“Okay girl, it’s up to youâ€: a case study of the use of a seizure alert dog to improve the wellbeing of a student with epilepsy
“The relationship between student well-being and the other vital outcomes of schooling is unequivocal. Improved outcomes in all aspects of student well-being are positively associated with improved outcomes in all other aspects of schooling. This educational imperative only serves to strengthen and support the moral imperative for schools and schooling to be inclusive, supportive, and nurturing in order to maintain and support student well-being†Fraillon, 2005, p. 12) This paper reports unique insights into the influence of a Seizure Alert Dog on a middle-years student’s well-being and his family, social and school relationships. It does this by examining his and his mother’s experiences with and perceptions of his circumstances during the period of change instigated by the introduction of the Seizure Alert Dog. Although there is documentation about the behaviours exhibited by Seizure Alert Dogs in warning their owners of an impending seizure, there appears to be no research into the nature or consequences of the broader relationship between the dogs and their owners. The research reported here seeks to redress this situation by examining the narrative of the change in the student’s wellbeing.