Ombudsman criticizes school for refusing to allow an assistance dog in class

Ombudsman Stanislav Křeček  has criticized an unnamed elementary school in Czechia for refusing to allow two children with disabilities to have their assistance dog with them at the school, describing the ban as indirect discrimination. “A dog with special training cannot be viewed as an ordinary pet, but as an inseparable part of a person with a disability, enabling them to be independent and to participate in everyday life” the Ombudsman said. He advised the school to include an exception to the ban on dogs with special training directly in its school rules and urged the schoolmaster to be open to the needs of children with disabilities in the future.