SHARE THIS SHOW:
RELATED CONVERSATIONS:
RECENTLY ON TOL:
TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
TAGS:
A Hillsboro third grader and his dog drew media attention this week because of his family's struggle with the school district over whether or not he should be allowed to bring the German shepherd to class with him. The family says the dog isn't just a pet, but a service animal, who is trained in specific ways to help the boy, who is autistic. The school argues that the dog is a therapy animal — basically a helpful pet — and that it's not necessary to have such an animal in the classroom.
The line between service and therapy animals isn't always clear.
Places that don't allow pets have to make exceptions for service animals such as guide dogs and dogs that assist people with other kinds of disabilities. But the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) limits business owners and others from asking too many questions of people who travel with canine companions. They can ask if the dog is a service animal and, if so, what tasks the dog is trained to do that its owner cannot. Assistance Dogs International sets training standards for organizations that train dogs to help disabled people around the country, but there is no legally accepted standard for training. Even if there were, the ADA would protect people from having to produce documentation in order to take their animals into a business or public building. All of this makes it difficult to draw lines between specifically trained service dogs and animals that simply help their owners feel better. It also means that some people abuse the law.
Do you have a service or therapy dog? How does your animal help you? Are you a business owner? What rules do you have about allowing animals in your business? How do you distinguish between service animals, therapy animals and pets?
GUESTS:
- Wendy Givens: Mother of a boy with autism who has a dog that is trained to help him in various ways
- Eduardo Delanderos-Tierre: A veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder who has a dog to help mitigate his symptoms
- Robin Dickson: President and CEO of Dogs for the Deaf and secretary of Assistance Dogs International
- Joe Gilliam: President of the Northwest Grocery Association
Tagged as: autism · blind · pets
Photo credit: IndysMom / Creative Commons
-
Without doubt, if you are blind, a service animal serves a concrete and indisputable function. A therapy animal is definitely not an equivalent to a service animal in any realistic way, despite the well intentioned claims made by the attorney Joel Greenberg. I assume there isn't much research to show the efficacy of an animal as a therapeutic creature, which is concerning. It is hard to know whether it is science promoting this therapeutic use or simply self-interest, or people who think animals are a panacea for everything. How much good do these therapy animals do, are they medically necessary and is there no alternative?
But, then again, you have to feel empathy with parents, children, and people these animals might be helping. To take something away from a particularly vulnerable child, does seem a bit cruel and perhaps unnecessary. And, what is the harm in a child having a therapeutic animal? I would imagine that some of the blind might resent the use of service animals as therapeutic animals---seeing the therapeutic use as a muddying of the waters. Like who has the 'real' need? Does the therapeutic use somehow detract from the service use.
It seems, the heart of this debate, is about our never ending quest for authenticity and accountability, through blame. For example, are we concerned because the animals are an inconvenience or causing a disruption? Or, are we motivated by not being believers, or thinking the therapeutic use is unnecessary? Perhaps, wanting to expose an alleged fraud. We have a real desire (myself included) to want to discredit and at the same time blame people for every possible thing. To take away their crutches. You don't really need those antidepressants---that Ritalin. The obese don't need the lap-band, they just need to stop eating. They just need to pick themselves up by the bootstraps. We don't want to believe that people sometimes can't help themselves from within---and, a therapeutic animal, is as literal an example of this, as you can get.
-
If I understand the latest federal laws on this correctly, what any of us think makes no difference. A service animal ,weather it be for the blind, or for emotional support, physical support as an aid for the persons balence, etc,, is still a service animal. It is not up to us to decide or judge what the disabled individual needs. That is between the disabled person and his or her DR. mobility Specialist or other heath care provider. If a School won't allow the animal, and the disabled individual files a complaint,The school will be informed that if it does not comply with the federal law, then the school will lose it's federal funding. It will be shut down untill it complys with the Federal law. The disabled person also has the right to file a law suit against the school and they will win, because the law is the law. Not just the ADA, but section 504 of the rehabilitation Act. I believe covers this . The new ADDA is being inforced by the Federal agency's charged with that inforcement. If your School system is out of compliance with these laws, it is only a matter of time before a complaint is filed. It will cost the people of that district dearly if it goes to court. Tell your school district to get with it ,or get a job else where. before these mistaken school officials lose all the funding for your school and it is forced to close. Stop judging, stop criticizing . Do what you know is right. Do what ever you can to make sure people with disabilities have equil access. Call your school and ask them to comply. If they don't. Call the federal Dept. of ed, and turn them in your self if need be. Don't tolerate even the slightest hint of discrimination against anyone with a disability. No matter what that disability is. If you do, perhaps YOU have a serious personality disorder/disability yourself ? How can we help?
-
If we open the door to treating therapeutic animals as service animals, we have the question of what is an acceptable therapeutic use, and for what conditions? In cases like autism the lines might be easier to draw, and the therapeutic value easier to measure. But how do you measure the medical value of a therapy animal that is used to treat a victim of rape? What is the disease exactly? PTSD? Then, do you consider the disease a permanent disability? Is it ever cured? You can't exactly treat someone for something they don't medically have. So, you would need to establish that a rape victim has a disease or disorder, in order to consider the animal medically therapeutic. Then you would need to determine the length of treatment, and when and if, the patient should be reevaluated.
For some issues, it would be hard to ascertain where and how the therapeutic value occurs. And also if this value wasn't merely the benefit any person, healthy or sick, might receive from the companionship of a pet. Theoretically, all people might feel better in the company of a pet. So how do you separate the medical, from the general value?
A conceptual comparison: in a nation or place that doesn't allow concealed weapons, should a rape victim be allowed to carry a gun because it could be considered therapeutic? It may seem like an absurd stretch, but it really isn't. Because a gun or a dog could both be considered to make a victim feel safe. In many situations, it is burdensome to determine and quantify, what the therapeutic effects of an animal are. The science on these matters, has to be iffy, at best. And, it will be incredibly difficult to establish equitable criteria for the use of therapy animals.
-
I think anyone who has a certified service or therapy dog should be allowed to bring that dog anywhere he or she goes. I have a serious problem with people who bring their pit bulls, rottweilers and poodles into businesses such as Safeway, Zupan's/Peet's coffee shop and on the MAX. I can't trust that the dogs are well trained or that the owners care one bit about how others who don't have dogs respond to dogs, such as allergies, genuine fear of dogs etc. Dogs that are owned by homeless people often come into stores with their owners who don't seem to care about community guidelines or store rules. It also seems that store security is often afraid to enforce their own rules and dogs that are clearly not services dogs are allowed in stores. It is an abuse of the system and as someone who eventually wants to have a certified service dog I am certain that people who bring their mutts into a business make it more difficult for people who truly need a dog as a life support.
-
A relative of mine who was visiting from Chicago recently surprised me by bringing her Yorkie with here everywhere. My relative had her dog prescribed to her for depression. As a licensed service dog, her little Yorkie has the same "rights" as a dog who assists the blind.
And while I hear you that pit bulls, rottweilers, and poodles (did you mean the big ones?), in tight spaces like coffee shops create genuine fear in those around them, I would like to add that Yorkies can be surprisingly vicious little doggies as well. This one growls and snarls at anything that comes within a foot or two of it and had bitten my relative several times. It hasn't yet bitten anyone in public, but I wonder want the consequences of that coudl be. That said, my relative loves the little devil dog with her whole heart and saving it from the Yorkie Rescue Society has truly been beneficial for her depression. Chew on that.
(sorry couldn't resist the pun)
-
No doubt there are absolutely valid instances for service dogs in public places, no argument there.
What drives me mad is people in Portland schlepping their dogs into food stores, cafes and other such places. Then they talk to Fifi or Dakota while other people including service people are trying to do business. Dogs are dirty, they lie down in dirt, they roll in dirt, given half a chance they will roll in and/or eat other dogs waste. That's okay, their dogs, they get to do that. They do not belong in food stores, cafe's. coffee houses or the like.
-
I really like dogs and often enjoy meeting new ones in parks and other public places -- out of doors.
I do NOT appreciate running into strange dogs in stores and other places of business, especially restaurants and supermarkets, which seems increasingly to be the case.
Aside from obvious issues of safety and sanitation , (I know, YOUR pet won't relieve itself in the produce department or bite my toddler granddaughter, but someone else's might,) there are concerns about allergies and/or phobias some people suffer.
And consider this: If dogs are allowed everywhere, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is recognized as a serious enough illness to be grounds for some people to have service or therapy dogs, for example, what accomodation is there for someone who has PTSD as the result of witnessing or suffering a near-fatal dog attack? Must that person stay out of all stores and other places of business for fear of encountering a bad-tempered pit bull or German shepherd? Or one of each, getting into a fight?
I recognize that service dogs for people with serious disabilities like blindness are vital, and occasionally seeing one in The Home Depot (where dogs seem to outnumber even the hordes of overly helpful employees these days) is inevitable. But it should be uncommon, and pets and companion animals should be prohibited. Therapy animals? Where does it end? A Presa Canario for someone who's lonely? And why limit them to dogs? How about a python?
I leave it to lawmakers and health-care professionals to determine who qualifies to employ a service or therapy dog, but I believe the number of such canine assistants needs to be strictly regulated. It should be restricted to those that are truly needed, professionally trained, properly socialized and specially licensed.
The license tag or emblem should be distinct and highly visible. That would help prevent intrusive questioning of the dog's owner. At the same time it would assure people who are afraid of dogs that at least those that are licensed have been bred, raised, trained and tested according to rigorous standards of competence and behavior, and examined to determine those standards have been met.
-
This is another good topic about balancing needs.
No matter how good a dog behaves, and even given that Scooter is greatly helped by his service dog, how can there be a guarantee about the dog's behavior in a classroom?
Is the dog protective? Will it nip a classmate who wrestles with Scooter? What if Madison gets sick? Does Scooter get to demand that the school system provide a comparable service dog?
I can imagine that the district might have some really obvious liability issues.
-
Service dogs are put through a stringent temperament tests. Dogs for the autistic child are trained for accidents, noises, obnoxious people behavior, etc. Most classrooms that have a service dog in the classroom have a little education on etiquette. If Madison gets sick, Scooter may alert the teacher to his problem.
Are there guarantees that another autistic child won't become violent to a teacher or child? No! If the teachers are keeping their classroom in order and most teachers do, there should be no problem.
-
An important difference between the user of a therapy animal and a service animal: the user of a therapy animal is often not a person with a physical disability, or even a general disability---at least not in the way we normally talk about or define disabilities. I would assume the ADA's role should be limited to addressing people with disabilities. A major portion of this conflict occurs between the inherent differences of mental and physical disabilities. And, what a disability actually is---or how loose we are going to be with the definition.
-
I understand the need for a service animal, as I have one myself. The mother of Scooter commented about needing a note from a medical doctor to get her service animal. Who is requiring this? I do agree with her that state law would make Scooter a "therapy dog" and the ADA states it is a "service animal" and that the ADA would trump the state law, which is true. Which ever law allows for greater protection to the person with the disability will prevail.
Here is a good thought regarding the difference between a Service Animal and a Therapy Animal. A service animal is trained to assist an individual with a disability and a therapy animal is an animal that goes to visit or visits with people in many different environments such as a nuring home or hospital or even hospice patients.
Joel in Corvallis, Oregon
-
The mom is being polite and is not in a good position to state the obvious: the school is being a bunch of jerks.
At no noticable cost to them, they could collaborate with the family in the education of an apparently intelligent kid.
Instead they come brandishing lawyers and excluding the family from proper communication. That's the apparent behavior of people who know they are doing wrong and want to CYA to stay one notch away from being sued.
Meanwhile, they install an IEP which sets as a goal to teach reading to a kid who already taught himself to do so. Pay attention to the student, and help him learn something new. Keeping kids engaged with learning interesting new stuff avoids mischeif from most kids.
And those people get paid as educational professionals? They should be ashamed of themselves.
-
Cosmo sounds like a potentially dangerous animal. What would a professional dog trainer (as opposed to a dog companion advocate) say about this?
I find that I am distressed that dogs like Cosmo may be out in public "assisting" folks. Not that anyone intends anything bad, but there are too many stories of dogs biting people to ignore the danger.
-
maybe you should stay home.
-
I really don't understand what the problem is. The law is pretty clear on service animals. Is Madison a service animal by this definition? It seems so, from what the mother said, and what was reported in the Oregonian.
Madison is well trained by a reputable group, there are safety measures in place so the dog doesn't get aggressive with other kids, etc. Clearly autism is a disability by any definition - it's in the diagnositc manual and there are clear diagnostic criteria. If the school has any concerns, then a clearly defined agreement can be part of the IEP.
That's what the IEP is *for*! Social goals should be part of the IEP, since social issues greatly impact the quality of a child's education. They can say that the dog will be there on a trial basis of a couple of months at which point his presence will be re-evaluated, for instance.
I find it very frustrating that school districts (and not just here) seems to think that they only have to provide a minimal education and they fight tooth and nail against parents of kids with autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc (the less well-known problem, in other words). These parents only want their kids to get a good education! Shouldn't the school district have the same goal??
It is shameful that the fight can be so draining that many parents decide that it's just easier to homeschool. Why can't we provide a decent education for everyone who wants it?
-
I'm sorry that the mother has not been asked to consider what the effect of the dog might be on the other autistic children in her son's class. Would they be expected to keep a "hands off" rule? Mightn't this be rather difficult to enforce?
-
My son had to fit a specific profile " high functioning" " NO anger problem", and in the goals to be the handler!!
-
I can't say I would have any issue with the dog mentioned at the beginning of the show. In fact, I'm not sure why the school has a problem with it. If the child is really that disruptive, it seems to me it is better for the other students to actually have the dog there to calm the child. ...assuming the really can calm the child.
However, a vet with PTSD training his own Pit Bull, let alone outside of any guidelines at all, and calling it a service animal?
Just seems like a lapse in the federal guidelines, honestly.
Like Robin Dickson was implying, a true, well-trained, highly-skilled, service animal should be carefully placed, and there should be very strict guidelines over what kinds of animals can be used and how they should be trained.
-
I disagree. A dog that you have trained from a puppy is far more bonded with you than a full grown dog you may or may not bond to. Owner trained service dogs are given just as much training in obedience and job performance if not more.
I spend many hours training my dogs and anyone who knows me will vouch that when I am giving a presentation or attending a meeting that nobody even knew there was a dog in the room.
As I see it the Federal government has set up the guidelines appropriately so.
-
Cinders is bonded against damage and heavily insured by the Assistance Dog Network. She can go anywhere the public is allowed. This is also a point that may differ between "service dogs" and other animals!
-
No place of business, nor a church can bar a service animal. I' ve gone to many churches and private clubs and never been turned away.
Anyone that tries to deny me access is met with a phone call to my lawyer. Usually after talking to my lawyer, I am granted access because I won't hestate to file a lawsuit for discrimination.
-
You have to consider the effect of service animals on people with allergies also. One of the members of my choral group is severely allergic to animals, and at one of our performances someone had brought a "service dog" (quotes applied because it did not appear to be a service dog.) She could not perform with us, and had to leave because of the severe allergic reaction she had.
Is an allergy considered a "disability"? How can we balance the needs of the dog owner with those who cannot be in the same space with their animals?
-
Businesses can do more than just ask if the animal is a service animal! All those who abuse the ADA know all they have to do is say "yes" to this question. They need to ask the person what specific skills the animal has been trained to do to mitigate the disability. People who are abusing the system will have no idea what to say.
-
I have to work so can't really participate. However just finished a book by Dr. Temple Grandin entitled Animals in Translation. She is autistic herself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin
Near the end of her book she discusses Animal Genius...not simply the fact that animals can be trained to take certain actions on command, and not simply the ability to sense when someone will have a seizure 30 minutes in advance, but the intelligence to take action on their own...bark at owner, take person by a sleeve to a safe place, notifying the person they are about to have a seizure before the person realizes it.
Fascinating.
-
my dog goes everywhere and always give good service - he makes everyone smile - some corporations have policies against smiling - it's all serious all the time - poor souls
-
My service dog is very cute. She has about 12 things she does for me. Because she is with me almost always she is very focused.
She always has a marked vest. I always carry a copy of my physician's and veteranarian's letters in a miniturized card.
There are several requirements for the dog - who is a trained herd dog = but is not to bark in stores, etc.
I appreciate any manager who asks and will explain what the dog does. I do not let her be petted anywhere but at my wife's oncologists office.
I also know others are thinking it is some sort of joke. There is a very large potential fine for violating the ADA with a non service animal being presented. And am very happy people will tolerate the dog.
-
When I worked for a professional services firm a few employees brought their dogs to work as theraputic companions. At the time people had just started bringing pets to work and I felt it was innapropriate.
I felt sorry for the dogs because they spent all day in a stressful office environment with lots of machine noise, artificial light, etc. But in retrospect the dogs probably fared better than their stressed humans.
When I worked for an outdoor sports shop dogs were allowed in the store as family members. Dogs were integral to fun outdoor experiences so they were welcome in the shop as long as they didn't misbehave. (Of course I ended up removing stains and cleaning up doggy exhaust.)
I'm miffed that dogs and cats that aren't mine deficate in my yard. The owners of these animals aren't responsibe for cleaning up after their pets. I don't blame the animals but I dislike thoughtless pet owners.
-
Most people are unfamiliar with the requirements placed upon school districts to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities. These educational requirements are specified in the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004. In addition, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination. School districts must also follow all of the rules in this act when working with students or other individuals with disabilities.
For the 9 year old student with autism spectrum disorder, the school district must create an Individual Education Plan (IEP) on a yearly basis that describes specific goals for the educational progress of the student. The IEP is the document which describes how the district will provide a free and appropriate education to the student as well as how the district will assess whether the student has made adequate yearly progress toward meeting the educational goals.
The IEP is made WITH the parent. The parent agrees to the goals and signs the IEP at an annual IEP meeting. If the parent disagrees with the goals described in the IEP or has other concerns regarding the free and appropriate education required by federal law then there are specific remedies and procedures described in the IDEA (see above) that allow parents to seek remedies under federal law.
The question in my mind right now is whether the service or therapy dog is necessary for the educational progress of the student as is described on the IEP. If the service or therapy dog is not part of the IEP then the school district has every right to say that the dog does not belong in the classroom or school setting.
The question of whether the dog is beneficial for the child when he or she is under stress is a different question than the one the school district must ask.
dcm
-
The U.S. Department of Justice has a website that outlines information about service animals. The website is www.ada.gov and look at publications. The last question about allergies is addressed in the ADA Business brief on Service animals. It states that allergies and fear of animals is generally NOT valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people with service animals.
I work for the City of Vancouver, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation and run programs for individuals with disabilities. We recently had an individual sign up for a trip and indicated that she had a service animal. When she showed up it was seriously questioned whether the dog was a service animal or a pet and unfortunately I was out sick that day. On returning to work and looking up the requirements under the ADA I found that we could ask the question what task does your service animal perform for you. You cannot ask for identification or documentation that the animal is a service animal.
-
I am a grade school science teacher, and have had a service dog in my classroom for the last 4 years. I raise and train them for ASDA, Autism Service Dogs of America. Yes, we have had to deal with allergies, worries about the dogs hurting someone. and all of the other objections. However, the benefits FAR outweigh the risks. I have met both of the families my first two dogs have been placed with, and both speak of how dramatically and positively the dogs have changed their children's lives--and consequently the life of the family as a whole. Both autistic children have made huge gains as aresult of having the dogs with them (providing security, comfort, help with transitions, and "social lubrication"). However, the kids in my classroom also gain from thier daily interaction with the puppies I am training--my classroom is more mellow, cleaner ("don't leave that on the floor, the dog might get it!"), and fun. Some kids, especially my more divergent and different kids, also "use" the dogs as friends, for a calming influence, or even as someone to talk to. Hillsboro Schools may indeed feel that their student is doing "OK" in his special needs classroom, but why stop at OK? Why not go for "good" or even "great"? A service dog helps not only the child to which it is "attached" but helps that child interact with others, to relax, to have a positive outlet for his emotions, and so much more.
-
More and more I see people claming that their pets are service dogs. As far as I know a licenced service animal has to wear a vest that shows that it is licenced. My sister has trained therpy dogs and is licenced to train them. When she takes her dogs to any function (Be it a handicapped camp or a hospital.) the dogs have to wear the service dog's vest. I think that if the animal is not wearing the vest they should not be allowed into animal restriced buildings. Some people have a fixed income and cann't afford to buy the vests, but there are outfits that will help them get the vest.
D Davis
-
There is no licensing of service dogs or certifications. Agencies such as the blind,hearing, and organization/businesses that train service dogs certify that they have trained the dog to do specific jobs. Therapy dogs wear therapy dog vests, Service dogs wear service dog vests.
Obtaining a service dog that is already trained to do a specific job from an agency is an involved process. Not everyone gets approved or can afford a dog that cost thousands of dollars. If your own dog can provide the level of service that you need. GREAT!
And yes there are those dishonest people who abuse the system and they know who they are.
-
I missed part of todays show, but caught the bit from merchants that considered people with suspicion when assessing weather the animal with them was a service animal or not. Assuming people are "trying to get something for nothing" is missing the point that these people are doing business in your establishment. To draw the conclusion that an elderly person with a small animal, or some other person with a pet has brought in a feces/urine machine disgusts me when I've seen people with less than admirable hygeine practices. Unless there is an actual "accident", I think those merchants should get back to stocking shelves.
-
I think the guest who just spoke about allergies "not being a big deal" needs to talk to more people with allergies! If she wants other people to be sensitive to the needs of people with service dogs, then she should be equally empathetic to those with allergies.
For one thing, the person with the allergy is not necessarily going to be able to go up to her to ask her to remove the dog. Most likely they will remove themselves from the store or situation, as happened in our situation, even though we were the ones asked there to perform.
In the future I will leave with her, because obviously more awareness needs to be raised about the number of people with severe allergies to animals.
Several people have raised the point that you can ask the person what services the dog has been trained to do. If they cannot answer, you should be able to politely ask the person to leave. However, given the sensitivity to this issue I can imagine that a store or church might hesitate to make a scene.
-
churches are religious organizations, and private clubs etc, are not "open to the public" and can turn anyone away. So not to worry. I would tell anyone in authority such as a manager or store owner what the dog does for my son. no problem! :) I know my son has a right to be in a public place, but i would like to tell you that it's never happened to us that we have run into anyone with a severe alergy to the dog. If we did, we would try to work out a way for both to be happy. Neither the person with the service dog or the person with alergies should have to stay home. :)
-
Here's the link for Patriot Paws Service Dogs, which was mentioned at the end of the show by Eduardo Delanderos-Tierre:
http://www.patriotpaws.org/
-
Thank you mrsighents55 for posting that. :)
I was a little discouraged when I heard Wendy on the program say that she wouldn't take her son out with the dog place. I would like to encourage her to try. Chandler used to cry and cry and have meltdowns before Cinders, and since their bonding is so great. All that is a thing of the past. Cinders is a service dog, and protected by the ADA. SOOO many doors have opened up for Chandler since he has Cinders and going places is MUCH more easy.
Regaurding IEP.... :p
The SCHOOL writes the IEP, the school is ...uh... well, not very compliant sometimes. A family members little girl needed a hearing aid and the school said that she didn't need it because they could speak up!!!! (this issue is resolved now) They just didn't want to keep putting it back in every time she pulled it out!!
It has to be in the IEP or the school does NOT have to, by law, do it. So I would LOVE to have it in the IEP. Like I said, the SCHOOL writes them, and the school doesn't want the dog to ever be there. The Doctor says the dog is "medial equipment" like a wheel chair or a hearing aid. You can not get a service dog with out a doctor and more often then not more then just a doctors prescription, we had OTs, PT's care providers and the doctors letter to obtain Cinders for Chandler. The school will not allow the dog because they do not recognize her as medical eqipment needed to serve an "EDUCATIONAL" need. It's NOT true! In the last observation test they performed on Chandler in the classroom, he got out of his chair, needed redirection, was not on task, etc. The doctor wrote a letter (a year after we were places with Cinders,but right after we got that test results from his school) saying that these issues should greatly improve with Cinders in the present in the classroom! Still the Corvallis school dist. will not allow him to attend with his dog. I think it it descrimination.
-
Your statement is untrue. If you read the federal ADA guidelines it does not say that a doctor must prescribe the dog. Whoever told you that was wrong. It is up to the disabled individual to choose to use a service animal.
Read ORS 346.680 about the Assistance dog laws.
-
The company requires the doctors letter NOT the federal ADA guidelines... The place WHERE we chose to get the service animal from! It was a HUGE thing to obtain a proper service dog! not a therapy dog or an alarm dog or a companion dog. To qualify for the service dog all the letters and prescription were needed. ...Soo that is what I meant. :)
-
I am concerned about the well-being of the therapy dogs! To be subjected to the angry outbursts and tantrums of autistic children day in and day out must be incredibly stressful for them. Autistic individuals can and do lash out. Madison's mother referred to his "meltdowns".
Although Robin Dickson said families are screened to prevent placement in an abusive situation, I am unconvinced. It is nearly impossible to get an accurate picture on the inner workings of each household 24/7. Aside from potential physical peril (ie. the saying "kick the dog"?), there is a very real, emotional side that must also be considered. Dogs are not immune to yelling, screaming and other negative behaviors associated with autism.
Put yourself in the dog's place!
-
Below is a Oregon family's testimonial quote on the ASDA (Autism Service Dogs of America) website ... The child Blake is chewing on the dog Sam's tail? And this is okay?! Poor Sam.
"Yesterday, we went to an old car rally, which we never would have gone to before. When Blake’s not attached to Sam, Blake’s very hyperactive, always on the go. There was live music playing and we asked Blake to sit down, which he did—something he never would have done before. In the car, Blake chews on Sam’s tail, and Sam just lays there and watches him…Sam’s so gentle with Blake, it’s just wonderful. Within 2 weeks Blake was bonding with Sam, calling his name, refusing to get in the car to go bye-bye unless Sam was in the car."Mindy M.
-
anyone who has a Child with a service dog.. feel free to contact me!! I would love to talk anytime!
Candi, Chandler & Cinders :)
-
The key to resolving these issues is public education. Dog owners having a social conscience and perhaps someday a certification for companion animals as well as service animals that stores and schools can ask for.
I used to help run a large Animal Assisted Therapy program. We brought therapy animals into many public places hospitals, nursing homes, etc. The dogs were owned by one of our 1500 volunteers or in our hearing dog service training or at the shelter for adoption. We had simple tests to be sure the dogs had the temperament and health suited for this work. Service dogs are not aggressive. Every visit I went on was nothing short of a miracle. The dogs are so much more perceptive than any person. They were able to heal the populations we visited, for them it was easy. It is from this experience, I can say that Service dogs are a vital and important part of our society. They can smell cancer, sense an impending seizure, they can do things that people are not able to do. As owners and trainers we need to read their signs, respect their intelligence and teach them to behave politely in our environment. We need to find a way to make them more accepted and make it easier for retailers, schools, or any public institution to do this.
My dogs are my companions and one has some service training. They are large and I'm very aware that they may frighten someone who is not comfortable with dogs.
I take them into some stores and many public places. I do not take them into grocery stores or stores that sell food. They are well socialized and taking them into these places has been an important part of their training. I am grateful to be allowed to bring them with me and they always make themselves (and me) more welcomed. When anyone asks me about their training I tell them they are companion dogs. If they make anyone uncomfortable I remove the dog. Period.
A well trained dog is a welcome dog. Almost anywhere. If a dog (large or small) has behavior issues that are not publicly acceptable-any type of aggression, or defecating inside(!), they're not ok in public. The litigious issues that the schools and other public agencies find themselves up against are due to the bad behavior of a few pet owners. I hope any dog owners who read this will set a good public example by being a benevolent leader who teaches good manners. -
The Schools are in violation of Federal ADA guidelines! Stand up and fight! Why do people allow themselves to be victimized?
I get alot of criticism from people but the law is on my side. I will go wherever I please with my dogs. I will not let society dictate my ADA rights!
For many years I have suffered from diabetic low & high blood sugars, migraines, mobility problems and other medical problems.. I would sometimes go into seizures. My old doctor had me on 14 different medicines including seizure meds. All those medicines made me have seizures. Because of my medical condition I could not work, shop or drive by myself.
One day my 6month old female German Shepherd, Cissy started to act weird when I would start having a low blood sugar that put me into seizure mode. It took me 2 years to learn to trust her alerts. Because of her I was able to get off medication that was causing me more harm than good. My male dog Buddy helps me with laundry and mobility issues. I am training a new puppy to take over the old dogs jobs. It takes hard work and dedication to train dogs to alert for medical problems, and to assist with daily chores. But my dogs do work for me and I take care of them very well.
My problem now is that Washington County will not exempt my licensing fees. The people at Bonnie Hays told me that they only exempt dogs that have been "certified by an agency". That is not what the law states. ORS 609.105 states that a county cannot charge a fee for licensing an assistance animal as defined in ORS 346.680.
I am currently waiting for a reply from them. My lawyer wrote Washington County a letter in October 2009 to protect my rights. I have not received a reply from the county.
One thing that a lot of people are misinformed about is that a therapy dog is different than a service dog. Service dogs are working dogs for the disabled with specific jobs. Therapy dogs go to institutions to provide love therapy to those that want to pet the dog. It does not do a specific job for the disabled. Therapy dogs are not granted full access to businesses, transportation, etc.
Anyone who wants to contact me to find out your rights my phone is 971-285-2611. If you don't know your rights...you don't have any.
-
markkoen,I agree that the average pet dog should not be allowed into grocery stores or restaurants. Your statement about dogs lead me to believe that you clearly you don't know anything about dogs. Don't buy a dog you would not make a good owner.
Most dog owners spend alot of time& money keeping their dogs clean. My service dogs are cleaner than most people. My dogs live inside my clean house, they sleep on their own clean beds and they eat a healthy diet.
When I go grocery shopping my dog stands by my cart, she doesn't look at anyone but me. And if I am talking to my dog, I am giving her a stay or sit command. I don't go to the grocery store to converse with other people I am doing a chore. What makes me ticked off is people who come up and touch or talk to my dog without permission. Those who do ask permission are denied to touch or talk to my dog.
Some people ask if my dog gets to be a dog. Yes they do! At the end of our work day and they are paid well in love and care!
-
I fully support service and/or genuine therapy dogs in public with their owners. However, I am increasingly annoyed at dog owners who bring their pets into supermarkets, clothing stores, etc. When I was a kid, we learned that dogs and other pets could not come into markets. Why do so many people these days think it's OK to subject the rest of us to their dogs, just because THEY love them and want to take them everywhere? Also, the "training = oppression" mentality of some freewheeling dog owners means there is no recourse if the animal misbehaves. I've lived in Europe and it is quite different there; people bring dogs into more venues, but usually small ones only, and usually they are very well-trained. On a personal level, I don't like the way dogs smell, and I don't like being snuffled and drooled on by them. On the level of hygiene, I don't want to have their butts in a shopping cart I might use (hello, E. coli?) Most seriously, though it may be rare, dogs can bite, especially in crowds. Why do the owners of large, pet dogs see nothing wrong with subjecting the rest of us to their selfish behavior?
-
Seems to be a lot of huffing & puffing out there. I've lived with dogs, cats, and birds all my life, and for the life of me, can't really understand why folks think they can take an animal anywhere with them. Yes, I know Parisians have taken dogs lots of places, including restaurants, but I've also had to dodge dog feces on those otherwise beautiful Parisian avenues. There are obvious health issues with animals - aside from bites & urination/defecation - allergies to dander/hair, 'nosing' into food, barking/snarling (I happen to be sensitive to sound), and no, people & other animals don't always mix well.
The Oregon provisions for 'assistance animal' include a definition as follows: '"Person with a physical impairment" means any person who has a ... record of impairment and is regarded by health care practitioners as having such an impairment, requiring the use of an assistance animal ... .' In other words, under Oregon law, those claiming public accommodation for an 'assistance animal' must have a qualified health care practitioner recognize the need for the permanently impaired to have the animal.
Although there are lots of arguments pro & con, the court decisions I have seen have uniformly required a doctor's certification & prescription for someone to prove an ADA violation.
I don't see what the problem is for individuals to get such health care certification & prescription - we require it for handicapped parking access, why not for animals? If you have to have a health care practitioner recognize the need, and have to have a documented record of the impairment and need, it seems a pretty simple thing to get a letter from the qualified health care practitioner (and that is not from one of the 'service' animal diploma mills -- they aren't a qualified health care practitioner).
-
My sons service dog came from a service dog provider, she had to qualify in temperment, and skills. Lots of dogs scrub out of these programs. The dog is trained specifically in skills, and also specifically trained to do things with/for my son. She is (as above stated) bonded, and heavily insured by Assistance Dog Network. I offer this as a way to tell the difference between service animals, and people who just want tp bring their dog places.
-
Comments are now closed.
My son Chandler is 9 and he has a service dog through Assistance Dog Network in Oregon. He also is not allowed to take his dog to school here in the Corvallis school dist. He is now in home school. Even though the 5th grade teacher is allowed to raise a service dog in her classroom with the kids every year, they have still said No to Chandler attending with his service dog.
People always ask me "What does Cinder's do for your son?" This is sometimes a hard question because some people really actually want a list of dog skills. (seriously!) Most of these people are a little unhappy with the presence of a dog out in public places. (some are just curious) Even though we are protected by the ADA having a service animal in public, it seems that in the public eye, the jury is out on how acceptable a service dog is for someone with Autism.
May I just say, the affects Cinder's has had on our son are MORE by far, then just a list of commands, dog skills, and the hours of training. What is the real question? Are we questioning Autism being a real disability? Are we questioning the companies who provide service dogs? Should we as families be forced to "disclose" a disability in public? Why does the school district allow dogs for "mobility" (i.e. to help with a wheel chair, even if a child is high functioning or not) or "blindness", but not autism (high functioning or not)?
Just on a side issue... some "companion" dogs and some "therapy" dogs out there have given ACTUAL service dogs (coming from a service dog provider) a bad name!!! Service dogs come from providers. They have done hours of training, tests, and have to be retested to maintain their status. I have heard of some companies that help you train your own service dog... I have no experience with these places, but if they pass their tests, in personality, training, etc. More power to ya!!
As for the goals my son in reguards to Cinders, they are geared towards safety, independence, keeping on task & behavior modification. Chandler's quality of life is SOOO much better now then before his service dog.
I thought about writing the effects that this brilliant dog has had on our child... but I don't think that is really the question. (i will tell anyone who is actually interested more then just to judge)