In the past seven years of being a guide dog owner I've only been asked to leave, or rather to leave my dog outside a hand full of times, and I'm pretty sure that I'm in the minority. Here we are in 2009 and there are still reports of gide dog/service animal owners being descriminated against. So would someone please tell me when all Americans are going to realize that service animals are allowed everywhere?
The inspiration for my frustration comes from an article that I read today about a woman in Georgia who has either had to wait for service or been asked to leave because of her guide dog. One of these establishments was even her doctor's office. When she was getting ready to be seen by her doctor, the nurse told her that she would have to leave her guide in the waiting room because the dog wasn't allowed in the examination area. I frankly was appauled and of course so was this guide dog owner. This clinic's actions wre not only illegal, but they were harmful to this guide dog owner. One of the reasons that the blind and people with other disabilities opt for a service animal is because of how much it increases independence. To ask someone to leave their dog behind, in this case is like asking a sighted person to leave their eyes behind.
To all business owners or employees of public places, please read the Americans with Disabilities Act, and never discourage a person with a service animal to be in your establishment or to use your services. If you ever have, you were in violation of the law.
What kind of experiences of descrimination have you had as a service animal user? If you don't have a service animal, how do you think it would feel if you used one and you were asked to leave a business or were not waited on properly because you had one with you?
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4 days ago
It's illegal for someone to even ask you if your dog is a service dog. I was with you once when they asked us to sit outside with her. I was shocked that a business in a busy place didn't know the laws. Good job as always!
ReplyDeleteThe ignorance of people will never cease to amaze me, but that's why I'm here to educate I guess. I am just glad that usually my guide is well received.
ReplyDeleteMy first guide worked for 9 years - she died last year ... I had more experiences with her of being asked to leave. It seems my assertive skills and continuous education were tested! I have had my new guide for 2 years and not so much of a challenge - but still it is a constant education. I was amazed on a visit to NYC how often it occurred. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Becky for sharing your experiences. I wish you luck with your new guide, and let's just hope that someday no one will ask us to leav because we have a guide dog. I am glad you enjoyed the post.
ReplyDeleteMy dad had a service dog and resorted to keeping a copy of laws with him and would hand these to people who asked about his dog. Often people just weren't aware that people have service animals for many different reasons, and it was a good education on their role in being an accessible business.
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