Service Dogs Florida Going back to school!
Service Dogs Florida – Going back to school!
Some parents call it the happiest time of the year while students usually dread it, but in a few short weeks Florida school students return to the hallowed halls of education. Many families are faced with the question: Are service dogs Florida allowed to accompany their partners to school? The answer may surprise you, and unfortunately, the answer is not a simple as one would hope. Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. wants you to be aware of the policies and protocols existing within the Florida Department of Education regarding service dogs on campus.
Several cases have recently been brought to light in Florida where students were prohibited from having their service dog accompany them to school. Why would this ever happen? First and foremost, such circumstances typically result from a lack of knowledge about what an assistance animal does for the student. Most school personnel are not trained regarding service dog protocol nor do they recognize that a service dog is not a pet. As the parent of a young man paired with an assistance dog, I realize that they provide so much more to their partner. Service dogs are considered to be the equivalent of a medical device when it comes to having access within the school system; but not all school districts see eye to eye on the subject.
Typically, students with a service dog in Florida will either have and IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or a 504 Plan which documents necessary accommodations for a student. Such accommodations may include: the need for specialized instruction, assistive devices, or other accommodations that should be provided to the student in the least restrictive environment. This will help them strive for academic success on a level with their peers, which is provided under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) as “free appropriate public education.” Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination in the schools of anyone with a disability.
There’s a lot of legalese involved when discussing this topic and under the Americans with Disabilities Acts a service animal is permitted to go anywhere their partner may go with very few exceptions. (An operating room is one example.) For some reason this doesn’t translate to the public school system. Depending on viewpoint, there are no federal guidelines that actually mandate how this translates to the school setting. The U.S. Department of Justice suggests that if someone within the classroom is allergic to dog dander that person be relocated to a different classroom rather than moving the student utilizing the service dog. Other than that, there are really no definitive answers.
In the State of Florida, the Department of Education indicates that the decision to permit a service dog in Florida on campus should be at the discretion of the individual school district and determined on a student by student basis. Click here to read the entire paper. In short, it is the responsibility of the parent and/or guardian to reach out to their local school district to determine if the service dog will be permitted to accompany their student to school. Know your rights and your responsibilities and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if you feel your child is being discriminated against because of their service dog.
