[nagdu] more Questions About accessing

[Tatyana]

Julie,

thank you for the interesting notes. Keep on walking and self-confident look 
make a deal
> I extremely rarely have access issues.  Rarely am I even asked if Monty is 
> a service/guide dog, which is perfectly legal for them to ask.  On one 
> occasion I was asked for ID, which is not legal for them to ask for. 
> However many maybe all? of the guide dog programs issue ID to their 
> graduates.  So if you had particular difficulty with explaining access 
> laws or did not feel comfortable advocating for yourself, you would have 
> one of these cards to show.
>
> Okay here are some things that I believe contribute to my very low 
> incidence of access issues.
> I live in a very small town.  Everyone knows everyone and I am the only 
> blind person with a guide dog.  They all know me, whether or not I know 
> them *smile* and they know I'm the real thing.
>
> Monty is well groomed and well behaved.  He is always an example of how a 
> guide dog should behave.  If he isn't I deal with it immediately and 
> expediently.   I am probably over sensitive about his behavior since I 
> trained him.
>
> I do not stop to discuss whether or not I am allowed in a particular 
> public place.  If a business owner starts in on asking questions I 
> announce that he is a guide dog, smile, nod and keep on walking.  I have 
> never had anyone chase me down or talk to my back.  In short, if you look 
> like you have every right to be there, you must and they leave me alone.
>
> Monty is not a particularly cute and cuddly looking dog.  He is large, 
> powerful, black and doesn't enjoy visiting with strangers.  We do not get 
> a lot of unwanted attention from random people.  Monty is not at all 
> dangerous, but he's all business when he's in harness.
>
> I also know my rights and will not hesitate to explain them should the 
> need arise.  I am a confident person and carry myself that way, head up, 
> looking straight ahead, calm expression etc.  I walk at a quick pace, 
> which I think people also view as confidence.
>
> I hope that helps you feel more at ease with possible access issues.  They 
> do come up and you will have to deal with them, but I'd about bet that if 
> you never get a dog you'll likewise experience some sort of access issue. 
> I think having a guide dog increases the amount of access discussions, but 
> I think all blind people universally need to be prepared to advocate for 
> ourselves.
>
> HTH
> Julie
>
>
> On 9/3/2011 9:31 AM, Tatyana wrote:
>> Dear listers,
>> I would like to ask you some   questions about accessing public places .
>> When taxi drivers don't want your dog to get into a car, what excuse do 
>> they
>> use?
>> What do ethnic restaurants greeters say when they don't let you in?
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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