Disabilities that Qualify You for a Service Dog

To get a service dog, you must have an eligible physical, emotional, or mental health disability. The term “disability” has a specific meaning under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which may surprise you. The ADA promotes an expansive definition of “disability” in order to help as many people as possible. 

Confirming you have a disability is the first step to meeting all the requirements for a service dog. If you want to know whether your condition might count as a disability, read on.

Definition of “Disability” under the Americans with Disabilities Act

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog handler with a disability is someone who:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or
• Has a history or record of an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
• Is regarded as having such an impairment by others even if the individual does not actually have a disability (for example, a person who has scars from a severe burn that does not limit a major life activity).

Let’s break this down and examine what these words mean more closely. 

What is a “physical or mental impairment”?

The definition of an “impairment” is very broad and encompasses a vast number of physical and psychiatric health conditions.

• Physical: Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more body systems. For example, mobility issues, hearing loss, or impaired vision. 
• Mental: Any mental or psychological disorder such as intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disability. For example, severe depression, chronic anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, autism, or ADHD. 

What is a Major Life Activity?

The “impairment” has to limit “major life activities,” which are basic functions most people can perform with little or no difficulty. For example:

• Eating, sleeping, speaking, and breathing.
• Walking, standing, lifting, and bending.
• Thinking and concentrating.
• Seeing and hearing.
• Working, reading, learning, and communicating.
• Bodily functions like circulation and reproduction.
• The functioning of organs like the heart, lungs, or pancreas.

What is a “substantial limitation”?

The ADA promotes a common-sense approach to evaluating whether a life activity has been substantially limited. 

For example, most people can walk short distances without assistance, hear without hearing aids, socialize with others, or read a textbook. A condition that limited these abilities beyond what most people can do could be considered “substantial.”

What is a “history or record of impairment”?

A person can have a condition that has resolved or is in remission but still faces discrimination due to their past. For example, employers might worry about the recurrence of a condition or potential increased healthcare costs and poor attendance, leading to unfair treatment in hiring or promotions. 

The ADA protects these individuals from discrimination based on their history of disability.

What does being “regarded as” having an impairment mean?

Some individuals can be perceived to have a disability, whether or not their condition actually limits major life activities. This includes cases where assumptions about a person’s ability to perform a job or participate in activities are based on misconceptions about their condition.

For instance, Samantha, who is rejected from a job interview due to facial scars that do not affect her ability to work, and Tim, who is unfairly terminated for requesting a job reassignment due to back pain, are both protected under the ADA because they are perceived as having impairments.

List of Mental Disabilities that Qualify for a Service Dog

These are some examples of conditions that may qualify as mental disabilities that would make someone eligible for a psychiatric service dog. 

• Depression and Depressive Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders & Phobias
• Bipolar Disorders
• Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Addiction, Substance-Abuse, and Alcoholism
• PTSD, Trauma & Stress-Related Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
• Dissociative and Personality Disorders
• Autism
• Neurocognitive and Sleep-Wave Disorders 

If you’re unsure about whether your mental health condition qualifies, it can be helpful to seek a PSD letter from a licensed mental health professional. These letters should not be confused with ESA letters, which are essential for people who need emotional support animals. 

List of Physical Disabilities that Qualify for a Service Dog

These are some examples of conditions that may qualify as physical disabilities.

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Sensory Disabilities (Blind, Deaf, etc.)
• ALS
• Cancer
• Dementia 
• Cerebral Palsy
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Chronic Pain
• Stroke
• Paralysis
• Vertigo
• and more

Third-Party Verification of Service Handler Disability

Staff at venues are not allowed to ask service dog handlers specific questions about their disability. The ADA prohibits people from asking disabled individuals intrusive questions about their health condition. 

If the disability-related need for the service dog is not readily apparent, staff can only ask service dog handlers two questions for verification: 

• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
• What task is the animal trained to perform?

The first question entails a yes or no response. No one can ask a service dog handler for medical records or documents to prove their disability. The ADA gives service dog owners a right to privacy when it comes to sensitive information about their physical or mental health limitations.