Another challenge Strueby faces is how others respond to her service animal . She says , " I have also had people swoon over my service animal , make kissy noises or whistle at her to get her attention , and mention how cute she is . Additionally people also try to take pictures of her as if seeing a service animal is a rare phenomenon ."
Strueby compares Stella to a wheelchair : " It is not often that people make snide remarks to people who are in wheelchairs , or to comment on ' how cute ' a wheelchair is , or to take pictures of it ." Strueby points out that societal norms about visible disabilities teach the public not to ask about how another person is managing their disability , but these norms don ' t extend to invisible disabilities .
For example , because Strueby requires Stella only in certain conditions , she is often asked , " Where ' s Stella ?" when she leaves Stella at home . Strueby says , " Seeing that I make use of my service animal only when I feel I need it , people often think I am faking mental illness , or only had Stella certified because I wanted to be able to take her places with me . This is so far from the truth — having to take a service animal with you in order to function can be such a burden ; it is not ' fun ,' it is not ' cool ,' and it can make everyday tasks much more difficult ."
" Stella is an incredible tool I have the privilege to use . When I am in busy environments she acts as a barrier between me and other people to ease my social anxiety . During stressful and overwhelming moments in class she will lick my hand or become restless when she recognizes I need a break from the environment I am in . When I have panic attacks or moments of distress she will lie on the floor beside me and paw at me until I am fully focused on her . At home Stella can usually be found right by my side ; however if she is not with me , she is constantly checking up on me . Whether I am napping , working on homework , or even in the bathroom … it is never long until she pushes her nose through to see what I am up to ," says Strueby . what I need during those moments in order to push through ."
" Moving forward , I am working on feeling less guilt and judgment around how I use my service animal ," says Strueby . The use of Stella has been a topic that has weighed on Strueby for some time . Her concerns rise as she anticipates how misunderstandings around her use of Stella might impact her employment in the education field , the work she has become passionate about .
In the fall of 2019 , the final year of her Education program , Strueby , with Stella by her side , was required to complete a semester-long , in-school internship . After some initial struggles , and with the support and encouragement of the field placement staff at the U of R , Strueby was finally placed at Luther College High School in Regina under the supervision of Erin Woods and Troy Casper , where she was encouraged by a successful internship .
Strueby says , " Luther provided me such a positive internship experience . Everyone at Luther welcomed me with open arms , was continually supportive , and made my teaching experience one to remember . The Luther community accepted me for who I am and was more than open and willing to learn about my needs , and how a service animal can be used to help those with all types of medical complications . I loved every minute I spent at Luther and I am so thankful for everyone who pushed and challenged me during my teaching experience . I made many relationships with the staff and students and I am looking forward to strengthening those relationships through volunteer work ( ex . coaching ), and through continuing to share resources and regularly connect with my co-operating teachers and colleagues ."
Through telling her story , Strueby says , “ I hope others are able to gain a better understanding about how people ’ s needs are never the same .”
While troublesome , these experiences have taught Strueby about what she needs and when she needs it . Though she has some bad days , she says , " I now have the ability to understand exactly
( L-R ) Stella and Erin ( Photo credit : Shuana Niessen )
Education News | Page 7