Information Confirming Disability-Related Need for an Assistance Animal
• Reasonably supporting information often consists of information from a licensed health care professional – e.g. physician, optometrist, psychiatrist, psychologist, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse – general to the condition but specific as to the individual with a disability and the assistance or therapeutic emotional support provided by the animal. • A relationship or connection between the disability and the need for the assistance animal must be provided. This is particularly the case when the disability is non-observable, and/or the animal provides therapeutic emotional support. In cases where the disability and the disability-related need are obvious or previously known, no additional information should be requested. • For non-observable disabilities and animals that provide therapeutic emotional support, a housing provider may ask for information that is consistent with that identified in the Guidance on Documenting an Individual’s Need for Assistance Animals in Housing in order to conduct an individualized assessment of whether it must provide the accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. The lack of such documentation in many cases may be reasonable grounds for denying a requested accommodation.
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