Service Animals Policy
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as “any animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals to an impending seizure or protecting individuals during one, and alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders, or pulling a wheelchair and fetching dropped items.”
A person with a disability uses a service animal as an auxiliary aid. In compliance with the ADA, service animals are welcome in all buildings during the camp at the JW Marriott property and may attend any class, meeting, or other events. There may be an exception to certain areas.
Campers requesting accommodation for a disability that includes a service animal must contact Zach Hearn or Amanda Woodson with any questions. In addition, register all service animals with the Camp Coordinator.
Requirements of service animals and their owners include:
- All animals need to be immunized against rabies and other diseases common to that type of animal. All vaccinations must be current.
- Animals must wear a rabies vaccination tag.
- All dogs must be licensed per state law.
- Service animals must wear an owner identification tag (which always includes the name and phone number of the owner).
- Animals must be in good health.
- Animals must always be on a leash, harness, or restraint unless the owner/partner cannot retain an animal on a leash due to a disability.
- The owner must always be in complete control of the animal. The care and supervision of the animal are solely the responsibility of the owner/partner.
Reasonable behavior is expected from service animals during camp and while on the JW Marriott property. The owners of disruptive and aggressive service animals may be asked to remove them from the event site or facilities. If the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the owner may be told not to bring the service animal into any facility until the owner takes significant steps to mitigate the behavior.
Cleanliness of the service animal is mandatory. Consideration of others must be considered when providing maintenance and hygiene of service animals. The owner/partner is expected to clean and dispose of all animal waste.
Staff, volunteers, and counselors should not play or arouse any service animal.