Boy's GSD service dog banned from school

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by Donald Deluxe on 04 January 2011 - 17:01

And you think this is happening here? With an assistance dog foundation? Over one (1) dog?

If I were a crook on the school board, I'd be looking for graft from a construction company, bus contractor or supply vendor that was doing 7 figures worth of business with the school department rather than risk jail taking $50 from a non-profit over a solitary dog - but maybe that's just me.

by Sunsilver on 04 January 2011 - 18:01

I belong to two service dog lists, and I can tell you that this school board is clearly in violation of the ADA!

If you read the article, you will see that the dog has a faster response time than any humans that may be present. Dogs can sense seizures several minutes in advance, something humans are not capable of doing. Also, this dog has a magnet in its collar, and is trained to apply the magnet to a device in the child's chest that helps to lessen the severity of the seizure, or even forestall it.

by Rik on 04 January 2011 - 19:01

My first thought was the ADA and that the school is very likely in violation of fed law. However viper brings up the point that other children may have issues that prevent them from being in close proximity with animals.

by Wise Guy on 04 January 2011 - 20:01

I would recommend that the boys parents contact the ADA Coalition. They are there to deal with all matters related to diability rights and access for service dogs. They offer referrals and legal advice/representation.

It sounds like they don't know the law. If no one challenges them, they will continue to discriminate.

by Donald Deluxe on 04 January 2011 - 21:01

"However viper brings up the point that other children may have issues that prevent them from being in close proximity with animals."

That could turn out to be the case once the dog is brought into the school, but it's not the reasoning claimed by the school board in denying entry.

by VonIsengard on 05 January 2011 - 03:01

I'm Jody (viperk9) on this one. She's absolutely right. Before I became a dog trainer I spent a good deal of time working with special needs kids, in groups with special needs children only and also as an aide to children that were mainstreamed.

When I picture a service dog in a special needs classroom I can imagine the chaos it would cause and to be entirely honest I doubt it would be good for the dog or the dog's training, and would absolutely create more work for the teachers. If you know any special education teachers then you know how much work their job is already without having to constantly make sure the other children stay on task and respect the job and personal space of the service animal. If he were in a mainstreamed classroom it would be a different story.

I also wondered why the family does not simply go to the organization the school accepts and have the dog certified with them. Perhaps there is a reason why the dog cannot/will not certify with them? Remember folks, the school had to have known the potential major outcry this could cause and I doubt any school board would make this decision lightly. You're only getting the facts the media wants you to, and the media loooooves a good old isnt-it-horrible-your-rights-are-being-violated story.

by Donald Deluxe on 05 January 2011 - 04:01

Took the school district less than a day to cave:

www.epstorm.blogspot.com/

Looks like they were told they weren't on as firm ground as they thought.

by MaggieMae on 05 January 2011 - 04:01

Is he in a Special Ed classroom or a regular classroom .... I must have missed that. If it is a classroom with other disabled children, then it could present problems -- more so than a regular classroom, I would think. This is such a hard decision to make. On the one hand, it could be a distraction for the other children and would interfere with their education. On the other hand, this child should be accommodated under the Americans With Disabilities Act. This dog allows him to enjoy his life to the extent possible, go to school with other kids, and, most importantly, the dog assists with his medical condition.

Some accommodation cases are outrageous, IMO. The one that "takes the cake" for me -- a Third Grader decided that he wanted to dress like a girl and change his name -- his parents enabled this because they didn't want to "traumatize him" by not allowing him to be what he wanted/needed to be -- a Third Grader !! So, after Second Grade, he left school in the spring as John -- I can't remember his name, but will use John. He grew out his hair, dressed as a girl, changed his name to Johnette and returned in the Fall to the same school. He WAS accommodated -- the other children/parents were told they would have to deal with it. The school even built a separate Restroom for him. Now we have a child who truly needs an accommodation -- yet, the School will not allow it. This will obviously end up in Court for violation of the Disabilities Act.

by sueincc on 05 January 2011 - 06:01

The school did not have a problem with having a dog in the classroom, don't forget - they do allow dogs that are certified through the other organization, so the discussion of whether or not dogs should be allowed in classrooms at all is not really relevant to this specific case.

Donald Deluxe thanks for posting the update, seems the school has seen the light. I love a happy ending!!!

by FlashBang on 05 January 2011 - 17:01

This isn't the first time this has happened. There were several cases all over the United States last year with schools banning autism and autism/seizure alert SDs. Their statement is "the child is not the authorized handler."

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