The story of a handicapped boy from Bělá pod Bezdězem, whose dog is not allowed to accompany him to school, has reached the office of the Central Bohemia Regional Governor. David Rath (ČSSD) wants to help. He has written a letter to the mayor and school principal.
“The difficult situation of the boy caught my attention not as a regional governor, but mainly as a human being and doctor. The presence of a guide dog in Radek’s life situation, which is complicated due to his state of health, is immensely important,” David Rath writes, explaining his motivation for the interference.
The online daily TÝDEN.CZ was the first to report on the troubles of the 12-year-old Radek Gellner, who is physically disabled but not allowed to take his guide dog to school with him.
His case, which has been even under the investigation of the ombudsman and the school supervising authority Česká školní inspekce, started in the summer of last year. Radek’s mother told the school principal in Bělá pod Bezdězem that the family was going to purchase a guide dog for their son. The 12-year-old Radek has been suffering from an inborn muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair bound.
“I appeal to you that you reconsider all the reasons behind your decision, and I ask you to do everything possible to find a solution,” the regional governor writes to the school principal in a letter that TÝDEN.CZ has at its disposal.
Guide dogs are or have been attending 15 education institutions in the Czech Republic.
“The school has been proceeding in accordance with all regulations and it did not make any mistake,” says Česká školní inspekce spokesman Libor Vacek.
