[nagdu] Restaurant acknowledges 'mistake' in ejecting guide dog

Tue Jul 12 15:30:42 UTC 2011

Steve, and this is in no way being rude or anything.

You state that this is the difference between NFB and ACB.

In the article the ACB made a statement, and it read the Koors who are part of the ACB stood up for them.

NFB does the same, I am also recommending for those who were not at the convention, to go to the NFBNY.org and listen to the speech given by former governor David Patterson.

About the Workforce Bill, and putting it towards the same issues whether with a guide dog or entrance into any establishment. That it is not negotiable, we know our rights and that we will inform those that are breaking the laws know about them.

Sorry I am still under Convention fulfillment and excitement.

I realize that what I am about to say below doesn't pertain to guide dogs, but our NFB Family in General.

On July 2, before our convention started I had a couple who went to the Kennedy Space Center were denied access because they were blind until I called them.  I am working on this issue with the Travel and Tourism Division and have writing to Dr. Maurer and others involved about this.

But my point is, my client called me at the entrance I spoke to them, and they were allowed in after I gave them denial access laws to the Kennedy Space Center Employee who was not allowing them entrance.

We need to help all of our members and of course Guide Dog Users.  Hopefully our new Hotline will be a help in this area. That is my 2 cents on that.

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.com/>
631-456-5394
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Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise & Travel, Inc.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PICKRELL, REBECCA M (TASC)<mailto:REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> 
  To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 11:10 AM
  Subject: Re: [nagdu] Restaurant acknowledges 'mistake' in ejecting guide dog

  Exactly Steve!

  -----Original Message-----
  From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steven Johnson
  Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2011 1:31 PM
  To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
  Subject: Re: [nagdu] Restaurant acknowledges 'mistake' in ejecting guide dog

  And that, my friends is the difference between the NFB and ACB.  Stand up
  for your members and push the letter of the law.  It is 21 years after the
  passage of the ADA, and if you don't get it by now, we will make you get it.
  No excuses.  And, get a better grip on your service dog terminology.
  On a related note, a friend of mine faced a similar situation with a
  recreational lodge here in WI.  The owners said that after they learned the
  law, it wasn't a problem.  However, their problem now is the lawsuit they
  are facing as my friend connected with myself as the President of WAGDU, and
  this is the best thing they could have done.  Sorry, I have no sympathy for
  you business owners anymore, and it is time to understand the law.
  Furthermore, if you read your freaking state restaurant codes, there is
  generally if not always, an exemption for service dogs.  Like Ricky Ricardo
  says...you got some splainin to do, and this is why we need to criminalize
  such acts.  
  Steve

  -----Original Message-----
  From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
  Of Ginger Kutsch
  Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 8:15 PM
  To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
  Subject: [nagdu] Restaurant acknowledges 'mistake' in ejecting guide dog

  Restaurant acknowledges 'mistake' in ejecting guide dog

  Updated: Jul 07, 2011 10:39 PM EDT 

  By David MacAnally - 

  http://www.wthr.com/story/15044969/restaurant-acknowledges-mistake-in-ejecti<http://www.wthr.com/story/15044969/restaurant-acknowledges-mistake-in-ejecti>
  ng-guide-dog

  Indiana - Rick Ellinger is blind and uses a guide dog - a 5-year-old black
  Lab named Jarvis.

  On the 4th of July, he took his family to a south side restaurant for
  dinner.  Jarvis led the way.

  But he says the restaurant manager wouldn't seat the family unless Rick took
  Jarvis to the car.  Ellinger says he tried to explain the state and federal
  law which guarantees assistance dog access to any place the public is
  invited.

  When the manager told him he might seat the family in the corner, "away from
  the food and everything", Ellinger said no.  "I want to sit near the food so
  my wife can get my food for me," said Ellinger.

  The Ellingers left the restaurant.  He says he considered filing a formal
  complaint against the business, then decided he just wants to spread the
  news about the law.

  Don and Gerry Koors with the American Council of the Blind are not surprised
  what happened to Ellinger.  According to Don Koors, "as long as the dog is
  under control they're allowed to be in any public place."

  Gerry Koors says the assistance animals are not a nuisance.  "The dogs
  generally are well under control.  They're well trained."

  Eyewitness News went back to the restaurant with the Ellingers this week.
  Manager Joe Dong says he didn't know what the law required.  Dong said he
  assumed state health laws barred all animals from areas where food is
  served.

  He said he now understands the law and welcomed the Ellingers - and Jarvis -
  to sit anywhere they wished.

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