An emotional support animal (ESA) is an individually trained animal that provides benefits to an individual with a disability, such as alleviating or mitigating disability-related symptoms. In accordance with updated federal standards, ESA requests are evaluated using the training component of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under this standard, any animal proposed as an ESA in campus housing must be individually trained to assist with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Untrained animals do not meet these criteria and will not be considered a reasonable accommodation. ESA requests must be recommended by the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and approved by Campus Living before the animal can be brought to campus as an ESA. Any animal not approved as an ESA for campus living will be removed. Individuals are responsible for keeping approved ESAs in designated areas of campus living.
Individuals who wish to have an ESA in their on-campus residence room should complete this form, provide the required documentation where indicated, and register with the DRC. Below is additional information regarding the required documentation.
Required Documentation
The following categories are representative of the documentation that may be required for the DRC to reasonably evaluate a request for an ESA in the campus living environment. Each request will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis according to the Fair Housing Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and related regulations. DRC staff may ask follow-up questions of the student or medical provider, as appropriate.
- Identification & Credentials of Medical Provider or Treating Professional
- Full name, professional title, and clinical practice/agency name.
- State medical or mental health license number, state of licensure, and National Provider Identifier (NPI).
- Physical office address and direct phone number.
- Therapeutic Relationship & Clinical History
- Statement confirming a treating relationship with the student, including date of most recent evaluation.
- Confirmation that the provider has personally evaluated the student.
- Disability & Accommodation Nexus
- Confirmation that the student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (under Section 504 and FHA standards). (Note: Specific DSM/ICD diagnosis codes are not required).
- Evidence of the work or tasks directly related to the student’s disability that the animal has been trained to perform
- Explanation of the specific functional impact(s) or symptoms the student experiences in the residential environment.
- Explanation of how the proposed ESA animal alleviates those symptoms or mitigates the functional limitations in the residence hall.
- Authentication
- Wet signature or verifiable secure digital signature (e.g., DocuSign, portal electronic signature).
- Plain text letters without letterhead or letters issued by online non-treating certificate generators may not be accepted.
Documentation must be submitted by the medical provider or treating professional directly to the DRC via fax (501-916-3068), email at [email protected], or by mail:
UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center c/o Director
2801 South University Avenue, DSC 103
Little Rock, AR 72204-1088
The ESA request form should also be completed when there are any changes to information regarding a previously approved ESA. The completed form should be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to the date on which the ESA is due to arrive on campus. Any questions should be directed to the Disability Resource Center at 501-916-3143 or [email protected].
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