Thank you all for your suggestions.  I wasn't trying to be unclear in my post, it has been a stressful week.  My service dog is trained in two primary tasks so far, pressure therapy for when a panic attack hits and alerting to 
 or anxious behaviors.  She is a corgi, so she is relatively small but she works perfect for my lifestyle and disability.  
  I am a student; however, part of my degree includes working for the museum 20 hours a week.  Hence I am technically a student and right now my accommodations are coming through the school rather an employer.  Because of this, I didn't really want to give specifics that would put my school or employer in a specific light (good or bad) as they have never really dealt with this issue before.  I'm was hoping to get more information so that I can find a job where the employer won't view me and my dog as a problem if there are was to successfully accommodate the situation.
 
  Thanks again for all your suggestions
    April legatt

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 25, 2017, at 9:50 PM, Janice Majewski <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi April,

You've got a complicated problem, and it's great that you've been doing research to find a solution that serves both you as a museum professional who uses a service animal and your museum's conservation labs and collections storage areas. Have you talked with anyone at the Job Accommodations Network (JAN) about your specific concerns?  http://askjan.org/media/servanim.html  They are a federally funded organization that provides confidential consultation on accommodation rights and ideas for individuals with disabilities.  They likely won't know about the specifics of museum conservation and storage, but if you bring those specifics to them, they may be able to help you brainstorm solutions. For example, in the publication at the address above, there is discussion of use of animal dander care products and HEPA filters. Possibly you could use a dog crate in the space to keep your dog nearby but minimize its release of hair and dander.  While the concerns of the lab/collections storage area are important and very real, it's also essential for your employer to acknowledge that your need for a service animal is very real and that the measure of your service animal's impact in the lab is accurate and not overstated.  You'll need assess that balance carefully, and JAN may be able to help out. 

I don't think there is any information in print specifically about service animals in museum employment situations.  I did find one small piece on EEOC's website about service animals and food care:  https://www.eeoc.gov/facts/restaurant_guide.html  There is also information in the JAN piece about allergies of other employees that address issues that may apply indirectly for storage and conservation.  FDA also has rules about service animals in food service that might be useful to you: https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/RetailFoodProtection/FoodCode/ucm189214.htm

In response to some of the other Museum-Lers who have responded to your question, I wanted to note that employment is covered under Title I of the ADA and the rules for service animals and emotional support animals as possible types of work-related reasonable accommodation are different than they are for the public using service animals under Titles II and III. Under Title I, an emotional support animal may be considered as a reasonable accommodation; under Titles II and III, emotional support animals are not accorded access as service animals.  EEOC, who is responsible for Title I, has not defined a service animal as only a dog; DOJ, who is responsible for Titles II and III, has defined a service animal as a dog (or sometimes a miniature horse). Most importantly, an employer does not necessarily have to allow a service animal as a reasonable accommodation whereas a public accommodation is required to modify its policies to allow them unless the modification would fundamentally alter the program. 

I hope this might help, April.  And a last bit, your employer is equally obligated to work with you to identify reasonable accommodations for you whether your service animal is for a psychiatric, vision, hearing, or mobility disability.  There should not be a hierarchy.

Best of luck!

Jan  




On Sat, Mar 25, 2017 at 3:41 PM, Legatt, April Mary <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

The ADA and disability laws require accommodation but it does not specify what type of accommodation.  What I am finding is how to work with a dog in storage and conservation areas where the dander may cause problems. I was hoping to go into the conservation route but that seems to be the area of most concern for many employers. (Especially with a psychiatric service dog)


   Thanks 


Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 25, 2017, at 12:47 PM, Legatt, April Mary <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

The ADA and disability laws require accommodation but it does not specify what type of accommodation.  What I am finding is how to work with a dog in storage and conservation areas where the dander may cause problems. I was hoping to go into the conservation route but that seems to be the area of most concern for many employers. (Especially with a psychiatric service dog)


   Thanks 


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--

Janice Majewski
Director, Inclusive Cultural and Educational Projects
Institute for Human Centered Design

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