Service Dog Alliance of Florida

10/09/2026

What does it take to make a community event accessible?

This ADA National Network success story shares how an event planner identified potential barriers at a horse show held in a public park and worked to create accessible routes across grassy areas. The planner consulted with the city’s parks and recreation department and the regional ADA Center to learn more about accessibility requirements and possible solutions.

The story highlights practical steps for creating routes that allow people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices to move throughout an event space. It also includes resources from the ADA National Network to help event planners understand accessibility requirements and plan for access.

Read the full story and explore resources for making temporary events more accessible: https://adata.org/success-stories/accessible-horse-show/

10/07/2026

New blog to offer practical ADA Compliance Guidance

The Southeast ADA Center (SEADA), a project of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University, is pleased to announce the launch of ADA for the Every Day, a new blog publishing the first and third Wednesday of each month.
ADA for the Every Day will provide in-depth commentary addressing all five titles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA). The blog will examine a broad array of subject matter, including employment, state and local government, transportation, and private business, while offering practical guidance intended to encourage voluntary compliance with the ADA.
The objectives of ADA for the Every Day are to:
1. Foster greater awareness and understanding of the ADA and ADAAA.
2. Enhance readers’ knowledge of existing practices and enable the adoption of improved approaches.
3. Inform sound, evidence-based decision-making.
4. Contribute to the development of knowledge that will serve as a foundation for new practices, programs, and policies.
5. Promote voluntary compliance with the ADA and support systemic improvements in policy and practice.
Read: ADA for the Every Day at: blog.adaSoutheast.org
About the Southeast ADA Center
The Southeast ADA Center (SEADA), based in Lexington, Kentucky, is one of ten regional ADA Centers in the ADA National Network, to provide information, training, and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Southeast ADA Center is a project of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. SEADA is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration on Community Living (ACL), National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Learn more at: adaSoutheast.org
About Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) – Syracuse University
The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University reaches around the globe in its efforts to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities. Through program development, research, and public policy guidance, BBI advances the full inclusion of people with disabilities. BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, a pioneering disability rights scholar. BBI has offices in Syracuse, NY and Lexington, KY. Learn more at: bbi.syr.edu
Media Contact
Barry Whaley, Project Director of Southeast ADA Center
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 404-541-9001
News Source: Southeast ADA Center Announces Launch of “ADA for the Every Day,” a New Knowledge Translation Blog, Posted: 10/7/2026, Web: adaSoutheast.org/southeast-ada-center-launch-blog-ada-for-the-every-day
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October 7, 2026 Source: Southeast ADA Center, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University

10/04/2026

09/24/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DNup1v8no/

09/23/2026

Check out our new Fact Sheet - Service Animals Under the ADA
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform a specific task for a person with a disability (a miniature horse is a possible exception for the type of animal).
👇 Link in comments

09/20/2026

🐾 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘆!🐾

Today, we celebrate the incredible service dogs who provide 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 to the people who rely on them every day.

A service dog is more than a companion. These highly trained working dogs perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities helping their handlers navigate daily life with greater independence and access.

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 is also an important reminder that when a service dog is working, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗽𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿. Respecting a working team helps keep both the handler and the dog safe.

At the Service Dog Alliance of Florida, we remain committed to education, advocacy and creating communities where legitimate service dog teams are understood, respected and welcomed.

Today, we honor every service dog, every handler and the extraordinary partnership they share. 💙🐕‍🦺

09/20/2026

🐾 It's National Service Dog Day, a perfect time to celebrate the four-legged heroes supporting our Veterans, including therapy dogs like Honey.

28 seconds. That's how long it took Honey to calm a veteran's racing heart in the ER, settling quietly beside him as his heart rate and blood pressure dropped.

Read the full story on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs's VA News webpage: https://news.va.gov/149542/calm-therapy-dog-helped-veteran-in-crisis/

09/20/2026

September 15 we recognized Indian River County Emergency Services Department as Service Animal Champions for their commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible community where service animals are welcomed and respected.

Indian River County understands its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and became 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Our partnership began with training emergency shelter staff and grew to include Animal Control, Fire Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and Law Enforcement.

Special thanks to Rachel Ivey, Emergency Management Planner II, who connected Service Dog Alliance with surrounding municipalities and businesses to promote our “𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆: 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕” campaign - Florida Statute 413.08 knowingly and willfully misrepresenting the use of a service animal is a crime in Florida.

Your engaged team of emergency management professionals shared real-world successes and challenges. Together, we identified how collaboration across sectors, along with enhanced policies and best practices, can strengthen response times and increase positive outcomes.

Indian River County Emergency Management recognized that meaningful accessibility requires education, communication, and practical solutions—not simply compliance with the minimum legal standard.

That commitment has helped expand our reach throughout Florida and across the nation. Best practices developed through this partnership demonstrate how municipalities across the country can replicate this model.

Thank you for recognizing that accessibility is not merely about meeting a legal requirement, but about creating a culture where people understand their rights, responsibilities, and shared value in the community.



Disability Rights Florida

09/20/2026

We recognize The City of Vero Beach Police Department as 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 for its commitment to creating a safe, responsive, inclusive, and accessible community for people with and without service animals.

The Vero Beach Police Department demonstrated a clear understanding of its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and became the first law enforcement agency to promote our public awareness campaign, 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆: 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕. The campaign highlights Florida Statute 413.08, which reminds citizens that knowingly and willfully misrepresenting a service animal is a crime in Florida.

Through thoughtful and intentional leadership, the department has strengthened community policing outcomes by building trust, proactively addressing issues before they escalate, and empowering the community to share responsibility for education and awareness.

We are especially grateful and proud of the contributions of Lieutenants Matt Harrelson and Dan Cook and Officer Jeff Otis. Together, they coordinated and implemented a citywide strategy designed to reduce the time dedicated to animal-related calls while increasing businesses’ understanding of their rights and responsibilities regarding service animals.

Their commitment has helped expand our reach throughout Florida and across the nation. The best practices developed through this partnership demonstrate how law enforcement agencies across the country can replicate this successful model.

The Vero Beach Police Department recognizes that accessibility is about more than meeting a legal requirement. It is about creating a culture in which people understand their rights, responsibilities, and shared value within the community.

Thank you for your leadership, partnership, and unwavering commitment to building a safer, more informed, inclusive, and accessible community.

09/20/2026

📻Local Radio Stations Pending Sale📻

Traditional local radio has faced a changing and increasingly difficult media landscape as audiences and advertising dollars continue shifting toward digital platforms.

Now, several stations serving the Nature Coast are pending sale to MARC Media Group — Citrus 95.3 (WXCV), 96.7 The Fox (WXOF), Hits 106 (WGHR), and Nature Coast Country 103.3 (WXCZ) & 104.3 (WXZC).

According to radio-industry reporting, the agreement includes a $500,000 deposit, another $500,000 due at closing, and a $1.5 million promissory note to be paid over ten years.

The transaction is not yet final while it remains subject to FCC approval.

In its waiver request filed with the FCC, MARC states that the three of the stations are expected to generate less than $500,000 in combined revenue during 2026— The filing also says it has become increasingly difficult for WGUL-FM to operate those three stations profitably on a stand-alone basis. Those figures and characterizations were provided by MARC as part of its request for regulatory approval.

For many in our community, these stations are more than frequencies on the dial. They’ve provided familiar voices, supported local businesses, covered community events and been part of everyday life on the Nature Coast for years.

Citrus County Live will continue following the FCC approval process and any future programming or staffing announcements.

Source Notes:
InsideRadio.com
Radioinsight.com
news.radio-online.com