Junior Charlie Peterson is the owner of Westside’s first service dog, named Diamond. Diamond is a medical service dog that will help Charlie throughout the school year.
“Diamond trained most of the summer for the school year of 2023-2024,” said special services teacher Jena Coil.
Peterson’s family wrote a letter to the District explaining his medical need for a service dog. The letter stated that Peterson would be responsible for taking care of Diamond during the school day.
Coil, Peterson’s teacher, allowed many changes in her classroom for Diamond, as well as working with Charlie and his schedule.
“He is in charge of holding her leash, giving her water, and taking her to the bathroom,” Coil said. “If Charlie can’t take Diamond to class for any reason, she gets to take a break in her kennel in my room.”
Diamond has helped Charlie learn to be more responsible as well.
“Lots of students and teachers want to pet her so Charlie is learning to speak up to say either yes or no,” Coil said.
Charlie is allowed to say “no” to anyone who asks to pet Diamond. Diamond is at school to keep Peterson safe and healthy, and should not be touched without the owner’s permission.
According to the Nebraska Laws on Service Dogs, neither the ADA ( (Americans with Disabilities Act),), nor Nebraska’s civil rights law covers emotional support animals. These are animals whose presence provides a sense of safety, companionship, and comfort to those with varieties of emotional needs. Although these animals often have therapeutic benefits, they are not individually trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers.
In April, Diamond finished her training in order to come live with Charlie and his parents.
“I let Diamond watch youtube with me sometimes, because that’s one of the things she likes to do,” Peterson said.
According to Nebraska law, service animals must be allowed in most places besides religious accommodations. This is because a service dog helps their owner navigate the stress of crowded places.
The ADA allows public accommodations to prohibit a service animal if it poses any sign of danger, destruction, or aggressiveness. A service dog could also be excluded if it is out of control and the owner is “unable to control it.”
However, Peterson has never felt that Diamond poses a danger to himself or other students. She is here to help bring Peterson out of his comfort zone, and her presence has benefitted him in more ways than one. She has allowed Peterson to make more meaningful connections to those around him.
“More students and teachers have been coming up to Charlie, just to say ‘hi’,” Coil said.
