Service Dogs Aide Those With Autism

Dogs and Autism
By Tara Parker-Pope

A legal battle in New York City highlights the healing power of dogs for children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

Manhattan federal prosecutors have accused the owners of an Upper East Side residence of discriminating against 11-year-old Aaron Schein by preventing him from having a dog, The New York Daily News reports. Aaron has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, often considered a high-functioning form of autism, and his doctors believe a service dog will relieve anxiety and help him cope with the disorder. People with Asperger’s usually have average or above-average intelligence, but they lack the intuitive ability to read social cues and find it difficult to make friends and form relationships.

According to the newspaper, a lawsuit claims the building owners violated the Fair Housing Act by imposing unreasonable demands on Aaron’s parents before allowing a dog.

“It is not right or legal for landlords to dictate the unreasonable terms and conditions by which persons with disabilities should live their lives,” said Kim Kendrick, an assistant secretary for the federal Housing and Urban Development Department, to the newspaper.

After Aaron’s parents asked the co-op board to make an exception to the building’s strict no-pets rule, the building placed stringent conditions on the family. Among the restrictions reportedly imposed by the building: the dog couldn’t be left alone for more than two hours, it would have to be taken in and out of the building on a service elevator, monitoring of dog walkers who might take it for a stroll, and $1 million in liability insurance for any injury or property damage caused by the dog. A company-hired doctor reportedly agreed the dog was medically necessary.

The family is asking a judge to allow them to bring the dog home and award monetary damages because Aaron was discriminated against under the Americans With Disabilities Act, The Daily News reports.

To learn more about the role dogs can play in helping children with autism and Asperger’s, go to the Web sites of 4 Paws for Ability and Autism Service Dogs of America. This YouTube video highlights the story of one family who opted for a service dog for their child with autism.

Comments

Dogs for autism are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act already. Service animals are awarded the same protection as a human being under this law. Therapy animals, ie those for depression, are not covered, but service animals are.
My wife has a service animal and the above situation leaves me with a few questions: 1) why ask permission of the complex?- they cannot refuse the animal under any circumstance, 2) why would the animal be alone for 2 hours?- it is a service animal and should be with their son around the clock, 3) why complain that they want walkers security verified?- they have access to residence entries, 4) why complain about being asked to post insurance?- they are legally responsible for any damage that the animal does to another person or property.
I see that they wanted the phase-in of said dog to go smoothly, thusly they alerted the complex prior to acquiring the animal. If they feel the use of a service dog will make their son's life better, go with the things they have to anyway in having it and quit complaining. From the limited information available, the complex did NOT discriminate against him.
Having dealt with real discrimination against a service dog with my wife, I think this lawsuit is frivilous and detrimental to other disabled persons with service animals.
 
NYC has a large number of landlords who try to find loopholes in the laws for their own benefit. The other things how ignorant and selfish they are. Most of these lawsuits go to a lawyer who looks them over and says "no chance" and it gets quietly dropped.
 
I have a service dog M & M and even though I carry the papers
which show that he must be allowed anywhere I go people still
insist on trying to make me remove the dog.
When I use him I usually make sure he has his service dog vest on.
Not always but when I feel there might be a problem I do.
Even the police are ignorant about the laws covering the
Americans with Disabilities Act". The assholes.
I have had to hold up buses at rush hour because the driver tried to forbid me and the dogs from getting on. Mind you this was a driver who's bus I rode damn near every day.I had to wait over an hour before the MBTA supervisor showed up as did the passengers.
C.B.:saevil:
 

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