Download Dog and Pony Show: New Guidance for Service Animals in the School Setting - Christine T Cossler file in ePub Online

Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). 11401 North Shore Drive, Reston, VA 20190. Tel: 866-682-2729; Fax: 703-478-0205; e-mail: asboreq@asbointl.org; Web site: http://www.asbointl.org Document Type: Article All Authors / Contributors: Christine T Cossler ISSN:0036-651X Language Note: English Unique Identifier: 797979087 Awards: Description: 3 Abstract: The odds that a school district might be asked to allow a service dog or miniature horse into one of its facilities have increased tremendously in light of new legislative changes. With those changes comes a host of fresh challenges for school administrators and policy makers--not the least of which are complex disability discrimination laws and intense media coverage. In March 2011, new regulations related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became effective, providing further guidance on dealing with requests to allow service animals in school and possibly making the presence of those animals more prevalent. In a nutshell, the ADA protects individuals with disabilities, including mental disabilities, who use service animals that are trained to perform specific tasks. That protection means schools must allow such animals in facilities, with a few limited exceptions. Further, protection is not limited to students with disabilities but extends more broadly to any individual with a disability.