[nagdu] Goodwill Changes Policy On Service Dogs

Buddy Brannan buddy at brannan.name
Wed Jul 18 15:08:54 UTC 2012 

Of course the ADA overrides state law. I was only commenting on his statement that they'd best go ahead and follow it, as if they had a choice in the matter. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jul 18, 2012, at 10:46 AM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:

> Gees, Buddy, calm down. <Grin> I don't think that is a good analogy. The fascinating thing is that the ADA over rides the Tennessee law, I think, so how is it they are just doing this out of the goodness of their little hearts.
> 
> Cindy Lou
> 
> On Jul 18, 2012, at 9:36 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
> 
>> "why: ?Even though we were already operating under the Tennessee law, we
>> decided that it would be best for us to go ahead and comply with the ADA
>> law."
>> 
>> "
>> 
>> So, what, the ADA is optional? Like, you can choose whether to follow it or not? That's fantastic! So, I can murder the guy in the next cube over because he annoys me, and it's OK, because I choose not to acknowledge the laws against murder? Annoying people of the world, you'd better watch out! 
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Jul 18, 2012, at 7:11 AM, "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Goodwill Changes Policy On Service Dogs
>>> 
>>> By Megan Brantley
>>> 
>>> Jun 15 2012
>>> 
>>> http://www.wcyb.com/Goodwill-Changes-Policy-On-Service-Dogs/-/14590664/15240
>>> 106/-/9ycsahz/-/index.html
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - 
>>> 
>>> She claimed to be a victim of discrimination because Goodwill turned her
>>> away and wouldn't let her service dog in the store. Earlier this week we
>>> told you about a local woman and a controversy over her service dog.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Original story: Service Dog Owner Claims Discrimination
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Rose Hollowka suffers from epilepsy and said her dog, which warns her
>>> beforehand that she is about to have a seizure, was not allowed in a Johnson
>>> City Goodwill store. The story said that was because she didn't have
>>> documentation to prove Honey was a service dog.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> That story touched a nerve for many folks; it has been viewed over 15,000
>>> times here on WCYB.com. It also brought a flood of calls and emails to
>>> Goodwill about disability discrimination.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> "Nationally we heard a lot. A lot of Goodwill [stores] across the country do
>>> hear a lot. They want to comment on it. They want to know. They really don't
>>> know how the Goodwill organization is set up," said Bob Miller, CEO and
>>> President of Goodwill of Tenn/Va.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> We searched the law and found Tennessee does in fact allow businesses to
>>> choose whether or not to ask for documentation when someone has a service
>>> animal, but the organization is now making some changes. Miller explained
>>> why: ?Even though we were already operating under the Tennessee law, we
>>> decided that it would be best for us to go ahead and comply with the ADA
>>> law."
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Miller told us that Goodwill will announce on its website the new policy
>>> with service animals. Now it will only ask what service an animal provides,
>>> but not ask for documentation. "I am glad that they changed the policy, said
>>> Rose Hollowka. ?I am disappointed that it takes someone going to the media
>>> to get this changed and taken care of."
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> That's a change that backs up Goodwill?s mission to serve those with
>>> disabilities.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Original story: Service Dog Owner Claims Discrimination
>>> 
>>> By Megan Brantley
>>> 
>>> POSTED: Jun 12 2012 05:48:52 AM EDT UPDATED: 5:43 AM Jun 12 2012
>>> 
>>> http://www.wcyb.com/Service-Dog-Owner-Claims-Discrimination/-/14590664/15240
>>> 206/-/h8wnql/-/index.html
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - 
>>> 
>>> A Johnson City woman claims that she was discriminated against for bringing
>>> her service dog inside a store.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> According to the Americans with Disability Act, state and local governments,
>>> businesses, and non-profit organizations that serve the public must allow
>>> service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the
>>> facility where the public is normally allowed to go.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> One woman she was not allowed to do so when she was shopping at the
>>> Goodwill. Rose Holowka is dealing with a disability. "I was in a car wreck
>>> back in 1992 which caused seizures that developed into epilepsy and have
>>> partial complex seizures," she explained.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Her service dog Honey makes things a little easier, but we learned that the
>>> law makes it a little harder. ?About a month ago my husband and I went to
>>> the Goodwill, and we were approached by their supervisor. We were told that
>>> we had to leave or show certification or documentation for the dog," said
>>> Holowka.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Unlike being blind, Holowka doesn't have a visible disability and she says
>>> that makes it harder to convince people.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Federal law does not require folks to show proof an animal is a service dog.
>>> State representative Jon Lundberg says places are not allowed to ask. ?You
>>> can't ask to see that,? says Lundberg, ?This is not like 'let's see you
>>> driver's license, let's see your dog credentials.' It doesn't work that way,
>>> it wasn't designed to work that way."
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Although it wasn't designed that way, it's put places like Goodwill in a
>>> very tough position. With the animals not being required by law to wear a
>>> vest or dog tag, it makes it hard to tell which dog is a service dog and
>>> which isn't.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> We spoke with a representative from Goodwill who said that with the right
>>> paperwork they'd be happy to allow them in, but until then, their policy
>>> says no pets allowed.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
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