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.
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