The United States Supreme Court surely ruled in favor of Ehlena Fry, 12 years old, who wanted to sue her school in Jackson, Michigan after it refused to allow her service dog, Wonder, to accompany her around campus. According to the unanimous verdict, Fry no longer has to file for administrative appeals before suing the school board.
Born with cerebral palsy, Fry needs Wonder by her side not just for physical but also for emotional support. Despite this, the school did not want the dog inside its walls. The school claimed that they could assign an adult to help Fry as indicated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
However, having an adult aide is not quite the same. Fry’s family said the Goldendoodle helped the child become more independent. The child was eventually pulled out from the district to be homeschooled for a while.
The Frys sued the school district, claiming that they had discriminated against their daughter. The family said that aside from not accommodating their child’s needs, she was also humiliated.
Wonder was not permitted to sit beside Fry in class, nor could he accompany her to the school cafeteria or the library. She was also humiliated as staff watched her go to the restroom to confirm if the dog could help her. Throughout the whole ordeal, the Frys sensed animosity from the school officials.
Despite the lower courts ruling in favor of the school, the Supreme Court decided on the best course of action for the Frys and other families in similar situations. The ramifications will influence how schools handle these situations in the future.
Fry’s mother, Stacy, was happy with the ruling. She expressed her gratitude to the Supreme Court for clarifying that schools cannot discriminate against children with impairments or obstruct their quest for independence.
Credit: This Dog’s Life
