"In violation of a ruling by New York State's Human Rights Division, the principal of W. Tresper Clarke High School stood in the schoolhouse doorway and refused entrance to 15-year-old John Cave yesterday, as long as he had his service dog with him. Cave is a deaf teenager with cochlear implants, and this week, the state's Human Rights Division Commissioner Kumiki Gibson declared the school violated two provisions of the Human Rights law (PDF) and ordered that Cave and his service dog Simba be allowed in school." Here is the link:
Link
"In violation of a ruling by New York State's Human Rights Division, the principal of W. Tresper Clarke High School stood in the schoolhouse doorway and refused entrance to 15-year-old John Cave yesterday, as long as he had his service dog with him. Cave is a deaf teenager with cochlear implants, and this week, the state's Human Rights Division Commissioner Kumiki Gibson declared the school violated two provisions of the Human Rights law (PDF) and ordered that Cave and his service dog Simba be allowed in school." Here is the link: Link
Comments (23)
wow. that principal is git...
what a jerk. some people can be so stale these days
Having a deaf student and his dog in the same school as me would violate two of my rights as well.
No, I stand by the principal. I work with people with disabilities. Self advocacy involves speaking up, not entitlement.
People with disabilities have to work harder than everyone else to baseline. I do not believe in handouts. This is a stupid issue. Take that lawsuit and blow it out your ass.
SUPREME COURT OR BUST!
Those were some lame-ass excuses that the school had. Would they turn down a blind student with a seeing-eye dog, too?
I don't get it why wouldn't they be? of course there are kids who could be allergic... but it seems like that would be easy enough to work around.
Besides being an idiot, maybe the principal is afraid of dogs. I kind of understand if someone was severely allergic to dogs, but I imagine that could be worked around. It's pretty hard to escape dogs. Just by standing next to me, someone severely allergic to dogs/cats would react since in my household we have 2 dogs and 3 cats!
Time to get homeschooled
I am profoundly deaf individual and can do well without a service dog in a public setting. I can see the need for one in the homes, but not in a public setting. We deaf people train ourself to use our eyes to "hear" dangers.
I am on the principal side on this matter and he dont need a service dog, especially he got CI.
I'm not deaf. I don't know what it's like. But my first reaction is that the boy does not need a service dog in school. When I went to school, I knew of one kid with a dog, but he was blind. I think that everyone should respect each other, and that includes people with disabilities respecting others. People could be allergic or have serious phobias. It shouldn't be a decision solely made my the principal, but by everyone that could be affected by the dog.
uh, i just think that the lawsuit they're putting against the district is a little harsh.
but, honestly? i don't think he needs the dog in school. there's no REAL immediate danger there. perhaps keep the dog in an office until the end of the day when he has to leave? *shrugs*
He literaly stood in the doorway? What an asshole (not that he wasn't before...)
I agree with some of the other commenters- this boy is deaf, not blind, so what does he need a dog for? Maybe it's just because I've never been deaf, but I think an ASL translator would be more appropriate.
What a dick principal.
The boy was given a service animal because he needs a service animal.
Who are you people to determine what he does and doesn't need?
Idiots.
@lotta_valdez -
"Who are you people to determine what he does and doesn't need?"
I am deaf myself and I know what that boy dont need. The deaf group in whole will agree with me on this case. BTW, that boy got cochlear implant, so his hearing should be better than me. Why need a service dog when you got some hearing????
A service dog for the deaf isnt that useful in a public setting. Most dog trainers will say not to take hearing dogs out in public. It is pretty useless, but in the homes, they are very useful. I am standing firm that principal is correct.
PSUnited, as a profoundly deaf individual who also has cochlear implants, I can say you are an asshole for saying something stupid like that.
Having a service dog would be so helpful. My cats always let me know when someones around or coming when I can hear. That's the whole point of having a service animal, to make one aware of things they might not notice, like, say a car that would otherwise run over you.
Most of you are not deaf, so don't even bother judging what is right or wrong for deafies. It's irks the shit out of me. Some deafies have service dogs, some don't. And there is a large shortage of ASL interpreters in this country, and hearing people do not sign-so whats the point if you're mainstreamed?. (ILY is not being fluent in ASL) AND a large group of deafies do not use sign. I am one such person.
This judge needs to walk a mile in this boy's shoes... and I think a couple of steps wouldn't hurt for PSUnited.
Single4Eternity- Just because he has a CI doesn't mean he's hearing yet. It takes a long time for sounds to become clear and understandable. Why does everyone think it's like flipping on a switch? Maybe this boy has speech and auditory processing problems at the time... Having a CI doesn't make you "hearing". It is a powerful tool to stimulate the auditory nerve to work by the use of electrodes sitting on said nerve and sending signals to the brain. It is not the same for everyone, don't assume.
I mean, I think the principal was out of line, but $150 million? Seems a bit much.
"I am deaf myself and I know what that boy dont need."
No. You don't. Everyone's disability is different for them, even if you're in the same family of disabilities. You may not have needed a service dog in school, but he might.
Yes, $150 million is a bit much, but it seems like one of those "make a point" cases.
It's not solely the principal's job to determine what this boy needs in schools. It's a whole teacher assistance team, the parents, and the boy.
And PSUnited1, I know that you're an asshole, but that comment crosses a line. You only show yourself to be immensely ignorant.
The principal is an idiot.
@lotta_valdez - Who are YOU to determine what a deaf person needs and doesn't need?
*beats lotta_valdez with a wet trout*
I agree with the principal and the rest of those who are siding with him. The kid's got CI's and doesn't need a dog. Not to mention, just as Single4Eternally mentioned, many dog trainers wouldn't advise users to take the dogs out in public and recommend them to be used in the house instead. The deaf kid's needs for the service dog are outweighed by the needs of the schoolchildren with allergies as well as the minimalization of distractions in the school, not to mention that his needs for the service dog preclude any necessity for one in a school setting.
@QuantumStorm - I am not anyone to determine what this child needs, and neither are you. But I'm guessing that someone TRAINED in helping the disabled gave him a dog for a reason.
So until I see your PhD, Quantum, I'm going to ask you not to play the part of a doctor.
@Single4Eternally - You cannot compare your case to this child's case, do you know what I mean? Someone has worked with him extensively and determined that he needs a dog.
You've never even met the kid...
I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say that maybe doctor's orders should be, uh, *followed*.