Autism service dogs attend 2 southern New Brunswick schools
Fairvale Elementary, Grand Manan Community School first in district to accept autism support dogs
Oakley and Grace are the first service dogs to attend schools in the Anglophone South School District.
Grace is Jackson Kirby's service dog. Kirby, a Grade 3 student at Grand Manan Community School, is connected to her through a safety harness while in class.
Oakley is Kate Mouland's service dog and he helps keep her safe at Fairvale Elementary School in Quispamsis.
Shonna Martin, Mouland's kindergarten teacher, says Oakley and her students have adapted beautifully to the unique setup.
"The children perfectly ignore him, which is their job," Martin said Thursday on Information Morning Saint John.
"We explained to them how it works … he's not a dog here, he's not a pet, he's essentially a teacher."
"We consider him staff and they don't even see him, they just see Kate. They see their buddy, and it's absolutely impressive," she said.
Martin had to rearrange her classroom to make space for the 40 kilogram animal.
"While he's in his vest he can't scratch, he can't use the bathroom, he can't have a drink, he's here to work," Martin said.
"He's just like us, he puts on his work clothes and he's in a different mode. When he's home, he gets to have his relaxation time just like an adult would."
Martin says welcoming Mouland and Oakley to the classroom has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her teaching career.
She says Oakley has taught her to be more in tune with her students with special needs.
"He has supported his child during her transition to school. The transition to school is difficult for many students, let alone our children that we know are on the autism spectrum, and he has provided a beautiful bridge of bringing a piece of home to school with her," said Martin.
"He is the best [educational assistant] you could ever imagine … he's the best behaved in the building."