A compromise reached between a Michigan family and their school district will allow a 6-year-old girl with cerebral palsy to bring her service dog to school, temporarily at least.
Earlier this year the American Civil Liberties Union stepped in after Ehlena Fry’s individualized educational plan, or IEP, team said she did not need her service dog at school. The IEP team said that the school was already providing the services Fry needed, including a full-time assistant.
The dog is specially trained to help the girl balance, collect items that fall on the floor and open doors, among other things. Fry’s family said that prohibiting the girl from bringing her dog to school amounted to a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Now Napoleon Community Schools have agreed to a 30-day trial of the dog, according to the ACLU attorney representing Fry’s family. Once the trial period nears an end the two sides plan to reevaluate in order to determine whether Fry’s dog should continue attending classes, reports the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot. To read more click here.
Good luck to you. To the people who say they all ready has an aide, they know nothing about special needs and learning independance. They do not know the dog needs to learn about activities, after school, walking to school, not needing an aide (cheaper for the schools but they are just charaters of narcisim and control freaks). What about as she gets older, going to libraries and on and on. I am very happy that you have found the strength to follow up with this since it will pave the way to force the schools to change thier way of thinking. Move forward. You are helping us all out. Thank you.
hdemic -mother of cp child.