Disabled by a disease called x-linked hydrocephalus, Matt needs to get around in a wheelchair. He has a service dog named Calder (Cal) who is trained to open and close doors for him, turn lights on and off, and pick up things that he drops on the floor. But, the Stafford School system has not allowed Service Golden mix Cal to attend class with Matt at Margaret Brent Elementary School or at his previous school, Garrisonville Elementary. They say Cal is not necessary for Matt’s education, also indicating that they aren’t “public entities” as defined in the Virginians with Disabilities Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This is not uncommon in many systems across the country, and we often also hear about parents making complaints related to dog allergies and the like. It is nice to see parents being proactive enough to fight for a law through their state legislature, even though I believe it should be a right extended to all public school youngsters throughout the US.
