Linzie Mark is currently enrolled in her first year of Durham College’s (DC) Practical Nursing program. She is also diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety.

To help keep her grounded in the midst of a PTSD or anxiety attack, and on the advice of her doctor, Linzie relies on her service dog, a Border Collie named Eloise. While Eloise is still a seven-week new puppy, she is also in training, learning specific sensory techniques to help her partner. The two are inseparable, which means they go everywhere together, including the classes and labs Linzie attends every week.

Linzie and Eloise are just one service animal/partner pair that can be found on the college’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses and learning site in Pickering; the start of the 2017-2018 academic year brings with it the highest number of service animals ever at DC.

While many people are aware of the use of guide dogs to help those who are visually impaired, there is increasing reliance on service animals to assist those with less visible exceptionalities. Now more than ever, students are relying on the support of service animals to help with a growing range of exceptionalities, needs and challenges.

Recognizing this growing trend, and as part of the evolution of accommodation at DC, the college’s Accessibility Committee has drafted its first stand-alone Service Animal Policy and Procedure, to not only ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) but to further inclusivity for the college’s students, employees and visitors.

Both documents clearly articulate the definitions and requirements for the use of service animals at the college. They also outline the expectations for those relying on the animals and for the college and its accommodation of those requests.

Drafts of both the policy and procedure are now in review and are expected to be finalized by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

In the meantime the college will continue its efforts to increase awareness and understanding, not only of the role of service animals, but also best practices for those who may find themselves in contact with one of the animals in class and on campus.