Try this. It doesn't need to be fed or walked.
Posted on 01/10/2007 8:49:45 AM PST by Cagey
CBS/AP) EAST MEADOW, N.Y. It has taken a week, but the East Meadow School District is now telling its side of the controversy involving a deaf boy who wants to bring a service dog to class.
East Meadow has prevented 14-year-old John Cave from bringing his dog Simba to the W. Tresper Clarke High School. The family has the state's Human Rights Commission looking into the case.
East Meadow Superintendent Robert Dillon says the boy's parents have "repeatedly rejected" efforts to discuss the boy's wish to bring his service dog to school.
In a statement released late Tuesday, Dillon says the district has a policy barring animals for safety and health reasons. He added that district officials determined the student does not need the service dog to access the district's programs.
Dillon said having a dog in school poses problems for those who may be allergic. He adds having an animal in a crowded hallway could be dangerous. And the presence of the dog disrupts the school's routine.
The boy's mother, Nancy Cave, said that state and federal laws say that the school district has no jurisdiction to say when a disabled person needs a service dog.
She said she has refused to meet with the district's committee on special education because they have no say about the dog. But she will discuss the animal and how it helps her son with the superintendent, alone.
Any idea what's really going on here?
A lot of people with hearing problems would really get angry to be called disabled. Kid has a pet he wants to bring to school, get over it kid.
I'm getting the feeling this mother is fishing for a lawsuit against the school (using current state and federal special education laws).
I know what a service dog is for the blind. What do they do for the Deaf?
If it's a true Service Dog, it's not a pet. It's the equivalent of a Seeing Eye dog.
I work with deaf folks daily and I do admit I have a hard time seeing where a Service Dog is needed. Service Dogs are extrememly rare for the Deaf.
I will say, however, that one of the big problems (and expenses)of government-run schools is the inclusion of students with special needs. Blind, deaf, autistic, behaviorally challenged, you name it and the schools have to kow-tow to these kids. Bottom-line is that these kids with special needs do NOT get what they need (the teachers try but generally cannot give all that is needed) and the normal kids get put on the back-burner.
Send special kids to special schools, where special policies can be created to accomodate their special needs. Allow normal kids to make use of vouchers to go to schools that don't need to jump through all these hoops and which can just focus on teaching kids that want to learn.
Unless his "hearing-assistance" dog can take notes for him, this seems like he merely wants his pet with him.
Both sides are flexing their muscles. The mom can win here, the federal law will prevail, and you know what? It's not up to some local little bitty fish in some self important littler pond to tell her what her son needs.
Glad to see all the physicans and PHD's giving their opinions here.....bottom line, federal law says the disabled kid can bring his dog into ANY public building. Last time I checked, public schools were public. coupla questions...can the deaf kid hear the car horn honk? the fire alarm? and on and on.
"I work with deaf folks daily and I do admit I have a hard time seeing where a Service Dog is needed. Service Dogs are extrememly rare for the Deaf."
I have never heard of a service dog for the deaf. Wonder what is really going on here.
I'm thinking you may be on to something. If people don't object to a blind student having a helper dog then there may be no reason they can object to what this student may need.
Ping.
"can the deaf kid hear the car horn honk? the fire alarm? "
This is really an insult to the deaf, who don't need service dogs. Service dogs are for those who are blind or have some form of paralysis.
The dogs' lack of fingers much make learning American Sign Language very difficult for them.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1762224/posts
I have lost over 50% of my hearing, and there are times that a dog would be very beneficial. As it is my wife has no problem telling me I just don't listen to her ;)
What happens to a classmate who's deathly allergic to dogs? Who wins THAT battle?
It's not up to her to dictate to the rest of the community the terms on which they are allowed to manage their school.
If her son, who didn't have the dog until a few weeks ago, is now incapable of surviving without the dog, then she can pay to put her son in a facility that suits her notion of what he needs.
The universe doesn't revolve around her.
There's more information than you realize when it comes to dogs working with deaf folks.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22service+dogs%22+deaf
precisely why schools have crossing guards and bus monitors.
the fire alarm?
Precisely why schools have fire wardens and fire drills - to make sure every room in the building is empty and evacuated.
And on and on.
And the school is not allowed to micromanage what their family does to assist with their son's handicap.
I raised a guide dog pup and i'll tell you right now, there are PLENTY of self important little bureaucrats just waiting to exert their petty little influence.
The mom seems to be taking an approach somewhere in between which is what is making the case murky. The most telling point to me is that the mom has not retained the services of a lawyer. If this is such an open and shut case, then I would think lawyers would be calling her to ask to represent her. If the case can be won that easily, then there is a great deal of money out there to be won in educational damages and probably some punitive.
I can tell you that in VA, he would not be allowed to enter attend school with a service dog because he is not 16 and therefore cannot be certified. Once he was/is 16, then it becomes a different issue. The reason I am so familiar with this is because I teach a wheelchair bound child who has a service dog. Her mother would very much like for the dog to attend school with her, but for right now the answer is no until the child is certified.
One thing not mentioned in this article, but in another one is that the child has a full-time assistant assigned to him to help him in the classroom with notes, lectures, and any emergencies. So the school has done what is needed for would be appropriate for the student to help him access the general curriculum.
They're not. He can canine away to his heart's content on his own time.
If they don't like the rules, petition the school board.
The school is there for all the kids, not just mommy's precious angel.
I don't smell good. I need a Smelling Nose Dog.
If this is really a service dog, this just another case of an idiot "rules is rules" education system tyrant exercising his authority.
As I understand it, the issue has almost nothing to do with whether the kid can get by without the dog in school -- obviously he's done so in the past -- it's a matter of proper continued training of the service animal. For bonding purposes, it's important that the dog spend essentially all of his time with the disabled person.
Try this. It doesn't need to be fed or walked.
sigh.
state and federal laws say that the school district has no jurisdiction to say when a disabled person needs a service dog.
Little fish, littler pond? Law of Petty Power? (the less power they wield, the more energetically they will use it)
And how do you come to that inelegantly phrased conclusion?
LOL!
Deaf/Hard of Hearing ping list
with interests in health and society
I can see that the school, in this case, is caught between a rock and a hard place. They are supposed to fulfill every need of every student and make sure none of them are ever uncomfortable.
You: How does he smell?
Me: Terrible!
It would be just a much of a problem with a seeing eye dog, no?
Dog dander and hair is everywhere anyway. On the clothing, in the hair, etc, of every student who has a dog at home.
I imagine scheduling could, in most cases, assure that at leas the allergic kid and the blind/deaf kid don't have the same class at the same time. Unless both are say in AP Math or Science class of which there is often only one.
When you are dealing with a public school, however, there may be other health considerations, e.g. allergies of other pupils.
It's not always the bureaucrats trying to exert their petty little influence. It's sometimes the bureaucrats trying to fulfill too many conflicting requirements.
Uh huh, and what would a school do if a blind student had a service dog???
this would be one of those "endangered animal eating an endangered plant" type of scenarios.
bert:"He is handicapped beyond mainstream and should be in a schools for the deaf.
translate
Wow! Did you have to go to school to become that insensitive?? Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.