The American Civil Liberties Union is accusing a Michigan school district of violating the rights of a girl with cerebral palsy after the girl’s educational team said she did not need her service dog at school.

Ehlena Fry, 5, relies on her dog Wonder to help her balance, collect items that fall on the floor and open doors, among other things. The dog was specially trained to work with Fry and was prescribed by a doctor.

Nonetheless, the team establishing Fry’s individualized education plan, or IEP, determined that she does not need the dog’s help at school because of the other services already provided to her by the Napoleon Community Schools, including a full-time assistant.

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Now the ACLU is stepping in, charging that denying the girl from bringing her assistance dog to school is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and is illegally forcing her to “choose between her independence and her education,” reports the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot. To read more click here.

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