the final trial on Nov. 10, so Kaleb and Chewey could begin first grade together.

Kaleb and Chewey are connected constantly by a tether that loops around Kaleb’s waist. When Nichelle commands Chewey into a downstay, the dog keeps Kaleb from running away. At the same time, Nichelle explained, Kaleb also has more independence because he can walk freely within five feet of Chewey or hang on to the handle on the dog’s service vest.

Kaleb has accepted the tether system and no longer fights when he’s asked to leave the house.

“He sits by Chewey, we place Chewey’s tether around his waist and we’re up and out the door,” Nichelle said. “Kaleb is able to go everywhere with our family now. We don’t have to find a babysitter or leave him with grandparents.”

When Kaleb does have behavioral problems, Nichelle directs Chewey to apply deep pressure. Kaleb then re-centers himself, she says, and comes out of the behavior.

Chewey also provides Kaleb with deep pressure throughout the night, helping him sleep six to eight hours. With adequate rest, Nichelle said, her son’s focus at school has improved. A bonus, she adds, is that Chewey barks and blocks the door if Kaleb gets out of bed at night.

Brandon Wright, the attorney for the Villa Grove school district, argued in court that school officials haven’t seen Chewey exhibit any of these benefits.

Aimee Reardon, Kaleb’s one-on-one aide, and Beth Wiessing, his speech pathologist, have each acted as Chewey’s handler at school and testified that he doesn’t always respond to commands and seems to sleep most of the day. The service dog also causes problems in the classroom by sniffing other students or by getting up on his own, they said.

“The dog is not a service dog,” Wright said.

“The dog’s training does not reflect the appropriate behaviors. There is a consistent need to repeat commands, and he exhibits off-task behaviors and responds to other people.”

Wright added that Kaleb shouldn’t be allowed to attend school with Chewey since the

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