Jackson Jambalaya

GOOD JOB HOUSE!!! The House just passed HB# 1382 in a unanimous vote. The bill makes it legal for students and employees to use dogs specially trained to detect changes in blood sugar in their owners. The dog starts touching the owner with his paw after detection. The bill states:

"The school board of any school district, county board of supervisors and any municipal governing authority may authorize the use of dogs with the ability to detect diabetes or any other illness or disability in any school or public place. The Legislature recognizes the necessity of school districts to provide reasonable accommodations to students who are diagnosed with diabetes, epilepsy or any other debilitating illness or disability. In providing such accommodations, the parent of a child with such illness or disability, together with the teacher and local school administrator, shall meet to develop a written 504 Plan consistent with the provisions of Chapter 23, Title 37, Mississippi Code of 1972, that would permit the use of service dogs in the school facility."

The House accepted an amendment that added "employees" to the language. The need for the bill arose after the Clarion-Ledger reported a teacher in Scott County was denied the use of her service dog. October 2011 post about school board denial, Clarion-Ledger story from Monday.

I've known Christina McCurdy, the teacher, for ten years and can attest her diabetes is real and severe. She has been a Type I diabetic since she was four years old. The cost for a machine to do what her dog does is $500 per month and does not do as good a job detecting blood sugar changes as does the dog. Jinx cost $25,000. You read that right. $25,000. Mrs. McCurdy was able to raise all but $6,000 through donations, grants, and other help. She worked for the remaining funds.

The school board denied her request and told her to get a letter from the doctor. Her doctor provided her with a letter explaining why she needed the dog and the costs for the dog and various alternatives. The school board denied the request a second time and again without explanation. The board attorney even told the school board any liability if the dog bit someone would fall on Mrs. McCurdy, not the school district so the liability issue is a non-starter. Its no secret Mississippi schools are not the most-friendly to the disabled as many parents have unfortunately discovered. Hopefully this bill will become law and be another step in fixing that problem.

Note: Dear Senate, please replace "may" with "shall".