Media

School Agrees to Allow Service Dog to Accompany Epileptic 12-Year-Old

Suffering from a rare and severe form of epilepsy, 12-year-old Andrew Stevens can experience up to 20 seizures a day, any one of them potentially fatal. But thanks to a German shepherd service dog named Alaya, Andrew doesn‘t have to be under his parents’ watchful eye at all times. He can now go out and play, walk his dog down the street and use the bathroom unaided.

But Andrew’s freedom ended at his Virginia schoolhouse doors as the Fairfax County Public School system barred him from bringing Alaya to school with him. “I think what they’ve done has really been an injustice to my son,” Nancy Stevens, Andrew’s mother, told Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday. “A service dog is trained very well. If Andrew sits, the dog is going to sit. If Andrew gets up, the dog is going to get up. A service dog will not bite anybody at all,” she said, addressing the school’s safety concerns.

But after drawing national attention and public outcry from across the country, Change.org reported Tuesday evening that its campaign on Andrew‘s behalf had successfully forced Andrew’s school district to alter their stance.  “It’s time to celebrate a victory for disability rights, epilepsy awareness and a boy and his dog!” the site said, announcing its members had flooded Andrew’s school administrators with 371 emails in protest of the ban.

Today, Ft. Belvoir Elementary officials told Andrew’s parents that Andrew could bring Alaya to school with him as early as next week. In the beginning, Angelo and Nancy will accompany Andrew to school, riding the bus with him and staying with him and Alaya during the day. As teachers and students adapt and learn how to interact with Alaya, Andrew’s parents will gradually transition away and Andrew and Alaya will go to school together — as originally planned.

Not only that — the school is now looking at updating their policy on disability access, Angelo Stevens told Change.org today. This all comes thanks to the grueling work done by Andrew’s parents to advocate for their 12-year-old son and his service dog.

The Stevens family created a foundation in Andrew’s name, first to raise money for Alaya, and now to raise money for service dogs for other needy children. That foundation, and the TODAY show coverage, has meant that he‘s been contacted by other parents around the country who are trying to get their childrens’ service dogs admitted in schools.

Comments (51)

  • Proud American in Buffalo
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:24pm

    @beksma
    I could not agree more with about how ignorant and insensitive some people are on this Forum.
    As someone who has suffere through more than my share of seizures I understand that every option to ensure ones safety when having a seizure should be looked into.
    I am lucky that my seizures can be controlled medically, but what about thoes who dont have that choice??

    Report Post » Proud American in Buffalo  
  • Billsocal
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 4:46pm

    Would the school district have barred a sight impaired student using a seeing eye dog? Who were the parents who didn’t want their kids around dogs, Muslims.

    Report Post »  
  • rbrooks
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:54pm

    Just wait, some moron will claim an alergy to dog hair and sues the school.

    Report Post » rbrooks  
  • harvey78
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 10:23am

    Ok, I HEAR stupid people. I just watched the clip. not only do I stand by my previous post. This child does not belong in a standard school setting if that is where he is. Special ed, ok. Special needs children at times may fit into a regular curriculum. This one does not belong in a regular classroom , although they do not say.

    Report Post »  
  • jnorth21
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 10:05am

    How was this that hard of a decision? Epilepsy is very dangerous not only from the fact that you are having multiple (in this case, upwards of 20) seizures a day but also you lose complete motor function of your body in a a matter of seconds. The dog obviously is a great help to the child (he wouldn‘t have a service dog if it didn’t provide some sort of service, right?). Keeps not only this particular kid safe but also the other students safe from when and if he has a seizure, so where is the decision to be made?

    I understand the allergy argument, I myself grew up with severe asthma and it can be very troubling for a child especially a younger one BUT they have great OTC allergy meds and kids with asthma should have inhalers in the school anyway. School’s are filled with all kinds of germs and allergens (it is filled with hundreds of children) a dog isn’t going to make that much of a difference.

    Report Post »  
  • harvey78
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 8:45am

    Hey , why not let kids bring their therapist with them too, and a num-num in case they get anxious. oh wait, they have zoloft and riddlin for that malfunction. Maybe mommy can sit nearby. Heck , just give every kid a crutch to get though the day. Leave the dog at home.

    Report Post »  
    • Proud American in Buffalo
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 9:20am

      I see stupid people(That’s YOU Harvey)

      Report Post » Proud American in Buffalo  
    • beksma
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:43am

      A service animal is NOT the same thing as a therapist. This dog can alert this young man before a seizure starts so the young man can get in a safe position before it starts. This will prevent injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, etc.

      Seizures are a medical problem NOT a psychology disorder and can not always be controled with medication.

      Your comments are pointless and RUDE

      Report Post » beksma  
  • sodun
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 8:32am

    That principal should be fired for not being able to make such a simple decision.

    Report Post » sodun  
  • treshall
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 7:32am

    I would like to say “Bravo” to QueenBee, as I strongly agree with her post:
    “Tell your kids to stay away from the dog. I‘m tired of the parents who say you can’t because of my kid. Sorry, deal with it and live in the world with others. Figure out how to coexist with other kids with medical issues.”
    Kudos, QueenBee and to MikeManners11: “Would ANYONE deny that this school only let this boy have his dog because of the negative PR surrounding it? If it were NOT for the TV News piece this boy would have been at the mercy of these Leftest Public School creeps.”
    Well done, friends! The truth lives on the The Blaze! :-)

    Report Post »  
  • treshall
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 7:25am

    It never ceases to amaze me how the left in this country will act counter to common sense EVERY TIME- freakin’ incredible. We all know that educational facilities in the U.S. are run by liberals, regrettable though that is. Rather than acknowledging that the disabilities act, for which they argued so strenuously (and for which we now have 20 handicapped parking spaces in front of every building, including your local roller coaster) and just allowing the dog access to the school, like every other service dog in every other building in this country, they deny the kid and his family permission to bring the dog. Yet more incontrovertible proof that liberals possess absolutely no common sense. Hooray for the victory of this family, for Andrew and Alaya, and for the children in their class who can only benefit from the experiences they will have as a result of this child and his service dog’s presence in the classroom.

    Report Post »  
  • mikemanners11
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 4:13am

    The LEFTISTS control the Public School system and influence most of its Policies so what do you expect?

    The Left just LOVES to portrays itself and a bastion of Compassion and Fairness. However try praying or taking your seeing eye dog to school sometime.

    Would ANYONE deny that this school only let this boy have his dog because of the negative PR surrounding it? If it were NOT for the TV News piece this boy would have been at the mercy of these Leftest Public School creeps.

    Report Post » mikemanners11  
  • flyvie
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:57am

    Wait till a person of a certain religion objects because they think dogs are unclean. There goes the dog and the young mans education in the public school system. Welcome to Amerika.

    Report Post »  
    • mikemanners11
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 4:14am

      @FLYVIE

      Obama knows what you just said…..

      He knows what you are thinking….

      Report Post » mikemanners11  
  • Dale
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:03am

    Whatever happened to the ‘Americans With Disabilities Act’? How can a governmental organization (school) 1) not be aware of this law, and 2) not abide by it? There is a provision to make ‘reasonable accommodation’ for disabled persons.

    Report Post » Dale  
    • Midwest Blonde
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 2:26am

      Since when can we expect anything connected to the government follow the law(s)?? Crap like this happens all the time, all over the country. Lets face it, anything connected with the government feels they can do what they want to who they want. It’s a crying shame. But it’s changing!

      Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
  • mossbrain
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:39am

    A good example of why kids should be allowed to carry firearms in the schools. If that epileptic kid had a 12 guage shotgun with his hand duct taped to the trigger he would not have had this problem and Rin Tin Tin could have learned his A, B, C,s.

    mossbrain  
  • Elcigaro
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:18am

    That is one outstanding dog! Too bad the school officials have less heart and soul then that wonderful dog displays everyday.

    Report Post »  
  • scout n ambush
    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:17am

    sad that the little guy had to go thru a bunch of needless crap . he could get a better education at home by his parent’s at least as far as american history goes .This would not be a story if the feds didn‘t control the schools if the education system was controlled by the community the gov’t would not be able to make the rules. Fed funded & controlled control is their goal , control and conquer.

    Report Post » scout n ambush  
  • BuckwheatA2
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 11:26pm

    As the mom of kids with severe allergies, it’s not that easy. I’m glad the child and his helper dog are admitted to school. But other children with medical conditions may need to be considered as well, Again a good argument for either a voucher system or removing public education altogether.

    Report Post » PoohbearA2  
    • thequeenbee
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 2:41am

      I empathize with your children‘s allergies but I’m going to be politically incorrect here. Allergies are not on the same level as epilepsy. This boy’s service dog is necessary and he has a right to go to school too. Tell your kids to stay away from the dog. I‘m tired of the parents who say you can’t because of my kid. Sorry, deal with it and live in the world with others. Figure out how to coexist with other kids with medical issues.

      Report Post »  
    • ClaytonDM
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 9:04am

      Allergies can be just as lethal depending on the degree. This one’s difficult for me to take a definitive stand on.

      Report Post »  
    • beksma
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:36am

      As a mom who has seizures and allergies, I can relate to both parents. BUT the Americans with Disabilities Act provides for this child to have his service animal in school. This is an issue because the SCHOOL made it an issue. Not the family.

      Thank goodness the family took a stand and didn’t back down.

      Report Post » beksma  
    • pavnvet
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:55am

      If a child currently attending were to have allergies, this would be the only case where the epileptic child could not be accommodated. The ADA addresses this issue and there have been test cases. However, in the absence of demonstrated evidence that another person would be placed in a position of risk, the school is required to accommodate the disabled child.

      The problem today is that many people don’t realize that service dogs can perform a number of functions. Just a few words out there to you folks so you don’t mess up. You can not ask a person’s disability that has a service dog, you must make reasonable accommodations and you cannot prohibit a service dog with their owner from entering any public, or open to the public building including restaurants, hospitals and grocery stores. Also, it is never appropriate to pet or to distract the animal in any other way. It is after all, working.

      Report Post » pavnvet  
  • C.C.D.
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 11:11pm

    Some tens of thousands of years ago humans developed something called reason. Some were to busy smoking dope and singing kumbaya when this logic was being handed out.

    Report Post »  
  • Lt_Taz
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 11:01pm

    School board agreed out of fear of a Law Suit for violation of “The Americans With Disabilities Act” Please tell, are any of the school board members LITERATE?

    Report Post »  
  • benrush
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:53pm

    This is what happens when you have collective schools. A muddled mess. Let private schools be the rule, and government meddlers the exception, let locals determine their own rules, and get the collective overlords out of the way, and you’ll be shipshape in no time.

    Report Post »  
  • Xcori8r
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:52pm

    That’s not the zero tolerance government education system I am familiar with.

    Report Post » Xcori8r  
  • Bamahillbilly
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:44pm

    Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Fly-Over-Country
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:40pm

    Why is that you have to shame a school district into doing what’s right? The liberal public school administrators tell us we need to be “inclusive” for these students yet when there’s a student with a real need, the shun him.
    It’s time for all parents to stand up to those who want to pigeon-hole their students due any perceived difference.
    Yet another great reason for education vouchers.

    Report Post »  
    • DSTSS2010
      Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:56pm

      Liberals lies, it’s what they do! It’s BS that the parents have to inconvenience themselves. The boy and his dog should be able to go to school, snd the school needs to handle it!

      Report Post » DSTSS2010  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 4, 2011 at 11:42pm

      They had the same problem in Napoleon Michigan … last I heard due to “public outcry” they were going to “allow” a trial period …. That was April 2010 and nothing has been posted since then .. I think the trial went well and they don’t want to admit that in the end it was NOT a problem.

      http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2010/04/service_dog_heads_to_school_fo.html

      Report Post »  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:38pm

    Zzzzzzzzz

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • Finch88
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:37pm

    Should not have even been noticed…

    http://politicalbowl.com – Political Video Website

    Report Post »  
  • Parkeralan
    Posted on January 4, 2011 at 10:36pm

    “National Attention and Public Outcry” We can and do make a difference.

    Report Post » Parkeralan  
    • Creestof
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 12:37am

      I’m curious…what exactly does the dog do to help him if he has a siezure? He couldn’t go out and play before the dog? What does the dog do that finally allows this boy to go to the bathroom unaided? Other than bark…I just don’t get it. I don’t think the dog is going to leave his side to go get help.

      Report Post »  
    • JoeySocal
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:13am

      You would be amazed at how a dog sensing a seizure or panic attack can calm someone by just nudging up against him or putting his head on the kids lap. It’s truely remarkable. I didn’t believe it either until I saw it first hand.

      Report Post »  
    • Lantern
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:57am

      Why does it always take a threat for “National Outcry and public attention” for these people to do the right thing? This always happens to these morally bankrupt school tyrants for them to even consider doing the right thing.

      Report Post » Lantern  
    • DagnysCousin
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 3:22am

      Some folks in the replies here understand, and some just don’t have a clue. The Fairfax county school district is the leader in public education and they have their ducks in a row. They could not automatically allow this boy to attend class with his dog because of all the potential complaints and litigious actions they could have encountered from parents who don’t want a dog around their children when there was no school policy in place for such a case. The school board acted with due diligence and proceeded to mitigate the liabilities while making an allowance for the child and his nontraditional dog aide. And no, the public outcry did not win the day here, it could just have easily gone the other way if that were the case.

      Report Post »  
    • Ser Scot
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 8:32am

      Creestof,

      There‘s a great Nature on Dog’s and their interactions with humanity. During it they displayed a service dog that can warn a child of a seziure before the seziure occurs. That’s what this dog is able to do. Give the child a warning of the oncoming seziure so the child can be in a safe position when it starts.

      Report Post »  
    • Proud American in Buffalo
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 9:15am

      @ Creestof

      The service dog can sense the overstimulation of the brain long before a person begins having a seizure.
      The Dog would allow someone with severe epilepsy to be stabilized before s major seizure thus preventing a occurance which could lead to death. The dog also is a calming influence and that can reduce stress that could lead to a seizure.

      Report Post » Proud American in Buffalo  
    • Libertyluvnmomma
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 9:51am

      Oh, the injustice of the school……………….
      Get two brain cells and put your kid somewhere else. Yes, it is sad that your kid has seizures. What about the kids who are allergic to dogs or a very afraid of dogs. German Shepherds ,although smart and wonderful are very big.
      This is the fundamental reason I don’t like socialized medicine. My care will have to wait until after the most severe case is treated. Everybody has to bend around the new, or worse disability. Which was probably caused by conventional medicine anyway. Sorry, I don’t sound sympathetic.
      I just think the Left has relied on the public to make emotionally based decisions that my sympathy meter has shorted out,

      Report Post » Libertyluvnmomma  
    • Creestof
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 11:55am

      Thank you all for the info…I had no idea this was even possible. What a fantastic gift to a child who must have had to deal with fear every day.

      Report Post »  
    • capecodsully
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 1:59pm

      The dog alerts the person when a seizure is coming, they can tell by chemical changes in the person’s chemistry. This gives the person time to prepare and secure himself for the coming seizure.
      They also provide comfort and security.

      Report Post »  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 2:28pm

      A Government School does something that makes sense and it makes national news.

      Report Post »  
    • Sam I am
      Posted on January 5, 2011 at 10:10pm

      So, DAGNYSCOUSIN, you said, “They could not automatically allow this boy to attend class with his dog because of all the potential complaints and litigious actions they could have encountered from parents who don’t want a dog around their children when there was no school policy in place for such a case. ”
      I thought the Americans With Disabilities Act made it possible for service dogs to go with their owners, so what “potential complaints” are you talking about? Are you referring to “The religion of peace” getting their panties in a wad over a dog?
      Since when does the school board have to consider whether to follow the law or not?
      Frankly, in today’s sick PC world, I assume the school board will do the wrong thing.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • JustaCollegeKid
      Posted on January 6, 2011 at 7:08am

      I know this has been resolved, it does not stop it from being an outrage. If hes a service dog, he cannot be denied entry.

      @Creestof

      The dog can detect seizures before and when they happen. The dog can keep an eye on him 24/7 when a person cannot. The dog allows him to be more independent. The dog also has a magnet on its collar, like Andrew‘s mother’s bracelet, that can be swiped across his chest that I believe activates something that helps with the seizures. Not sure how that part works,but yeah. Service dogs are amazing animals.

      Report Post »  

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