Introduction
The California Teachers Association (CTA) is committed to ensuring that all attendees of its conferences and meetings have equal access and opportunity to participate in these events. CTA recognizes that some attendees with disabilities may require the assistance of animals for various reasons. This document outlines the policy and procedures for reasonably accommodating disabled attendees who require the use of assistive animals at CTA conferences and other events. This policy also recognizes that for the health and safety of all attendees and to avoid disruptions at CTA conferences and meetings, pets are not permitted in conference and meeting spaces.
Effective from June 12, 2024
Definitions
- Service, Guide, or Signal Dog (“Service Dog”): A dog that is individually and specifically trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Service dogs are not considered pets.
- Emotional Support Animal (ESA): An animal that provides emotional, cognitive or psychological support to an individual with a disability, as verified by an appropriate letter from a licensed health care professional. ESAs are not considered service animals under the ADA and, unlike service dogs, they are not trained or certified to perform specific tasks. ESAs are not limited to dogs and may include other common domestic animals.
- Pet: An animal that is kept for companionship or pleasure and is not a service dog or an ESA.
Policy
- A service dog is always allowed in all areas of the conference space, including where food is served, as long as the dog is under the control of their handler.
- ESAs with appropriate certification and pre-approval from CTA are allowed in conference and meeting rooms, but not where food is served. ESAs must always be under the control of their handler and not pose a threat to the health or safety of other attendees. When a hotel or other facility allows ESAs on the property, an attendee may ask CTA to allow them to bring their ESA as a reasonable accommodation for their disability and to enable them to participate in the event. When registering for the conference or event, the attendee will need to provide to CTA appropriate certification of the ESA, which includes (1) a qualified health care practitioner’s certification that the attendee has a disability and that the ESA is needed to accommodate that disability, and (2) the attendee’s certification that their ESA is free from offensive odors and displays habits appropriate for a professional setting.
- Pets are not allowed in any conference or meeting spaces at any time.
- Service dogs and ESAs must be registered with CTA prior to the conference or event. CTA will contact the registrant after registration to ensure appropriate accommodations and documentation as needed.
- CTA reserves the right to ask the handler of an ESA or service dog to remove the animal from the conference or meeting space if the animal is out of control, not housebroken, or causes a disruption or safety risk to the event or other attendees.
- CTA is not responsible for the care or supervision of any service dog or ESA. The handler is solely liable for any damage or injury caused by the animal to any person, property, or facility.
- Conference attendees are subject to the individual policies of each hotel regarding animals and are responsible for all costs and fees levied by individual hotels related to ESAs.
Contact
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact the CTA Conference Coordination Center at CCC@CTA.org
