News, Wal-Mart sued by disabled over payment machines.

[nullgeo]

A number of different kinds of animals were at one time accommodated under the original ADA laws ... that has changed. ONLY specially trained dogs now ... and exceptions made for miniature horses in special petition cases. There has to be a reason why a dog is not acceptable and a mini-horse would be the option. I was familiar with the horses being used for mobility issues on behalf of people who could not stand and walk without support. I recall hearing about them being trained for the blind but I have never run across certified uses. Good to see the site.

[nimchimpsky]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

A number of different kinds of animals were at one time accommodated under the original ADA laws ... that has changed. ONLY specially trained dogs now ... and exceptions made for miniature horses in special petition cases. There has to be a reason why a dog is not acceptable and a mini-horse would be the option. I was familiar with the horses being used for mobility issues on behalf of people who could not stand and walk without support. I recall hearing about them being trained for the blind but I have never run across certified uses. Good to see the site.

Right. I think their main clients are people who are allergic or have a phobia of dogs, which seems like a completely valid reason to have a horse instead of a dog. A friend of mine told me that she saw a blind person using a guiding horse one time in a diner, so I know they must be out there somewhere, lol.

This thread reminds me why I don't want a guide dog--one of the many reasons being way too many politics surrounding the whole service animal issue. I love dogs and my pet dog helps me so much with my PTSD, even without being trained. I think dogs are natural helpers. When I take him for a walk, he also lets me know when I'm about to run into a pole by pulling on the leash to alert me to "walk around". It's the cutest thing ever. Unfortunately my dog is going blind himself, though, so he won't be able to "guide" me much longer.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by KUchief25

There is nothing new about it. If you had read my link I put from the ADA you would know that. Of course you know everything so you don't need to read anything right?

As a matter of fact the first thing mentioned is for people who are blind.

"Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. "

Now go tell the mirror how smart you are.

Go back and read your own link ... the paragraph you quote refers to dogs, not horses ... here is the full section:
Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.

The provision for guide horses is since 2010:
In addition to the provisions about service dogs, the Department’s revised ADA regulations have a new, separate provision about miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.