Americans with Disabilities Act Core Letter

July 3, 1997

The Honorable Vernon J. Ehlers

Member, U.S. House of Representatives

166 Federal Building

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Dear Congressman Ehlers:

This letter is in response to your inquiry on behalf of your constituent, xxxxxxxxxxxxx, regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Mr. xxx is training a service dog for his son and is concerned that the dog has been prohibited from certain facilities, including his place of employment. Mr. xxx suggests that service animals in training who are accompanied by their trainer should be allowed the same privileges as service animals who are accompanied by people with disabilities. Please excuse our delay in responding.

Section 36.302 of the Department of Justice regulation implementing title III of the ADA states that a public accommodation must modify policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability. The ADA does not specifically require such modifications for persons who are training service animals. Thus, the facilities that have barred Mr. xxx from entering with his service dog-in-training have not violated the ADA.

I hope this information is useful to you in responding to your constituent.