All citizens, including the approximately 1 in 10 individuals in Illinois
with disabilities, are entitled to free and equal participation in society.
To ensure these rights, I have made it a priority to enforce state and federal laws that guarantee that people with disabilities have equal access to all public accommodations.
The information in this pamphlet identifies the legal obligations of
businesses to provide access to people aided by service animals, which
often provide the eyes, ears, strength, or balance necessary for a person with disabilities to perform common, everyday tasks.
If you have any additional questions or would like to file a complaint,
please call my office’s Disability Rights Bureau at one of the numbers
listed on the bottom of this pamphlet.
Lisa Madigan
Illinois Attorney General
Service Animals & The Law
The ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any
dog* individually trained to provide assistance to a person with a disability An animal fitting this description is considered a service animal under the ADA regardless of whether the animal is certified by a particular entity or wearing identifying markers. Service animals help people with disabilities perform tasks for which theyneed assistance. Most of us are familiar with guide dogs used by people who are blind or have visual impairments. However, service animals also help people with a variety of other disabilities.
Examples include:
• Alerting deaf or hard of hearingindividuals to sounds;
• Carrying and picking up objects for individuals with mobility impairments;
• Providing balance assistance for individuals with mobility impairments;
and
• Alerting individuals to oncoming seizures.
Service Animals vs. Pets
Some service animals wear special collars, harnesses, or capes. Some are
licensed or certified by training entities and have identification papers. Special identification and certification, however, are not required by the ADA.
How the Law Affects Your Business
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people
with disabilities by places of public accommodation, such as restaurants,
hotels, retail stores, theaters, parks, concert halls, and sports venues.
These businesses must allow people with disabilities to bring their service
animals onto the premises and into all areas where the public is generally
allowed. Businesses may not demand identification cards or make unnecessary
inquiries about an individual’s disability under any circumstances, including when a person is accompanied by a service animal.
Illinois Law
Under the Illinois Guide Dog Access Act and the Illinois White Cane Law,
a person who has a visual impairment, hearing impairment, or physical
disability and is accompanied by a qualifying service dog is guaranteed
the right of entry to and use of all public accommodations.
All citizens, including the approximately 1 in 10 individuals in Illinois
with disabilities, are entitled to free and equal participation in society.
To ensure these rights, I have made it a priority to enforce state and federal laws that guarantee that people with disabilities have equal access to all public accommodations. The information in this pamphlet
identifies the legal obligations of businesses to provide access to people
aided by service animals, which often provide the eyes, ears, strength,
or balance necessary for a person with disabilities to perform common,
everyday tasks. If you have any additional questions or would like to file a complaint, please call my office’s Disability Rights Bureau at one of the numbers listed on the back of this pamphlet.
Lisa Madigan
Illinois Attorney General
A Message from
ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL
LISA MADIGAN
Violation of the Guide Dog Access Act is a
Class C misdemeanor.
Violation of the White Cane Law is a Class
A misdemeanor.
Q&A
This material is available in alternate format upon request from;
LISA MADIGAN
ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL
CHICAGO
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 814-5684
TTY: (800) 964-3013
SPRINGFIELD
500 South Second Street
Springfield, Illinois 62706
(217) 524-2660
DISABILITY RIGHTS BUREAU
www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov
What can I say to an individual with a service animal who comes into my business?
You may ask whether the animal is a service animal and inquire as to what
tasks the service animal has been trained to perform. You may not, however
require identification documents for the animal or ask about the person’s
disability.
Who is entitled to use a service animal under the ADA?
The ADA does not limit the type of disability one must have in order to use
a service animal. It only requires a link between the task the animal performs and the person with a disability. In other words, the animal must be individually trained to work for the benefit of the person with a disability.
Is there any limitations Are or conditions that I can place on the use of a service animal in my establishment?
No. Neither a deposit nor a surcharge may be required as a condition of allowing the service animal to accompany the individual. The service animal may not be segregated or excluded from areas of the facility open to the public. Further, you may not ask the individual to remove the service animal from the premises, unless: (1) the presence of the animal fundamentally alters the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations
of your business or (2) the animal poses a direct threat to the health
or safety of others.
What if I have a "no pets" policy that applies to all persons who enter my establishment? Do I still have to admit a service animal?
Yes. The ADA requires that you modify your policy to allow use of a service animal by a person with a disability. A service animal is not a pet; it is a working animal.
Are there any services that I have to provide for service animals while they are in my business or public facility?
No. The owner of the service animal is solely responsible for its care and supervision. You are not required to provide care, food, or a special location for the animal.
What can I do if I have a dispute or experience a violation of the ADA or state law?
Complaints can be filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice, or by contacting
the Disability Rights Bureau at the Office of the Attorney General.
A complaint alleging a violation of the White Cane Law or the Guide Dog
Access Act should be filed with your county state’s attorney.
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Service dogs are an innovative way to physically assist people with disabilities, they are also instrumental in removing many of the barriers faced by the disabled in today's society.
YouTube Uploaded by The Reeve Foundation on Oct 26, 2010
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