[nagdu] Arkansas School Refuses To Hold Leash For 7-Year-Old Boy's Service Dog

[Ginger Kutsch]

Arkansas School Refuses To Hold Leash For 7-Year-Old Boy's Service Dog

By Sarah Fruchtnicht 

Sun, July 13, 2014

 

 

An Arkansas family claims their son's school district is forcing them to
fork over hefty handling fees for their 7-year-old son's service dog.

 

Zachary Sorrell's 2-year-old golden retriever Majesty is capable of sensing
when he might have a seizure. Zachary suffers from cerebral palsy and
epilepsy, but he is not old enough to "handle" Majesty himself. Handling
means "simply holding her leash and using one-word commands," his other
Michelle Sorrells told FoxNews.com.

 

His elementary school refuses to provide a staff member to handle the dog,
so the Sorrell's have to spend $125 a week for a private adult handler.

 

The Sorrell's filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office
of Civil Rights, which is now investigating the Cabot School District.

 

"We are not providing a handler for any service animals per district policy
and it is consistently applied across the district," Cabot Schools
Superintendent Dr. Tony Thurman told Fox News in an email.

 

"The district made the decision not to provide a handler for the animal
based on ADA guidelines and district policy ... The family made the decision
to provide the handler because they wanted the service animal with the
student," he said.

 

He cited ADA guidelines that say "Staff are not required to provide care or
food for a service animal."

 

The Disability Rights Center of Arkansas is representing the Sorrell family.

 

"The school is not being asked to feed, bath or walk the dog, as in how we
typically take care of animals," said the group's executive director, Tom
Masseau. "What they're being asked to do is hold the leash and give the dog
two or three simple commands to assist the boy in his daily activities at
school."

 

Zachary's mother says Majesty is a critical part of Zachary's health. The
dog is specifically trained to work with epileptic patients.

 

"Majesty has allowed Zachary to completely come off all his seizure
medication because she alerts to his seizures ahead of time," she said.
"We're solely reliant on her for seizure alert and this becomes a life
threatening situation if she's not allowed to attend."

 

Superintendent Thurman argues that the dog isn't necessary for the boy to
attend school.

 

"The most important aspect of this entire issue is the fact that the child
can be provided with an education with or without the service animal," he
wrote. "We have several students that deal with much the same medical issue
and we provide a registered nurse in every school to support the health
needs of all students."

 

Sources: Fox News, Bayou Buzz

 

Image Credit: Pawsitivity Service Dogs

 

Source:
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/education/arkansas-school-refuses-hol
d-leash-7-year-old-boy-s-service-dog?utm_source=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_medium
=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_campaign=PANTHEON_STRIPPED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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publishes original journalism on politics, social issues, religion, sports
and entertainment. Our editorial staff presents breaking news, in-depth
analysis and cutting-edge content around the clock. Based in Los Angeles, we
currently reach 15 million unique visitors every month. 

 

Entire site copyright 2008-2014, OpposingViews.com

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Sarah Fruchtnicht, Sun, July 13, 2014

 

 

An Arkansas family claims their son's school district is forcing them to
fork over hefty handling fees for their 7-year-old son's service dog.

 

Zachary Sorrell's 2-year-old golden retriever Majesty is capable of sensing
when he might have a seizure. Zachary suffers from cerebral palsy and
epilepsy, but he is not old enough to "handle" Majesty himself. Handling
means "simply holding her leash and using one-word commands," his other
Michelle Sorrells told FoxNews.com.

 

His elementary school refuses to provide a staff member to handle the dog,
so the Sorrell's have to spend $125 a week for a private adult handler.

 

The Sorrell's filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office
of Civil Rights, which is now investigating the Cabot School District.

 

"We are not providing a handler for any service animals per district policy
and it is consistently applied across the district," Cabot Schools
Superintendent Dr. Tony Thurman told Fox News in an email.

 

"The district made the decision not to provide a handler for the animal
based on ADA guidelines and district policy ... The family made the decision
to provide the handler because they wanted the service animal with the
student," he said.

 

He cited ADA guidelines that say "Staff are not required to provide care or
food for a service animal."

 

The Disability Rights Center of Arkansas is representing the Sorrell family.

 

"The school is not being asked to feed, bath or walk the dog, as in how we
typically take care of animals," said the group's executive director, Tom
Masseau. "What they're being asked to do is hold the leash and give the dog
two or three simple commands to assist the boy in his daily activities at
school."

 

Zachary's mother says Majesty is a critical part of Zachary's health. The
dog is specifically trained to work with epileptic patients.

 

"Majesty has allowed Zachary to completely come off all his seizure
medication because she alerts to his seizures ahead of time," she said.
"We're solely reliant on her for seizure alert and this becomes a life
threatening situation if she's not allowed to attend."

 

Superintendent Thurman argues that the dog isn't necessary for the boy to
attend school.

 

"The most important aspect of this entire issue is the fact that the child
can be provided with an education with or without the service animal," he
wrote. "We have several students that deal with much the same medical issue
and we provide a registered nurse in every school to support the health
needs of all students."

 

Sources: Fox News, Bayou Buzz

 

Image Credit: Pawsitivity Service Dogs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What effect does losing $20 have on people? Watch what happens to these 7

 

Promoted by Prudential

What effect does losing $20 have on people? Watch what happens to these 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 7 

 

1 

 

 

 

  

   

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Gallery of the Day

 

20 Kids Who Desperately Need A Better Role Model 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AllGalleries

 

 

 

 

 

16 People Who Could Use Some Guidance At The Gym  

 

16 People Who Could Use Some Guidance At The Gym  

 

 

How 13 Famous Companies Got Their Brand Name 

 

How 13 Famous Companies Got Their Brand Name 

 

 

A Photographic Story Of One Special Dog's Final Day 

 

A Photographic Story Of One Special Dog's Final Day 

 

 

22 Hilariously Awkward Baby Photos 

 

22 Hilariously Awkward Baby Photos 

 

 

Frankie Was In Bad Shape When They Found Him In The Gutter... 

 

Frankie Was In Bad Shape When They Found Him In The Gutter..... 

 

 

The Baby Monkey Has Found Herself An (Unconventional) Family 

 

The Baby Monkey Has Found Herself An (Unconventional) Family 

. 

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

  

  

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

 

MostPopular

 

 

 

 

 

article image 

 

Teen Gets 23 Years in Prison for Shooting Retired Police Dog 

 

  

 

 

article image 

 

Police: Teenage Aunt Saves Niece From Abductor By Punching Him In The Head
(Video) 

 

  

 

 

article image 

 

Murderer Of Heroic 6-Year-Old Who Saved His Sister Found Guilty 

 

  

 

 

article image 

 

Target Security Officer Allegedly Fired For Reporting Shoplifter To Police 

 

  

 

 

article image 

 

Woman Surprises Stepfather With Dream Car For Father's Day (Video) 

 

  

  

 

 

  

  

 

 

OV Social

 

 

 

 

likeus

fbook icon 

 

followus

twitter icon 

 

readus

rss icon   

 

 

 

  

 

 

TopGalleries

 

 

 

 

 

16 People Who Could Use Some Guidance At The Gym  

 

16 People Who Could Use Some Guidance At The Gym  

 

How 13 Famous Companies Got Their Brand Name 

 

How 13 Famous Companies Got Their Brand Name 

 

 

A Photographic Story Of One Special Dog's Final Day 

 

A Photographic Story Of One Special Dog's Final Day 

 

22 Hilariously Awkward Baby Photos 

 

22 Hilariously Awkward Baby Photos 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Advertise With Us

Civility 101

FAQ

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

About

Contact

Careers

News Partners

Inquisitr

 

About

fbook icon twitter icon rss icon  

Founded in 2007, OpposingViews.com is an independent media site that
publishes original journalism on politics, social issues, religion, sports
and entertainment. Our editorial staff presents breaking news, in-depth
analysis and cutting-edge content around the clock. Based in Los Angeles, we
currently reach 15 million unique visitors every month. 

 

Entire site copyright 2008-2014, OpposingViews.com

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- See more at:
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/education/arkansas-school-refuses-hol
d-leash-7-year-old-boy-s-service-dog?utm_source=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_medium
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