12-year-old Ehlena Fry and her Goldendoodle, Wonder, were the subject of a landmark Supreme Court hearing this week. The justices ruled that Fry’s parents could sue Michigan school officials for refusing to allow Wonder to accompany Ehlena to class. She has Cerebral Palsy and depends on her service dog for many every day tasks including opening and closing doors and taking off her coat.
Her right to have the pup by her side in public buildings is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (AWDA).
Supreme Court Service Dog
Ehlena Fry, 12, of Michigan, sits with her service dog Wonder, while speaking to reporters…
Posted by AP Images on Monday, October 31, 2016
Wednesday’s unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favor of the family acknowledges that Ehlena’s rights under the AWDA were indeed violated when Wonder was banned from entering her elementary school back in 2012 when Ehlena was in kindergarten. She was moved to a different school that welcomed Wonder with open arms, but the family felt they had to pursue the case on principle and to help other children who are dependent upon service animals.
Ehlena Fry has cerebral palsy. In order to be independant, she needed her Goldendoodle, Wonder. Wonder could open doors…
Posted by ACLU Nationwide on Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Lower courts previously ruled that the family must exhaust all administrative remedies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act before seeking damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act – basically suggesting that Fry’s parents work the issue out privately with the public school district.
After weeks and weeks of unrelenting ugliness, I’m happy to report some good news. The U.S. Supreme Court UNANIMOUSLY…
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The Supreme Court’s ruling means that the Frys can bypass the IDEA remedies since it is not the adequacy of Ehlena’s education that is in question. The family is not asking for better special education services, they simply want their daughter to have the right to gain greater physical and emotional independence through the use of a service dog rather than a human aide.
With her service dog, Wonder, at her side, Ehlena Fry, 12, is helped down the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington,…
Posted by EdWeek Photo on Monday, October 31, 2016
The justices determined that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fry’s parents could freely sue a public library or theater that refused to admit Wonder, so the same should also apply to a public school.
This is Ehlena Fry and her #goldendoodle #wonder. This little 11 year old girl has #cerebralpalsy. Her dog is a…
Posted by Healthost on Wednesday, June 29, 2016
The case has garnered attention from citizens with disabilities and once again highlighted the lingering issues surrounding service dogs and therapy dogs. It’s a significant victory in a drawn-out fight for justice, but there is still a possibility a lower federal court could require exhaustion of the IDEA administrative process.
Wonder is now 10-years-old and has retired as Ehlena’s service dog.
Featured Image via Facebook/Pet Rescue Coalition
