[Flagdu] Should Service Dogs in training be allowed in the public schools?

[Jody Ianuzzi]

It has been my experience as a student parent and grandparent that schools first reaction to anything new and different is to say no. There are even schools that don't want a blind child to use a white cane because they think it is dangerous. 

My favorite excess denial problem actually happened at my granddaughters school. The school was in my neighborhood and I walked down to the school to pick her up. The temporary gate guard told me that I could not enter school grounds with my dog. I explained that she was a guide dog and she went everywhere that I went. Then the guard told me that I could only enter school grounds after all the children had left. I said that it was OK my dog was wonderful with children she was a guide dog and would be fine. Then the guard told me that I would have to walk through the bus line in the front of the school and that would not be allowed. Again I said that my dog was a guide dog and that she would be OK. At this point the guard asked me where I was going and I told her I was going around to the other side of the school to get my granddaughter in the cafeteria. OK get ready for this the guard then said well if you're going all the way over there why don't you just drive.  This was too much and I started to laugh and I said well because neither my guide dog or I can drive and I just walked through the gate. But the story isn't over because when I got around to the other side of the school and I went to walk in the cafeteria door I was stopped again by someone that said oh you can't bring your dog in the school here we go again. 

All that said the Florida service dog law allows for a dog in training to have the same status as a working service dog and being allowed in places of public accommodation. Of course the argument that many public schools make is that they are not a place of public accommodation. 

JODY 🐺
thunderwalker321 at gmail.com

"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."  DOCTOR WHO (Tom Baker)



> On Jul 16, 2015, at 12:38 AM, Doug Hall via Flagdu <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Personally, I think that the Orange County School Board is wrong.  Service
> animals, whether working or in training, can be a positive influence to
> adults and students alike.  Besides, the experience of being around students
> and crowds is a good teaching tool for the future service animal.  My fifth
> guide dog was raised by a art galery manager and massage therapist, who
> taught him about being handled and about being around lots of people.  It
> certainly helped with his job of guiding me and being around lots of
> clients.
> 
> Doug
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Flagdu [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Roanna Bacchus
> via Flagdu
> Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 7:56 PM
> To: flagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Roanna Bacchus
> Subject: [Flagdu] Should Service Dogs in training be allowed in the public
> schools?
> 
> Good Evening to the Flagdu Members,
> 
> Last weekend I found an article in the Orlando Sentinel about service dogs
> in training being banned from Orange County public schools.  One of the
> parents who was featured in the article said that the fron desk receptionist
> at her son's school allowed her service dog in training to walk him to
> class.  How do you feel about service dogs being banned from Orange County
> public schools? I feel that teachers can spend time with service dogs in
> training and improve their behavior skills.  I'd like to hear your thoughts
> on this topic.
> 
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