[nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dog notallowedintorestaurant

Sun Jun 13 01:45:35 UTC 2010

In response to the observation of guide dog access in Chinese restaurants, I
have recently attended an ethnic Chinese church with experiences of
acceptance and interest. A church congregation has potentially even more
opportunities to discourage guide dog users from attending services or
events than a restaurant. While the public is admitted to a church, social
exclusion can be an informal barrier. The Chinese folks I encountered are
teaching their children about guide dogs as they encounter Abby, my 50 lb.
German Shepherd from Seeing Eye. I have deliberately relaxed my usual rules
to allow them to touch and pet her as she sits in harness so they will not
be afraid, and have a positive association. These are toddlers and
preschoolers. To the few older kids, I explain the rules about the harness
being her "work uniform" etc. I have not always had such positive
experiences particularly in churches- but don't get me started!/smile/.  I
am a Christian, and I relate to that world-wide group of people who have in
common changed lives by their faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the living
savior.  That said, some of my "relatives" embarrass me thoroughly by their
actions and attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Referring to
disability issues, a friend told me, "Basically, there are 2 broad types of
people in the world, those who accept persons with disabilities as equal
human beings, and those who exclude and scape goat them at every
opportunity." I think there is a middle ground even in that dichotomy.   
My point is that as with any particular group of human beings sharing a
commonality, race, ethnicity, belief system, etc.  context is important and
stereotypes don't always fit. I guess I just want to contribute another
viewpoint on Chinese people.

Thanks for listening-
Cathryn (& Abby)

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 10:02 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dog
notallowedintorestaurant

We also have to remember for whatever reason here, is that I am not picking 
on anyone, but I have found it primarily to the the Chinese restaurants in 
my area, when I first got maxx that I had issues with, accept the girls from

a Spanish country, who were not management and lied that the management said

my dog couldn't come in the restaurant, were finally fired very recently in 
fact for doing it again to another person who had a service animal who 
wasn't blind, but had an assist dog with them.

As I was saying it seems like the Chinese restaurants seem to have issues 
with them, there maybe others out there I am sure, but for the most part 
that is what I am finding, until, of course, I have other issues.

Cheryl Echevarria
Independent Travel Consultant
C10-10646

http://Echevarriatravel.com
1-866-580-5574

http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel CST-1018299-10

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 9:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dog notallowedinto

restaurant

> That would be a worth while article to read as well. Thanks for updating 
> us
> Buddy.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Buddy Brannan
> Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 9:32 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dog not
> allowedinto restaurant
>
> I just saw an update to this article. Apparently the owners of the
> restaurant went out to this woman's house, in person, and apologized. They
> have further suspended the employee in question for a week without pay, 
> and
> they have pledged a donation to the Seeing Eye. Sounds like they really 
> want
> to make amends to me.
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
> On Jun 12, 2010, at 8:43 AM, Cathryn Bonnette wrote:
>
> > I have a simple approach for such incidents. I explain to the employee
> that
> > my guide dog is my eyes and is protected by law. If they insist we 
> > cannot
> be
> > served, I ask for the manager. Once I confirm that the manager is also
> > refusing us service, I quietly ask, "Would you like to call the police, 
> > or
> > shall I call them?" In most cases, this question alerts them to the fact
> > that they are wrong. In 2 out of many incidents, either a manager or I
> have
> > called police who talk directly to management about the law, reinforcing
> > what I have explained.  The result is that we are served excellently,
> often
> > with apologies. Also, the rights of all dog users are protected.  I am
> > convinced that each single incident is important because guide dog users
> are
> > a triple minority- disabled people are a minority, blindness is a 
> > minority
> > of that group, and guide dog users are a minority of blind people. We 
> > have
> > to support each other on access issues, or the law becomes ineffective,
> and
> > we all lose.
> > (OK, I'm stepping off my "soapbox". It's early Saturday morning- time 
> > for
> a
> > cup of coffee! Happy Saturday everyone!
> >
> > Cathryn (& Abby)
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> > Behalf
> > Of Mark J. Cadigan
> > Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 8:22 PM
> > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dog not
> > allowedintorestaurant
> >
> > There must be some sort of way to teach the general public about guide 
> > dog
>
> > access legislation. The Patriot Ledger is my home town news paper and I
> live
> >
> > a few miles away from the area where this incident took place. Brockton 
> > MA
>
> > is an interesting town to say the least. This man referred to might not
> > understand American law. This might partly explain this incident.
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Ginger Kutsch" <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
> > To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 10:01 AM
> > Subject: [nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dog not allowed
> > intorestaurant
> >
> >
> >> Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dog not allowed into
> >> restaurant
> >> By Maria Papadopoulos
> >> ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
> >> Posted Jun 11, 2010 @ 01:38 AM
> >>
> >> BROCKTON, MASS.  - Claire Crowell says she could not see the man
> >> who refused to let her Seeing Eye dog accompany her into a city
> >> restaurant.
> >>
> >> She could only hear him - and his words stunned her.
> >>
> >> "He said, 'I don't care, you can't come in here with the dog,'"
> >> Crowell, 69, said while standing next to the dog, Vixen, in the
> >> kitchen of her Brockton home Thursday afternoon.
> >>
> >> Crowell said she and a friend went to the Chinatown restaurant on
> >> Oak Street Extension on Wednesday for lunch.
> >>
> >> When she walked inside with Vixen, she said a male employee told
> >> her she could come in, but to leave the dog outside.
> >>
> >> Crowell said she told the employee that federal law allows her to
> >> bring a guide dog into the restaurant, but the man refused the
> >> dog again. Crowell then left the restaurant.
> >>
> >> "I felt embarrassed and violated, you know? It's very
> >> embarrassing," Crowell said, crying. "It's hard enough to be a
> >> disabled person, but when you're treated like that, it's not
> >> fun."
> >>
> >> The federal Americans with Disabilities Act requires
> >> privately-owned businesses that serve the public to allow people
> >> with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business
> >> premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed. The
> >> law applies to businesses including restaurants, hotels, retail
> >> stores, taxicabs, theaters, concert halls and sports facilities.
> >>
> >> State law says that whoever deprives a physically handicapped
> >> person this right may be fined $300 and is liable for civil
> >> action.
> >>
> >> At Chinatown restaurant on Thursday, employee Dominic So said
> >> that he refused to let Vixen, Crowell's dog, into the restaurant
> >> on Wednesday.
> >>
> >> "I work here. I have the right to stop the dog," said So, 50. "I
> >> won't let a dog in the restaurant."
> >>
> >> When informed of the federal law that allows a guide dog to be
> >> inside the restaurant, So said, "I have no clue."
> >>
> >> "The dog can wait outside," So said. "When she eats, she doesn't
> >> need the dog. When she walks, she needs the dog. I understand
> >> that."
> >>
> >> So said that Crowell could have people assist her inside the
> >> restaurant, but the dog should stay outside.
> >>
> >> "I just can't let a dog in the dining room when I have customers
> >> dining here," So said. "If she insists I violated her rights,
> >> there's nothing I can do. I'm right to refuse a dog in the
> >> restaurant."
> >>
> >> Businesses refusing guide dogs is seen regularly, and often
> >> results from a misunderstanding on the part of business owners,
> >> said Chris Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation of
> >> the Blind in Baltimore.
> >>
> >> "You simply have to educate the business owner," he said. "If a
> >> business owner actually refuses, it can lead to seeking charges
> >> to being filed."
> >>
> >> "It's obviously very upsetting to the person that it happens to,"
> >> he added.
> >>
> >> If Crowell made a complaint to police, officers would go to the
> >> restaurant to explain the law to employees, police Lt. Tom
> >> LaFratta said.
> >>
> >> "If they still refuse, I would take punitive action," LaFratta
> >> said.
> >>
> >> Crowell said she formerly worked as a medical assistant before an
> >> autoimmune condition led to the deterioration of her eyesight
> >> over the past three decades. She became legally blind in the
> >> 1990s.
> >>
> >> Hugging Vixen, she said she relies on the part golden retriever,
> >> part Labrador retriever on showing her the way.
> >>
> >> "The dog is my eyes," she said. "She is supposed to see for me
> >> and guide me where I need to go."
> >>
> >> Maria Papadopoulos can be reached at
> >> mpapadopoulos at enterprisenews.com.
> >>
> >> Source:
> >> http://www.patriotledger.com/business/x1602635111/Blind-Brockton-
> >> woman-Seeing-Eye-dog-not-allowed-into-restaurant
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> nagdu mailing list
> >> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> nagdu:
> >>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/kramc11%40gmail.com
> >>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > nagdu mailing list
> > nagdu at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> >
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cathrynisfinally%40ve
> > rizon.net
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2931 - Release Date: 06/11/10
> > 18:35:00
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > nagdu mailing list
> > nagdu at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> >
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/buddy%40brannan.name
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
> org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotma
il.com
> 

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cathrynisfinally%40ve
rizon.net

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2931 - Release Date: 06/11/10
18:35:00