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School Forces 12-Year-Old Epileptic Boy to Leave His Service Dog at Home
Filed under: Medical Conditions, In The News
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Andrew Stevens, 12, wears a padded helmet to prevent serious injury. But, unlike most kids, his helmet isn't for bike safety -- he wears it to protect his head during any of the 20 seizures he experiences on a daily basis.Appearing on the Today show this morning, his mother, Nancy Stevens, explains that no medicine or surgery can help her son because the seizures, caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, occur on both sides of his brain. Andrew's one saving grace, however, is his service dog, Alaya. Alaya goes everywhere with Andrew and can detect when he is about to seize through a magnet on her collar. To lessen the severity of the seizure, "the dog licks his face and swipes her collar over a nerve stimulator in Andrew's chest," according to Today.
Alaya has restored some normalcy in Andrew's life by enabling him to play outside and even go to the bathroom unattended. But his freedom only goes so far. Fort Belovoir Elementary in Fairfax County, Va., will not allow Andrew to bring Alaya to school.
School officials fear that the boy might not be able to control his dog and that the other students may be in danger. "I think what they've done has really been an injustice to my son," Nancy Stevens tells Matt Lauer on Today, adding that "a service dog is trained very well" and that it will "not bite anybody at all."
Because of the school's decision, Andrew is currently being homeschooled. His parents are not giving up and are trying to come to an agreement with the school so that Andrew can return to the classroom.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-04-2011 @ 8:32PM
Coop said...I believe that would be a violation of Federal law.
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1-05-2011 @ 12:36PM
Beatrice said...I understand the school's view-the dog will need water-will also need to go potty-and it may be a distraction to students-most children love dogs......But....public schools are open for all abilities of children. No public school has the right to turn away a student that has a handi-cap. I really am disappointed that they-the school didn't try to set a presidence to this new approach of allowing service dogs. We can't teach children acceptance-if our schools show the opposite. If the parents are willing to work with the school on this issue-sometimes we need to accept change-and realize that how school was taught 20 years ago-doesn't apply today.
Reply
2-05-2011 @ 5:38PM
Ghebrehuwarshek said...I've been epileptic for the last 10 years & I deeply UNDERSTAND the need of the epileptic boy, for any kind of ALERT & WARNING system to prepare himself & seek safe place, before his seizure strikes & causes more FATAL injuries.
You would HOPE, a civilized society which encourages blind people to have guiding dogs, would understand, assist, encourage & come to the rescue of a young epileptic boy & support his needs for seizure alert dog.
YET, as if the epileptic boy hasn't had a very DIFFICULT daily life to live with, it's just INCREDIBLE to see a school depriving the safe-means of a boy to seek education & semblance of normal life, by simply encouraging & supporting & supplying the epileptic safe-heaven.
ISN'T THAT WHAT A SCHOOL SUPPOSED TO BE, support & teach & a young epileptic boy to over come his disability?
For God sake, if a blind boy can have a guiding-dog in school & in public places, how hard can it be for an epileptic boy to have his seizure alert dog in school & in public places?
The epileptic boy will OUTGROW his difficulty but will NEVER forget the school that betrayed his desperate medical needs.
Shame on the school & the school administration.
Gerrie
www.myspace.com/myseizures
Reply
1-14-2011 @ 1:49PM
SirGalton said...My heart goes out to the family, however, if the child suffers on average 20 seizures a day then he should not be in school. This is not illegal in any way shape or form, as long as the school continues to provide him an educations, ie - providing homeschooling or an online charter school. The school must look out for their own liability issues. Many problems with other students could arise, not just the dog attacking a peer but peers bullying the child and the dog. Also, you can not expect staff to deal with this constantly and fear an accident could occur and they could be sued.
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1-16-2011 @ 4:59PM
angela said...Separate but equal, SirGalton? The ADA is needed in schools as much as the work place. People with disabilities will need an education more than their non disabled peers if they are to succeed and live independently. The cost of not education children is always greater than the cost of educating them. Furthermore, if PUBLIC schools are allowed to pick and choose students, whole classes of students could be pushed from school for the sake of artificially inflating test scores or saving money, if they could be labeled inappropriate for school and pushed out. I a from Texas and it happens here. For under achieving students without a disability and little parental involvement some districts will push kids to get a GED instead of finishing high school. Its even harder for children with disabilities here they need a constant advocate.
1-29-2011 @ 6:35PM
find something important to do said...This boy has every right to attend PUBLIC school. The school has the onus to be sure he is educated and they are depriving him of his rights to attend school in an environment in which he is free to learn. When the service dog is present the child's anxiety re: seizures is reduced when she is absent anxiety goes up affecting ability to learn. Man, I wish I were a lawyer!
1-16-2011 @ 3:23PM
hawyncowgrl said...I believe that schools are required to uphold the issue that education is a right.. anyone that wants to be educated has that right regardless of race, creed, or disability. the public pays into the education system therefore securing this right... this school better be carefull as this may be setting themselves for a major lawsuit.
good luck andrew... temple grandin would be proud of you.. don't let anyone stand in your way...
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2-01-2011 @ 9:00PM
Grandmaof12 said...I think it is so wrong not to allow this service dog in school!
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2-10-2011 @ 10:16AM
gaeasfire said...Does anyone remember Ryan White from the '80's..the young boy who fought for the right to a public school education despite the school board's fear of Ryan's HIV status? Fear and ignorance were involved then too until massive public outcry influenced the school board to reverse their decision. I hope the same happens in this case.
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2-10-2011 @ 1:08PM
Sharmin McWhorter said...What in the world?? Has that school not heard of the American Disabilities Act? Federal Law??? She needs to contact her local protection and advocacy group and fight this...the child is entitled to a free and public education in the least disruptive environment possible...Don't give up fight fight fight! My daughter is in a wheelchair and our public school tried to put her in a self contained class b/c she was in a chair...NOPE she is now in a regular GIFTED and talented class and is in the Beta club with all As. Fight for his rights!!! That school should be ashamed!!
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