As per recent changes to accessibility legislation in both Canada and the USA pertaining to rights of public access to owners with service animals, we want to open a discussion here to explore and identify how well your staff is prepared to address these sample accessibility questions around service animal access:
- Under which scenario can an employee ask a person with a service animal for identification to confirm rightful ownership and certified status of the animal being used for assistance?
- Does your staff know how to distinguish a personal pet from a service animal being brought on to your premises?
- How will your staff react to a person entering your premises with a service animal that is not the typical seeing eye guide dog but rather providing assistance to a non-visible disability such as seizure or diabetes support response?
- What types of service animal identification cards or documentation is your staff familiar with and ready to accept as official identification for rightful ownership and confiming the service animal is certified?
- Does your staff know what information they are verifying on the documentation being presented?
- Do your employees know how to respond to a situation when identification presented by a person has been issued in a different country, state, province or new training facility where the employee is unfamiliar with the issuer or the authenticity of the information presented?
- Does your staff know how to spot inaccurate or fake identification which a person might be using to gain public access with their pet rather than a certified service animal?
- What instructions has your business given to staff to ensure accessibility laws are respected while protecting the safety and needs of your other customers?
- How will your staff respond to a situation where a person insists on entering with an exotic breed of an animal (e.g., reptile) claiming that they have medical documentation that the animal is being used for a unique medical condition or a disability?
- Does your staff know how to properly approach a customer accompanied by a service animal? Includiing staff knowing what questions not to ask the person with the service animal?
- Was your staff trained on appropriate conduct and approach around service animals at your facility?
- Is your staff trained about different species and breeds of service animals different from a guide dog such as in Canada where Cappuchin Monkeys and Miniature Guide Horses are used for assistance for different disabilities?
- Does your place of business know under which limited circumstances access can be denied to a specific location to any person with or without a service animal?
- What liability insurance coverage has your business sought to protect against actionable discrimination complaints when a staff member denies public access to your premises to a person with a disability using a service animal for assistance?
- Does your business carry liability insurance coverage in the event a customer claims a service animal harmed them while on your premises?
The issue of providing public access to owners and their certified service animals is an important matter in today's society to ensure businesses become accessible and inclusive to every customer regardless of their abilities. At CRTASA work in collaboration with many businesses across Canada and the USA to help them be recognized as Accessibility Corporate Champions.
- Under which scenario can an employee ask a person with a service animal for identification to confirm rightful ownership and certified status of the animal being used for assistance?
- Does your staff know how to distinguish a personal pet from a service animal being brought on to your premises?
- How will your staff react to a person entering your premises with a service animal that is not the typical seeing eye guide dog but rather providing assistance to a non-visible disability such as seizure or diabetes support response?
- What types of service animal identification cards or documentation is your staff familiar with and ready to accept as official identification for rightful ownership and confiming the service animal is certified?
- Does your staff know what information they are verifying on the documentation being presented?
- Do your employees know how to respond to a situation when identification presented by a person has been issued in a different country, state, province or new training facility where the employee is unfamiliar with the issuer or the authenticity of the information presented?
- Does your staff know how to spot inaccurate or fake identification which a person might be using to gain public access with their pet rather than a certified service animal?
- What instructions has your business given to staff to ensure accessibility laws are respected while protecting the safety and needs of your other customers?
- How will your staff respond to a situation where a person insists on entering with an exotic breed of an animal (e.g., reptile) claiming that they have medical documentation that the animal is being used for a unique medical condition or a disability?
- Does your staff know how to properly approach a customer accompanied by a service animal? Includiing staff knowing what questions not to ask the person with the service animal?
- Was your staff trained on appropriate conduct and approach around service animals at your facility?
- Is your staff trained about different species and breeds of service animals different from a guide dog such as in Canada where Cappuchin Monkeys and Miniature Guide Horses are used for assistance for different disabilities?
- Does your place of business know under which limited circumstances access can be denied to a specific location to any person with or without a service animal?
- What liability insurance coverage has your business sought to protect against actionable discrimination complaints when a staff member denies public access to your premises to a person with a disability using a service animal for assistance?
- Does your business carry liability insurance coverage in the event a customer claims a service animal harmed them while on your premises?
The issue of providing public access to owners and their certified service animals is an important matter in today's society to ensure businesses become accessible and inclusive to every customer regardless of their abilities. At CRTASA work in collaboration with many businesses across Canada and the USA to help them be recognized as Accessibility Corporate Champions.
At CRTASA - our professional training coaches work with businesses and retailers alike to educate their staff about the use of the new official CRTASA Photo ID Card issued to certified service animals in both Canada and the USA. We also teach employees how to successfully accommodate the needs of every customer - not just because it is the law but because it is the right thing to do!
For more information on the CRTASA accessibility staff training program please contact us today!
For more information on the CRTASA accessibility staff training program please contact us today!
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