Calgary school bans disabled boy's service dog.

[Ricki Bobbi]

So this poor kid has muscular dystrophy, needs to use a wheel chair and can't bring his service dog in school.

Here's the link.

Gotta love the quote from the spokeswoman for Calgary Public Schools.

There are students who may be afraid of animals.

Any high school kid who is afraid of a big freakin' poodle has serious issues and they shouldn't effect this dude in the wheel getting the help he needs.

[jbg]

So this poor kid has muscular dystrophy, needs to use a wheel chair and can't bring his service dog in school.

Here's the link.

Gotta love the quote from the spokeswoman for Calgary Public Schools.

There are students who may be afraid of animals.

Any high school kid who is afraid of a big freakin' poodle has serious issues and they shouldn't effect this dude in the wheel getting the help he needs.

I thought that service dogs are an exception to a "no-animals" policy. I cannot imagine any actual student, at least one with an ounce of compassion, objecting. After all, most people are familiar with and accept seeing-eye dogs in places with food on display, such as supermarkets, despite the known vicious propensities of typical seeing-eye dog breeds, golden and labrador retrievers.

[betsy]

It is an odd society we live in. I didn't know this issue has to go in front of a tribunal.

After all, they have allowed daggers to be carried to schools...and here is this boy who literally depends on this dog, and yet denied.

[PocketRocket]

I guess existence of service dogs is not as well known as that of seeing-eye dogs.

But that aside......

The dog is trained to open doors, pick up things the teenager drops, and help him back to his feet when he falls.

Presumably, in an school environment, there would be plenty of people around to help if he drops something or falls down or needs help with a door.

The CBE said if the James family provides a doctor's note indicating the dog is necessary, they will allow the dog.

But James said her son shouldn't need a doctor's note because service dogs are allowed in all public places.

"To me we have to jump through all these hoops to prove to them that Cooper needs the dog," she said. "Well, look at Cooper -- he's in a wheelchair. He has enough to deal with."

"Jump through all these hoops"

Gotta love it. It would, after all, be the parent acquiring the note, which would take about a full hour out of her life to go get, and would not be something that the kid has to deal with.

But she makes it sound like an ongoing process of red-tape-cutting.

How about "Taking a very small hop through one slightly inconvenient hoop".

I don't see asking for a doctor's note as being too much of a stretch.

After all, any kid can walk into class with a dog, and claim it's a service dog.

In Cooper's case, it would be obvious that it is such, but where do you draw the line re who does or does not need such an aide.

Doctor's note, IMHO, is not asking too much.

[jbg]

I don't see asking for a doctor's note as being too much of a stretch.

After all, any kid can walk into class with a dog, and claim it's a service dog.

In Cooper's case, it would be obvious that it is such, but where do you draw the line re who does or does not need such an aide.

Doctor's note, IMHO, is not asking too much.

I agree. I have a son with a disability. He's mildly autistic. He needs a doctor's prescription for the occupational therapy and physical therapy given to him by the School District per an Individualized Educational Plan ("IEP").

[jdobbin]

The kid knew the rules before going. After September 11, a poodle could be used as an instrument of terror. Alberta won't go down that road.

[PocketRocket]

The kid knew the rules before going. After September 11, a poodle could be used as an instrument of terror. Alberta won't go down that road.

No kidding. That dog could well be planting "doggy mines" anywhere around the schoolyard.

Imagine the horror as kids step in these foul-smelling bombs.

That stuff is not easy to wash off the soles of shoes.

[Canuck E Stan]

Any high school kid who is afraid of a big freakin' poodle has serious issues and they shouldn't effect this dude in the wheel getting the help he needs.

I got news for you,that may be how you see this picture,but there are kids out there who have been tramatized by dogs or cats and are dead afaid of them.

I know of kids who won't go to a house that has a dog, any type or size.

These kids have to be considered in this equation.

[jdobbin]

No kidding. That dog could well be planting "doggy mines" anywhere around the schoolyard.

Imagine the horror as kids step in these foul-smelling bombs.

That stuff is not easy to wash off the soles of shoes.

Everything needs to be seen within the prism of the war on terror. Poodles are vicious and have nasty sharp pointed teeth.

[yam]

Vallium anybody?

[kimmy]

If I was a public official and wanted to make myself look like a complete idiot, this is probably how I'd go about it. I can't think of many better ways of aggravating the public than picking on a kid in a wheelchair.

We already know how this is going to turn out. Once the media gets ahold of this story, the school board is going to realize that they look like idiots and are going to reverse their position and probably issue an apology.

I'm puzzled at something: if the school board is not allowing the dog in school because other kids might be afraid of dogs or allergic to dogs, then what difference does a doctor's note make? Does a doctor's note make the dog less scary to other kids? Does a doctor's note make the dog hypoallergenic?

I dunno. I don't see asking for the doctor's note as being unreasonable, but at the same time I don't even see the point of getting into a battle like this. Battling a disabled kid in the media is a no-win situation for the school board. Why go there?

-k

[jdobbin]

I dunno. I don't see asking for the doctor's note as being unreasonable, but at the same time I don't even see the point of getting into a battle like this. Battling a disabled kid in the media is a no-win situation for the school board. Why go there?

Because rules are rules in a conservative city.

[Canuck E Stan]

Because rules are rules in a conservative city.

Unlike a Liberal city where anything goes.

[jdobbin]

Unlike a Liberal city where anything goes.

Exactly. So, this a line in the sand against this rule breaking. You let one dog in, you have to let them all in.

[Ricki Bobbi]

This is *HIGH SCHOOL* age kids we are talking about.

Does this mean these kids you know won't go to any public place for fear of someone being there with a seeing eye dog?

Consider them if you want but is their potential fear more important than being compassionate to this kid?

I got news for you,that may be how you see this picture,but there are kids out there who have been tramatized by dogs or cats and are dead afaid of them.

I know of kids who won't go to a house that has a dog, any type or size.

These kids have to be considered in this equation.

[yam]

Unlike a Liberal city where anything goes.

Exactly. So, this a line in the sand against this rule breaking. You let one dog in, you have to let them all in.

Precisely!

We would not want to be 'over run' by wheel chairs

[kimmy]

Precisely!

We would not want to be 'over run' by wheel chairs

Once the other kids see that Cooper is allowed to bring his dog to school, all the other kids will want muscular distrophy too!

-k

[August1991]

If I was a public official and wanted to make myself look like a complete idiot, this is probably how I'd go about it. I can't think of many better ways of aggravating the public than picking on a kid in a wheelchair.

That was my first reaction too. Pick on a kid in a wheelchair with a dog - that's going to look really good in the newspaper.

Then I read about the doctor's note and I wondered, if I were in this mother's position, would I get the note or go to the media? There's something strange here. Moreover, this is surely not the first time a kid has gone to a school in Calgary with a dog. Doesn't the board have a policy?

I'm puzzled at something: if the school board is not allowing the dog in school because other kids might be afraid of dogs or allergic to dogs, then what difference does a doctor's note make? Does a doctor's note make the dog less scary to other kids? Does a doctor's note make the dog hypoallergenic?

The doctor's note raises the bar a little and makes it more difficult for people to make spurious claims to need a dog or other aids in school.

-----

The thread nevertheless does raise an interesting question. By law, children are required to be in a classroom. We should always treat such involuntary situations with care. How do we accommodate a child allergic to dogs with a child who needs a seeing-eye dog?

A school and a restaurant are very similar. People go to both to receive sustenance as a group. The difference is that in the case of a (state) school, children are required to attend. They have no choice in the school, teacher or fellow classmates . In the case of a restaurant, people are free to choose the restaurant, their meal and can leave anytime they want.

[betsy]

Yeah. I missed that part about the doctor's note.

Why would the mother resist in getting a note, if that's all that's needed? I do not agree with her.

If she wouldn't let her son go to school unless the school bends to her will, well then...keep your bloody son at home and home-school him! Wheelchair-bound or not, rules are rules!

[jdobbin]

The doctor's note raises the bar a little and makes it more difficult for people to make spurious claims to need a dog or other aids in school.

We certainly don't want people to think they can buy a wheel chair out of laziness and use it for school.

[jbg]

I dunno. I don't see asking for the doctor's note as being unreasonable, but at the same time I don't even see the point of getting into a battle like this. Battling a disabled kid in the media is a no-win situation for the school board. Why go there?

So that they can draw the line where the benefit of a kid bringing a dog is purely companionship/psychic, as opposed to being a practical necessity.

Everything needs to be seen within the prism of the war on terror. Poodles are vicious and have nasty sharp pointed teeth.

I know, or think, you're being satirical, since you don't consider terror to be a serious problem. That being said, golden and labrador retrievers, the most common service dogs, are also among the world's most vicious breed of dog. They can and do attack using their tail, as well as their paws and the dog's usual attack equipment, their mouths.

[jdobbin]

I know, or think, you're being satirical, since you don't consider terror to be a serious problem. That being said, golden and labrador retrievers, the most common service dogs, are also among the world's most vicious breed of dog. They can and do attack using their tail, as well as their paws and the dog's usual attack equipment, their mouths.

And service dogs are the biggest killers out there, especially labs.

I don't consider that the war on terror ever meant invading Iraq and Iran as you seem to think.

[jbg]

I don't consider that the war on terror ever meant invading Iraq and Iran as you seem to think.

Either we fight them there, or we fight them here.

And service dogs are the biggest killers out there, especially labs.

Agreed. Those labs are a menace. Goldens even worse.

[jdobbin]

Either we fight them there, or we fight them here.

So you are supporting Bush and the Republicans in invading Iran now while there is still time?

[jbg]

Either we fight them there, or we fight them here.

So you are supporting Bush and the Republicans in invading Iran now while there is still time?

I happen to prefer fomenting a rebellion or coup, but basically yes.

What do you propose to do about those vicious golden retrievers?