campus if the animal is disruptive or out of control and the individual does not take effective action to control it; or if the animal is not housebroken.
Harper College is not responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal. Individuals with disabilities are responsible for the control of their service animals at all times and must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including vaccination, licensure, animal health and leash laws. A service animal shall be restrained with a harness, leash, or other tether, unless an individual’s disability precludes the use of a restraint or if the restraint would interfere with the service animal's safe, effective performance of work or tasks. If a service animal is not tethered, it must be otherwise under the individual’s control, whether by voice control, signals, or other effective means.
Individuals are responsible for ensuring the immediate cleanup, and proper disposal of all animal waste. Although the Harper College may not charge an individual with a disability a service animal surcharge, it may impose charges for damages caused by a service animal.
Any inquires regarding the use of service animal at Harper College: please contact Access and Disability Services at ads@harpercollege.edu or 847.925.6266.
Document last updated: 2/2/24
Template credit: Disability Resources Office, Northern Arizona University
