policy

Assistance Animal Policy

Introduction

ICC Austin recognizes the importance of assistance animals to individuals with disabilities.  ICC Austin is committed to the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable federal and state regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.  

This policy has been developed to balance the interests of all ICC Austin members with the needs of members who use an assistance animal. Included are the procedures for requesting assistance animal accommodation and the responsibilities of the member who brings an assistance animal into an ICC Austin facility.


Definitions

Assistance Animal.  An animal that does work, performs tasks, assists, and/or provides therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities.  There are two types of assistance animals.  
  • Service Animal. A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work, or perform a task(s) for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability (ADA National Network).  The service animal must be individually trained in the task(s) that directly relate to the individual’s disability.
  • Emotional Support Animal(ESA). An animal providing emotional or other support to ameliorate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a disability. Emotional Support Animals are not required to be trained to perform work/tasks and can be species other than dogs.  An emotional support animal must be necessary to afford the individual an equal opportunity to use and enjoy an ICC Austin facility and/or to participate in the housing community.
Pet. A pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered an assistance animal and an assistance animal is not considered a pet.  Refer to the ICC Austin Pet Policy for policies on pets.
 

Policy

  1. Assistance animals are generally allowed at all ICC Austin houses with the exception of the Ruth Schluze house located at 915 W 22nd Street.  Ruth Schulze is designated as a hypo-allergenic facility for students with animal and other allergies.  No animals are permitted. 
  2. If a member resides at Arrakis, Eden, Helios, House of Commons, and New Guild, no documentation is necessary for an assistance animal.  
  3. If a member resides at French House, House of Audre Lorde, or Royal, documentation for an assistance animal is required and should meet the following requirements:
    • A letter provided by a licensed health care professional that includes the member's name, the nature of the professional relationship, the type of animal, and a brief explanation on the necessity of the animal to afford the individual an equal opportunity to use and enjoy an ICC Austin facility or to participate in the housing community.  
    • Alternatively, the need for an emotional support animal may be demonstrated by:
      • (i) determination of a disability from a federal, state or other government agency, 
      • (ii) receipt of disability benefits or services from a government agency, or 
      • (iii) eligibility for housing assistance or voucher received due to a disability.
  4. Assistance animals are required to be current on all applicable vaccinations, including flea and tick medication.  Any animal that has a propensity to carry rabies must wear a current rabies vaccination tag.
  5. The following rules apply to all assistance animals residing in an ICC Austin facility.
    • Assistance animals must be controlled by their owner at all times and may not roam freely in common areas.  All supplies related to the care of the animal must be kept in the member’s room.  This includes but is not limited to water bowls, feeding bowls, crates, litter boxes, etc.  
    • Assistance animals may not adversely impact the living environment for other ICC Austin members. Owners must ensure the assistance animal does not bark excessively, jump, sniff, harass, or disturb other members and/or their personal belongings.  
    •  At roommate request, assistance animals in shared rooms must be kept caged at all times when not under the direct control of the owner, and prevented from interacting with the roommate or their personal belongings.
    • Assistance animals must be house broken (dogs), litter trained (cats), or provided with an appropriate sized cage for living and defecating (guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits, etc.). 
      • Litter boxes and cages must be cleaned regularly and may not produce odors that impact other members.
      • Any incidences of urination or defecation in an ICC Austin facility must be immediately cleaned and sanitized with the appropriate supplies.
  6. Assistance Animals may be removed from an ICC Austin facility if any aggressive behavior is shown towards another member, their guests, and/or ICC Austin Staff or contractors.
  7. Failure by the owner to adequately care for or mistreatment of an assistance animal will be cause for removal or exclusion of the animal from ICC Austin facilities.
  8. ICC Austin reserves the right to temporarily or permanently exclude an assistance animal from its facilities if the animal’s behavior is unruly, aggressive, or causes significant disruption or damage to the house community.
  9. To request the accommodation of an assistance animal, a member should complete the following steps:
    1. Notify ICC Austin and make a request for an assistance animal;
    2. Submit a signed letter from a licensed healthcare professional as outlined above;
    3. Submit current vaccination records including flea and tick treatment documentation.