Allowing Service Dogs in Schools

For many children and adults with disabilties, dogs can become a big help and a loving companion. Service dogs are often thought of as an assistant for the blind, but other disablities are often eased by the presence of a dog. In this article that I read, it discusses a boy who has Asperger’s syndrome, which is “a type of pervasive development disorder (PDD). PDDs are a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of many basic skills, most notably the ability to socialize with others, to communicate, and to use imagination.” (webmd.com) Some schools are hesitant to allow service dogs in their schools because of how it may effect the other children that attend. They fear it will become a distraction to an already busy classroom, or that some kids will suffer from allergies due to the dog’s closeness. They also fear that the child will become less independent because they will always have the dog by their side. So what side are you on?

Written by: Jen Ebenrick