[nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dognot allowedinto restaurant

Mon Jun 14 12:03:48 UTC 2010

I don't know, it is the owner's job to make sure everybody is up to
speed on current laws and codes. I don't feel too sorry for the owner or
his staff here. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Steve Johnson
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 3:01 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Brockton woman says Seeing Eye dognot
allowedinto restaurant

In a different sense, it seems that the punishment is a little harsh
especially if the co-woners did not have a training protocol or policy
in
place for new hires to understand the access laws and restaurant code
exemptions for service animals.   As this update indicates, it is a
afterthought due to the incident, and the owners are still ultimately
liable.  

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 8:58 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

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
>> 
>> 
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