For the last two years, Scooter Givens has not been allowed to bring his trained service dog onto the school bus. One year ago, advocacy group Disability Rights Oregon filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice against Hillsboro School District. Scooter's parents assume that when a decision is finally made, it will be "too late for Scooter,"

Scooter is prone to violent meltdowns, something his service dog helps deter with the use of a leash that is attached to a belt on Scooter's waist:

"If something startles Scooter and he works himself into a violent on-the-floor 'meltdown,' the dog puts his paw on the boy. If that doesn't work, Madison stands over him and then lies down on Scooter. The flailing and yelling stop almost immediately, and Scooter can get back on task, said Wendy Givens. Should Scooter run off and can't be found, Madison is trained to track him with the command, 'Where's your boy?'"

The story was profiled on Nancy Grace last January and has placed the issue of service animals into the spotlight. According to the American with Disabilities Act Web site, a service animal is "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability." But Superintendent Mike Scott doesn't see a need for the dog, as he believes "Scooter is doing well in school without Madison."

Although Scooter may be too old benefit from the case's decision when it is finally made, it could help other students in the same situation, one that few people can relate to and many are still trying to understand.