Beth,

Whenever there's an ADA question, I like to defer to my ADA regional center,
one of the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers. There's one
for every region in the United States and its territories. In this case, I
contacted the Mid-Atlantic DBTAC. Here is the director's response below.

Carol Boyer
Project Associate
RESNA Technical Assistance Project
1700 N. Moore Street, Suite 1540
Arlington, VA 22209
703/524-6686, x- 309 (V)
703/524-6639 (TTY)
703/524-6630 (Fax)
[log in to unmask]
http://www.resna.org/taproject

-----Original Message-----
From: Marian Vessels [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 7:27 AM
To: Carol Boyer
Subject: Re: FW: inquiry about guide-dog-puppies-in-training at work

Carol,

The ADA does not cover the training of assistance dogs. There have been
state
laws that cover them, Md has one that allows a trainer to bring the trainee
dog
into places of public accommodation.
Hope this is helpful.
Marian

Carol Boyer wrote:

> Marian,
>
> Are there ADA policies in place for people training service animals to
bring
> them into their workplace for socialization?
>
> About the #800 info request: I got the info I needed from Robin. Hope your
> back is doing okay.
>
> Carol
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beth Eisenhood [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 10:48 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: inquiry about guide-dog-puppies-in-training at work
>
> Hello All:
>         I'm a reference librarian at a state talking book and braille
> library
> (formerly known as 'the library for the blind'). I'm interested in
becoming
> a guide-dog-puppy raiser, a year's commitment in giving the puppy basic
> socializing before it's returned to Guide Dogs for in-depth training. The
> only way I would consider this is if I could bring the dog to work with me
> (it's not much socializing to leave it at home every day!). I work 4 days
a
> week. I have asked the human resources dept in our library system if this
> would be feasible, and they don't quite know how to respond since no one
has
> ever proposed such a thing before. It is not as though I 'need' the dog
for
> my own well-being.
>         I would like to know if anyone works for an agency where this has
> been
> allowed, and any and all experiences; or, if anyone knows of regulations
or
> guidelines covering such a case. Thank you in advance for any assistance.
>         Elizabeth Eisenhood
>         Seattle, WA.

--

Marian Vessels
ADA Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region
1 800 949-4232 v/tty