5-Steps to Welcome Students with Service Animals to Residential Communities on Campus

Jacqueline WilsonUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County07/13/2012

History Early use of service animals to treat patients at

York Retreat in England in 1790s** Early use in US in 1919 at St. Elizabeth’s hospital

in Washington D.C.* *According to “Warm and Fuzzy”, Destination

Hyatt, Volume 11/2012. HCP/Aboard Publishing. Miami, FL. p 25

**James Serpell. In the Company of Animals. Basil Blackwell Ltd. New York, NY. 1986. p 76

Step 1 – Partnerships with Stakeholders

Finding common ground Ways to share information Shared customer service model Goal to provide a unified front Stakeholders included Orientation,

Residential Life, Admissions, Student Support Services, Dining and Campus Police

Step 2 – Buy-in From Families

First message at Orientation UMBC provides state-of-the-art service Supports a diverse range of disability needs Provides transparency of process Provides framework for families to make an

informed decision about attending UMBC Enlisted our pilot student to help us shape a

student and family-friendly process!

Step 3 - One-Stop-Shop

Student Support Services – primary office

Tailored and timely response to family Residential Life provides paperwork and

guidelines for living in residential community

Student only needs to make request to one office for decision

Step 4 – Creating Welcoming Communities

Service Animal Etiquette Roommate screening Roommate Agreement Residential Community awareness Follow-up and feedback from

roommates and community

Step 5 – Follow-up and Continuing Conversations

Feedback solicited from students with service animals

Troubleshooting any roommate or community concerns

Student driven on campus support network for students with service animals

Students with service animals impacting experience for future students

Additional Resources & Questions

AHEAD – Association on Higher Education and Disability www.ahead.org

http://ADA-One.com – Irene Bowen http://ada.osu.edu – L. Scott Lissner http://www.iaadp.org/doj-def-comments-Title-II-III-SA.html

- International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP)

http://www.iaadp.org/iaadp-minimum-training-standards-for-public-access.html - Minimum training standards per IAADP

www.ksds.org – Service Animal Center ACUHO-I discussions of best practices via LinkedIn Jackie Wilson at UMBC jawilson@umbc.edu Your legal office on campus Your disability student support office