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Tell Collier County Schools to Allow Service Dog in Classroom
  1. Signatures
    8,663 out of 10,000
    Petitioning
    1. Collier County School District Board Member (+ 4 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Collier County School District Board Member (Pat Carroll)
      • Collier County School District Board Member (Kathleen Curatolo)
      • Collier County School District Board Member (Barbara Berry)
      • Chair, Collier County School District Board (Julie Sprague)
      • Vice-Chair, Collier County School District Board (Roy M. Terry)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

For six-year-old J.C. Bowen, his golden retriever, Pepsi, is more than just his best friend. J.C. has autism, and Pepsi helps him get through day-to-day life. He was trained to stop J.C. from running off, rocking, banging his head, and having a meltdown. Pepsi helped J.C. develop his balance and he learned to respond to J.C.'s seizures by keeping him from falling, alerting people when J.C. needs help, and keeping him calm when he comes out of it. 

Pepsi qualifies as a service dog under the Department of Justice's definition, as well as the Collier County School District's definition of an animal trained to accompany its owner "for the purpose of carrying items, retrieving objects, pulling a wheelchair, alerting the owner or handler to medical conditions, or other such activities of service or support necessary to mitigate a disability."

Yet J.C. is not allowed to bring his service dog to school.

The teachers say a dog in the classroom would be too much of a distraction and would require special accommodations. But, as J.C.'s mother points out, the school would make the accommodations for a child in a wheelchair and they "wouldn't deny a student the right to bring an asthma inhaler to school if he had a prescription." Elizabeth Lasanta says, "My son has a prescription for his service dog."

Earlier this year, the school district reached a settlement in a similar case of an autistic boy who was not allowed to bring his service dog to school. That family moved their son to a different school and the Collier County School Board settled for $125,000. Lasanta says they don't have the luxury of moving.

They shouldn't have to be forced to move because the school district won't comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (which ensures children with disabilities have equal access to education). 

Tell Collier County School District to let J.C. bring his service dog to school.

Photo credit: pmarkham

Why People Are Signing
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Let J.C. Bowen Bring His Service Dog to School

Dear Collier County School Board,

I recently read on Change.org that six-year-old J.C. Bowen has not been allowed to bring his service dog to school.

The Department of Justice defines service animals as "animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as ... alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks." According to Naples News, the school district's definition of a service animal is "an animal trained to accompany its owner or handler for the purpose of ... alerting the owner or handler to medical conditions, or other such activities of service or support necessary to mitigate a disability."

J.C.'s dog, Pepsi, qualifies under both of those definitions. Pepsi is trained to protect J.C. when he has a seizure by alerting others, keeping him from falling and keeping him calm when he comes out of it. By denying J.C. his service dog, he is being denied equal access under the Americans With Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Beyond keeping him safe, Pepsi also helps J.C.'s development, leveling the educational playing field between him and his peers.

If J.C. was in a wheelchair, I have no doubt that your district would accommodate his needs to make sure he could get the most out of his education. Please give J.C. a chance by allowing his service dog to accompany him to school.

[Your name]

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