Did you know that, in addition to being a Civil Rights Movement leader, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. also was a fierce advocate for fair housing? Both in his youth and his travels as a civil rights leader, King witnessed systemic segregation in neighborhoods nationwide and resolved to fight for access to safe and reliable housing for all Americans.
When it comes to service and support animals, board members and managers need to understand they are not deemed to be pets and are not subject to the same rules or restrictions as other animals. Each accommodation request must be handled on a case-by-case basis, and associations may adopt and enforce reasonable rules regarding service and support animals.
Recent incidents around the display of the Confederate battle flag in some community associations have renewed the need to understand its racial implications and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Assistance animals play an important role in the lives of people with disabilities and mental health issues. Knowing what constitutes an assistance animal and laws and regulations that apply to their ownership can help community associations balance individual rights with rules specific to these animals.
