If you are disabled, you may often feel alone. That’s a normal feeling. It’s understandable to feel that those who aren’t struggling with a disability don’t understand the challenges and difficulties you face on a daily basis. If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder if having an emotional support animal would be helpful. After all, emotional support animals can be a source of love, help, and support, which can make a tremendous difference when you’re disabled. Let’s take a closer look at what the law says about disabilities and emotional support animals.
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal is an animal that provides emotional and mental support and companionship to those who have certain disabilities or conditions. Unlike service animals, emotional support animals do not have specific duties and are not trained to help with certain tasks.
Service animals, like seeing-eye dogs or dogs trained to alert for those who have cardiovascular conditions, are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA does not cover emotional support animals, and the range of conditions for which they can be used is more varied and flexible.
As a general rule, if you have a condition for which additional emotional and mental support would be helpful, you may seek the assistance of an emotional support animal. Some of those conditions include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Attention deficit disorders
- Depression
- Autism
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Bi-Polar Disorder
- A variety of other mental and emotional conditions
Those who seek the assistance of an emotional support animal for these conditions often find that they experience an increase in confidence and a decrease in anxiety.
How Do You Obtain an Emotional Support Animal?
As we have discussed, if you are struggling with a mental or emotional disability, you can pursue obtaining an emotional support animal. Again, unlike the case with an ADA-approved service animal, the range of conditions for which an emotional support animal can be obtained is more varied, and the process of obtaining certification is more straightforward.
The first step in certifying an emotional support animal is meeting with a licensed mental health provider. That provider can issue an emotional support animal letter, which states that you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and your animal is providing the benefits of emotional support and companionship.
Although an ESA letter is the only proof you’ll need to establish that the animal is an emotional support animal, it is helpful to know the rules for an emotional support animal in different situations. Some of those situations include:
- Housing: Those with emotional support animals should know that the Fair Housing Act mandates properties to allow emotional support animals, even when they might not otherwise allow pets. To assert this privilege, it will be essential to have documentation of your pet’s certification as an emotional support animal. It is also important that the letter be issued within one year of the time you are attempting to seek housing with your emotional support animal. You will also want the letter to contain your mental health provider’s contact information, in case of any questions or issues regarding the pet’s certification.
- Flying: Those who want to fly with their emotional support animal should be aware that airlines no longer give special privileges to emotional support animals on flights and are not required to allow emotional support animals if it is against airline policy. If the emotional support animal meets the airline’s requirements for pets, they may be allowed, but they will not receive any ADA protections.
- Public Places: Because emotional support animals are not service animals, there may be limits on public places where they can go. Before attempting to bring your emotional support animal to a public place, it is best to contact that place and determine their specific pet policy.
If you have questions regarding where you may or may not be able to take your emotional support animal, talking to an attorney who knows and understands the law and can advise you on your specific situation can be very helpful. At Disability Experts, we’re here for you.
Call Disability Experts Today
At Disability Experts, we know that our disabled clients face many challenges. We also know that a loving, well-trained, loyal emotional support animal can significantly reduce some of the stress associated with those challenges. That’s why we’re here to help. Regardless of whether you have questions about how to obtain an emotional support animal or some other aspect of the disability claims process, we’re here for you. We know and understand the law, and we’ll always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.