Emotional Support Animal and the College Program

[PennyLou]

Hello all,

I guess I'm just looking for a little advice. I'm hoping to do the college program for the fall and I have an emotional support dog, She is a chihuahua. She is also legitimately an emotional support animal i know people had dogs they carry around with bows and dresses and stuff Pippy was prescribed to me to help me cope with the saver depression I deal with. She makes me get out of bed and the house when I normally wouldn't when I've having real lows, she knows to distract me from things when I need it and she also can find my medication if I need it and its in my bag in a different room.

I'm worried if I get in there is going to be a problem even though I have the Dr notes and she has a vest there is going to a problem because she is classified as a emotional support animal and that word is kind of thrown around a lot.

I emailed them to ask about it before I applied and they said if I get in (which I'm still waiting to hear about, but really hope I do!) I would have to fill out paper work and see if she's excepted or find other housing. But when you are on the college program you get paid less then normal people and I'm not sure I can afford other housing.

I don't know, I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or words of wisdom.

I know I'm worring about all this and I haven't even gotten into the program yet I could get an email telling me I'm not being excpeted but if I am excepted I only have a few weeks to deal with it becase would start in May.

 

[SueM in MN]

Emotional Support animals are in a gray area - some people consider them Service Dogs, but they are not considered the under the law as Service Dogs.

In order to be considered a Service Dog, your dog would need to have been individually trained to do some task that mitigates your disability. Being a suppport or calming you just by petting the animal is not enough under the law; the dog needs to have been trained to provide service or work that you are not able to do because of your disability.
This thread has some links and explanations that may help.

If your dog meets those criteria, then it can be considered a Service Dog, not an Emotional Support. If it is a Service Dog, then you have legal protections under the ADA that you do not with an Emotional Support Dog.

 

[PennyLou]

yes I head read threw that thread a few weeks ago and I guess that left me feeling more confused about her. My Dr has classified her as an emotional support animal as I said to help me with the depression part of my type 2 bipolar disorder but she is trained to do the things I listed above, i.e.: find my meds, make sure I get out of bed in general and on time when I need it to be and she is trained to distract me if I go to hurt myself, which is part of my depression and only happens normally now when my meds need to be tweaked but is important. So I guess thats how its grey for me even she is trained to do things that are important but I don't' know other then the making sure I get up in the morning if its "things I can't do with out her for a job"

but then I guess she's more along the lines of emotional because I don't bring her to work or school general because once Im out and around people I do ok but when I'm home and not around people I have the biggest problems. really not having her with me and mvie away from my family, friends and Dr isn't really an option I'm just worried about if I'll find housing I can aford, but if I get in will I not get to go becase of all of this.. I have a big issue with stress to if you can't tell.

again I'm worring about all this and watch me not get in.

 

[dclfun]

Sue is correct. An emotional support animal is not the same as a service animal and they are not legally allowed public access in places where pets are not allowed. An ESD though is typically allowed in housing, but then you would likely have an issue in bringing your dog on property while you'd be working your shifts as he/she would have a "pet" status vs. a working dog status. A Dr's letter actually means nothing in terms of ADA law nor does the presence of a vest. Service dogs are not prescribed, even if your Dr. "prescribed" your ESD. You must be disabled as defined by the ADA, as the dog actually has no rights-it's the person with a qualified disability who has the right to be accompanied by a SD ( again, not an ESD). Also think how you would deal with your work location and your dog. If you have an outdoor shift, it gets very hot in Florida and you would also be outdoors in the rain, which happens almost daily in the summer. Where will the dog sit/stay while you are working, esp. if you are moving about in crowds of guests and will he/she be safe? People*will* try and pet your dog and you will not be allowed special accommodations to give water or food to the dog, rest in the shade, etc. You can use only your breaks and lunch period to feed your dog or take him/her to a relief area, even if they did accept an emotional support animal, which is very doubtful. I don't mean to sound harsh as I'm sure you are helped by the presence of your dog, but law is law, and I'm also concerned about the dog's safety and comfort, esp. if you receive an outdoor role in the theme parks which is highly likely with the College Program.---Kathy

 

[Cheshire Figment]

In addition to what Kathy said, you will have a problem with housing. As College Program you will be sharing a bedroom with someone. In addition, you will be sharing the apartment with an additional two, four or even six people depending on if you are in a two, three or four bedroom apartment. There are no one bedroom apartments and having a roommate is basically required.

 

[PennyLou]

there are one bed room apts (in chatham and Patterson) And I know I will have to share with someone. I know all about the program except for if they will let me live with my ESD who as I said just needs to live with me.
in NYC where I live now ESA are coved by the law that they have to be aloud to live in no pet housing and she has to be aloud to fly with me (not in a carrier).

and like I said in my seocnd post I don't bring her to work or school here but she is benifceal to my mential and then physical heath when I am home/not doing other things, its when I don't have other things to focues on or when I'm not on the mannic side that have issues that she helps me deal with.

But I guess I'll just have to see if I get in what they ends up happening.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I may be wrong, but it sounds to me like Pippy is acting as a service dog, rather than an ESA. To qualify as a SD, you must be classed as disabled under the ADA (talk to your doc on this one), and the dog must do tasks or work to help mitigate your disability. Tasks for a PTSD can include alerting to panic attacks; retrieving medications; getting help; finding an exit or person when you're disorientated or having visual problems; providing tactile contact or deep pressure to ground you during disassociative periods; and much more besides. There are one or two PTSD partnerships on here, who will hopefully come along and give you more information than I can.

A SD should also be impecebly trained, and able to continue working in a wide range of conditions. This would be particularly important for a CM, as Disney can be a challenge for even the most hardened of SD, and you would not be able to stop your work to correct your SD's behaviour. As others have said, you would have to carry out all care tasks (exercising, feeding, giving water, toileting, etc) during your breaks, as you wouldn't be able to leave your post while on duty.

I know that there are a few permanent CMs who have SDs, so I know that Disney can accomodate them in the working environment. I seem to remember there being a character handler with a SD who hangs around here sometimes, but she may have moved or left since then. If Pippy is a SD (rather than an ESA), they may be able to place you in a job working in an indoor or shaded environment, to help you manage your disability.

That was just a bit of food for thought, though please don't take my word as Gospel. I don't yet have a SD, and I live in the UK, where the laws are rather different (all SDs over here have to be certified by a recognised school), so please talk to the experts before calling her a SD.

Good luck with the CP, and do let us know how things go!

 

[dclfun]

Indeed ESD's are allowed in housing where pets are not allowed, so as long as you aren't bringing the dog to work or classes ( in public places where pets are not allowed) you shouldn't have a problem. As you are legally allowed to have the dog in housing, then it's your right vs. your roommates being able to deny you the ability to have your ESD in the apartment. I'd think they'd work to find you a roommate(s) who aren't allergic or fearful. You are also correct that ESD's who are documented as such are able to fly inside the plane w/o being in a carrier. For the dog's safety it must remain on the floor. I hope you get accepted to the CP and have a good experience. Disney values diversity, which includes those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. ---Kathy

 

[livndisney]

Indeed ESD's are allowed in housing where pets are not allowed, so as long as you aren't bringing the dog to work or classes ( in public places where pets are not allowed) you shouldn't have a problem. As you are legally allowed to have the dog in housing, then it's your right vs. your roommates being able to deny you the ability to have your ESD in the apartment. I'd think they'd work to find you a roommate(s) who aren't allergic or fearful. You are also correct that ESD's who are documented as such are able to fly inside the plane w/o being in a carrier. For the dog's safety it must remain on the floor. I hope you get accepted to the CP and have a good experience. Disney values diversity, which includes those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. ---Kathy

Considering that it appears the OP is "auditioning", I don't know how Disney will handle THAT much diversity and stay true to the "character".

 

[PennyLou]

Considering that it appears the OP is "auditioning", I don't know how Disney will handle THAT much diversity and stay true to the "character".

I'm actually already a character seasonaly, I'm hoping to do the program for school credit and so I get FT hrs) I don't need to bring her to work as I said I just need her when I am alone at home and dealing with things. I just need her to live with me, nothing to do with the job.

thank you Kathy. I'm glad its also the law down there, I hope its not a big fight but I'm kind of ready for one. I've actually been talking to a girl online who is very dog friendly who is going to be doing merch as a CP so if I get in I'm going to try and room with her becase I know that wont be a problem.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I hope you get accepted to the CP and have a good experience. Disney values diversity, which includes those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. ---Kathy

I've seen them find ways to make an actress's powerchair look at home on the streets of Agreba, and I've met plenty of non-character CMs with different challenges and disabilities.

I'm actually already a character seasonaly, I'm hoping to do the program for school credit and so I get FT hrs) I don't need to bring her to work as I said I just need her when I am alone at home and dealing with things. I just need her to live with me, nothing to do with the job.

thank you Kathy. I'm glad its also the law down there, I hope its not a big fight but I'm kind of ready for one. I've actually been talking to a girl online who is very dog friendly who is going to be doing merch as a CP so if I get in I'm going to try and room with her becase I know that wont be a problem.

Ahh, sorry, my brain was fuzzy when I posted earlier! As Kathy said, an ESA is allowed to live with their human partner, even in places where pets are not permitted. I'm sure Disney will be able to put you with people who would love to live with a dog. There may even be other people on the CP who have SDs or ESAs.

Good luck!