[nagdu] Goodwill Changes Policy On Service Dogs

Wed Jul 18 15:48:35 UTC 2012

Well, actually Tennessee might want to consider upgrading their law, too, so that the possibility of confusion over laws cannot be used as an excuse.

Cindy

On Jul 18, 2012, at 10:32 AM, Margo and Arrow wrote:

> So, I wonder when they'll start paying minimum wage, and, it's just amazing they didn't check with the ADA before making their false policies. Incredible!
> 
> Margoa nd Arrow
> 
> 
> ----- 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: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 7:11 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] Goodwill Changes Policy On Service Dogs
> 
> 
>> 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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