OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING- SCHOOL REFUSES ASSISTANCE DOG

I wrote this article for The Phoenix on March 16, 2007...This incident would not happen today, as assisted dogs are allowed in schools, in restaurants, on planes, in stores, among other places. Times sure have changed.


School Refuses Assistance Dog

The following story was recently in The Washington Post. Just in case you missed it, I will recap the highlights of this most interesting tale.

 Sarah Garvin is 15 years old and lives in a suburb of Washington, D.C. Sarah suffers from Down syndrome and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Sarah has a 60-pound, trained assistance Black Lab dog named Satin who goes with her everywhere - to the doctor, horseback riding, to the mall. They are best friends and companions.

 However there is one place which Satin has been refused admission - to Sarah’s middle school. And herein lies the story.

 The middle school has a longstanding policy that bars most animals from entering the school. Her parents have asked that Satin be allowed to accompany Sarah only one hour a week to her Speech Pathology class. Still, the school has said no

. The Garvins can’t understand the school policy. Assistance dogs like Satin are usually welcome everywhere. They didn’t have a problem with Satin going to Sarah’s elementary school. Even when Sarah goes to the dentist for her regular check-ups, the reminder card in the mail has always noted “Don’t forget to bring Satin.”

 When asked why the school didn’t want Satin to accompany Sarah to class, the first answer was “dog dander.” Then the answer was that Sarah “didn’t need special accommodations.”

What the school hasn’t realized yet is that Satin has helped to improve her master’s learning skills and has given her confidence. Sarah speaks more clearly when giving Satin commands. Satin helps the little girl in other ways too, such as opening doors and even taking off Sarah’s socks when her arthritis becomes too painful.

The school principal has the final say if Satin can go to school or not. They have listed three conditions for an assistance animal to enter school:

 1- If Sarah receives a benefit from a special education program with the assistance of the dog;

 2- If the dog is used as a teaching strategy; or

 3- The dog is needed as comfort or treatment “after a traumatic event.”

"The school isn’t the same as a restaurant or a public place,” states a school representative. “We have to consider the health and safety of all of our children and staff too.”

 Sarah was hooked up with Satin in November 2001. At the time, Sarah was in a wheelchair, and Satin assisted in chores such as picking up items. Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit organization which has placed thousands of specially-trained dogs for needy people, cannot understand why Sarah’s school is so against Satin helping Sarah in school. The organization says it has run into this sort of problem before, but it normally just takes “education” to resolve the issue.

Satin now follows 50 commands and has come a long way since the dog and Sarah spent two weeks together in New York before Sarah was allowed to keep the dog. Satin’s sister, also specially trained to help others, eventually was placed at a children’s hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

 New medicine has allowed Sarah to walk and handle the pain of her arthritis better. She is on the swimming and bowling teams for her local Special Olympics.

 Much of the credit for Sarah’s improvement and development over the years has been credited to her dog. Now, Sarah needs Satin to attend school with her, so she can maximize her fullest potential.

 Mrs. Garvin has even offered to be an adult “facilitator,” as she had done in elementary school, meaning that Sarah’s mother would be there, with the dog, for her weekly speech class, if need be.

 Still the school says no.

 Disability advocate groups have advised the Garvins to seek an attorney, on the grounds of discrimination.

 But so far, the Garvins have resisted legal action, and for a reason.

 “We hesitate going to a lawyer, because this is something they should do because it is good,” the mother says. “They shouldn’t be compelled to do it.”

 Here’s wishing that a fair resolution is found. Policies are needed in life - but sometimes just plain common sense makes more sense.