“Assistance animal” is the general term that incorporates animals that provide both active and passive support. An assistance animals is not a pet. Below are the definitions for each category of assistance animal. North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) recognizes the importance of “Service Animals” as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), and of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), supported by the Fair Housing Act.

Service Animals

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The work or tasks a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.” 

Support Animals (ESA)

A Support Animal is a trained or untrained animal that does work, performs tasks, provides assistance, and/or provides therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities.   

Therapy Animals

Therapy animals have been trained to provide comfort, support, and affection to individuals other than the handler. Prior permission must be obtained before therapy animals may be allowed on campus.

Questions about Assistance Animals?
Please contact NIACC Disability Services at:
888.GO NIACC, ext. 4296 or 641.422.4296
Disability.Services@niacc.edu