Section 2.1: School Related Operations

Approved: March 24, 2020

STUDENT USE OF GUIDE DOGS AND SERVICE ANIMALS 

1.0             Rationale

2.0             Definitions

3.0             Policy

3.1   District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) is committed to the learning of all students and provides a range of differentiated placements, programs and interventions to support student success.  It is the policy of DSB1, in accordance with its obligations pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code, to provide individualized accommodation to students with disabilities to enable them to have meaningful access to education services. 

3.2   In circumstances where a parent or adult student requests to have the student’s Guide Dog, Service Dog or Service Animal accompany the student while attending school or a school-related event, each such request shall be reviewed individually by DSB1 considering the student’s dignity, integration, independence and disability-related learning needs and the accommodations available to enable meaningful access to education. 

3.3   Pursuant to the Education Act and regulations, a school building is not a place to which the public is customarily admitted. 

3.4   The process of accommodation shall also consider the competing human rights of other students and of staff; the impact of the Guide Dog, Service Dog or Service Animal on the learning environment; and the health and safety of all individuals who are or might be in the school, on school grounds or at a school-related event. 

3.5   A copy of this policy shall be available in accessible formats on DSB1’s website and may be requested by a parent or adult student in a different language through the school attended by the student. The board shall retain data regarding the requests for Guide Dogs, Service Dogs and Service Animals as outlined in its Administrative Procedure. 

3.6   This policy shall be reviewed on [to be determined].