Massage & Bodywork

MARCH | APRIL 2020

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86 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k m a r c h / a p r i l 2 0 2 0 What About Insurance? Debbie Higdon, in ABMP's Risk Management department, says that the liability insurance that is a benefit of ABMP membership is designed to cover your negligence, not the negligence of others. "If a client's animal/service animal gets aggressive and bites, it is the dog's owner who is liable and should take responsibility," Higdon says. According to ADA requirements, it is the handler's responsibility to keep their service dog under control. Hopefully, the handler's policy covers this liability, but you cannot ask the dog owner if they have liability coverage! Miniature Horses as Service Animals Miniature horses are not included in the service animal definition, which is limited to dogs; however, the 2010 ADA regulations contain a specific provision covering their use as service animals. The provision states that businesses must make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability, and: • The horse is housebroken • The horse is under the owner's control • The facility can accommodate the horse's type, size, and weight • The horse's presence does not compromise safety requirements For more information, visit www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm. Even if you are allergic to pet dander or have a fear of dogs, by law you are not allowed to deny access or refuse service to a client with a service animal. If a client is allergic to pet dander and they must be present in the same room or facility as a person with a service animal, both the client and the person with the service animal should be accommodated by assigning them to different locations within the facility if possible.

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