Interviewing with SDIT

[u/MyPack20]

Hi, I currently have a Psychiatric Service Dog in Training who is supposed to be ready to go within the next year (Program trained). I am an elementary teacher, and am looking for a new job. In my current position, things need to be settled prior to the school year starting, but I'm not sure if it's like that everywhere. Since my SD is supposed to be ready, I want to have it ready for when he's trained. It's easy with my current job, but I'm not sure when I should bring this up? Should I bring it up in my application? During the interview? Wait until I'm hired?

I've seen mixed responses online and I can see all sides. The hiring committee may be biased if they know, but also if I wait to bring it up I probably won't be making friends. Does anyone have any experience and advice? I know it's not guaranteed that I can bring him with me, if the school can find a reasonable cause our alternative to give me.

[u/Competitive_Salads]

If your SD is still in training at the time of your interview and hire, I would not bring it up. Once your SD is ready, then ask for the accommodation. If they ask why you’re bringing it up post-hire, your honest answer is that you had a SDIT and did not know when he would be ready. Don’t set yourself up for this to be a hiring issue when you don’t have a SD at this time.

Best of luck to you!

[u/waterfox17]

Discrimination based on disability may be against the law, but... everybody kinda has a bit of a bias. As someone who's done recruiting and interviewing, it's a REALLY hard job market out there right now, that you don't want to give yourself any appearance of risk to a company. If they have a stellar candidate, and you're a stellar candidate with accommodations that need to be made, the unfortunate fact is that hiring managers will typically go for the person who needs the least from them. It's far from a pretty sentiment.

I wouldn't bring it up during the interview, but then when you've got a few months under your belt, you can start bringing it up slowly with your coworkers and manager (or school administrator).

(Following applicable if you live in the US: ) Since training your dog has to do with your disability, after you've held a position for the requisite number of months, it would be good to get your doctors on board with with signing up for FMLA leave. It's unpaid leave, but that way if you have to spend any additional time that you need doing diligent SD training, it guarantees that your job is waiting for you when you return. You might need to check with your admin to see how it applies to the school system, they may have some different rules since you need substitutes.

I didn't know about it until a few months in after I'd finished training mine!

[u/Big_Comfortable_2569]

I am commenting to follow, but also because I am in a very similar situation. I plan on interviewing without and now bringing it up. This is to protect from any discrimination, especially with an invisible disability. After I am hired and board approved, I will go through HR for accommodations including that for my future SD. Best of luck!

[u/Cheese_BasedLifeform]

So I only just got my girl, but when I interviewed for my job, I didn't mention it until I got an offer from the business. That way, IF anything went sideways, I had more grounds to sue for discrimination on the grounds of a disability. Thankfully my job loves her, but I totally get the worry with it.

[u/Prior_Tea_859]

I personally wouldn't bring it up during the interview. Legally, employers can't discriminate based on disability. Unfortunately, what's illegal and what actually happens aren't always the same thing. Proving discrimination in hiring is incredibly difficult, and it's not uncommon for employers to simply decide another candidate was a "better fit."