[nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies

Sat Aug 29 04:54:03 UTC 2015

Here is another angle on this issue:

Our dogs are tools.  They are called service dogs for a reason.  Not
only do they appear in many different forms (guide, mobility, hearing,
etc), but they do not have the rights afforded to human beings.  We
have those rights-the rights to use our tools in practically any
environment we wish.

I've been doing a lot of reading in the Braille Monitor lately.  Did
you know that airlines used to try and take away canes from blind
people?  Did you know that there are many stories of children and
adults having their canes taken away from them while they do various
activities?  Of course, many of you know about these things.  Maybe
they are not trying to "take our dogs away from us", though they will
evidently put them in the trunk...  But there are many kinds of
discrimination, and the most subtle, and perhaps the most milevelant,
is the kind that separates us from the rest of society.  Their denial
of me and my dog tells me that they disregard my dog as a tool and
refuse to acknowledge my choice to use him as a tool.

You can tell me that people don't really think like that (unless
they're crazy like me), but think about it.  Reflect on how you are
treated by others because of your dog.  Do you know people who insist
on petting even though you have told them to restrain themselves?  And
what about those family members and friends who think you should just
"leave him behind because it's easier?"  Yeah, that's what I'm talking
about.  Julie is correct.  It's a form of ablism that invalidates our
choices and our independence.

On 8/28/15, Cindy Ray via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Folks, why are we worried about the drivers who claim allergies? When they
> are hired, they have to know they are going to be required to take people
> in
> their cabs with dogs. People will often have  dander on them even if they
> never bring a dog into the cab, so why should we pay the price. It is the
> dander that is causing the allergy. Really, if they have that serious an
> allergy, they should probably try for a different career because they never
> know when they will be subjected to dander. And I'm thinking those who are
> allergic are mostly not going to have you and the dog that long in their
> cab. I can see the rationale of disclosing yet I wonder if it is really
> accomplishing what you want.
> As for disclosing to the airlines so that you won't get an aisle seat, they
> should change you to a window seat anyway when you show up with the dog
> because dogs aren't supposed to be in the aisle where they are endangered.
> I
> believe I read that in a policy once, though I can sure be corrected if I
> am
> wrong. If you don't disclose and you get there, they will change your seat
> if it is an aisle seat. I've done it many times. If you don't want to sit
> in
> the bulkhead, then your best shot at not sitting there is to keep still
> about the dog until you get to the airport. I can't see being apologetic
> about it.
> And then there is my personal issue. My daughter doesn't want me to bring
> my
> dog to her place when I go there in November. It's her right to have me not
> bring him, but the reason is she will already have three dogs. It may be a
> moot point by then, but right now it is not. I guess we all do whatever we
> have to do to protect ourselves from feelings of discomfort, emotions,
> whatever. That's not meant as a criticism, it's just the way of it, and I
> guess we all have to determine if we are able to do some of these things in
> spite of what consequences they might bring. It is hard sometimes, and
> sometimes you get inconvenienced.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of larry d keeler
> via nagdu
> Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 9:45 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: larry d keeler <lkeeler at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies
>
> I'm so used to telling the cab company about my wifes chair and my dog that
> it really doesn't matter much to me. I usually get timely rides. I also
> don't want to have a guy show up and refuse to take me on the basis of
> having a dog and have to go and wait some more. I like keepping us on
> record
> in case something messes up. For example, one time when my wife briefly had
> to be in a nursing home, I called a cab home. I have Holly on the standing
> orders. Well, he picked me up and complained that he had to carry a dog the
> whole way. He wasn't allergic but just didn't like dogs! Holly behaved
> perfectly. I asked him why he picked me up. I also asked him if he saw the
> order and the fact that I had a service dog with me. He said he did and it
> said service animal. He didn't know what kind of animal though. He said for
> all he knew it was a service snake! Well, I replied that it could have been
> a service cobra and what would he have done then! Anyway, I explained that
> if he knew that a service animal was listed, he could have bid on another
> ride so, what was he complaining about! I had put her on the order and he
> didn't seem to care when he bid on it so, I figured he had to live with it!
> I knew that many drivers would have taken that run because it was a rather
> long one. I could have gotten many a driver who knew me.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
> via nagdu
> Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 9:51 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users;
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Debby Phillips
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies
>
> Hi Louise, but then people would have to tell the dispatch person that they
> have a service dog, which I personally don't have a problem with.  You know
> folks, if you are calling a cab to go somewhere, it's true the law is on
> our
> side, they're supposed to take us.  And many of you think it's a terrible
> thing to disclose that you have a dog.  But wouldn't it be fairer to the
> cab
> company to let them know so that they can send someone who does not have
> allergies, or the driver is so terrified of our dog that he or she can
> hardly drive for fear of the dog getting too close?
> Sometimes we need to use some common sense.  It's true I have the right not
> to disclose.  But if the cab arrives and the driver is truly allergic to
> dogs, I have wasted his or her time, and am wasting mine as the cab company
> has to send someone else.  Or Uber, or Lyft.
>
> I once had a doctor who had severe allergies to dogs.  The first time I saw
> her, I had my dog with me.  She opened the door, saw him, and it was the
> one
> and only time she acted in an unprofessional manner.  She rushed out
> shouting, "Why is there a dog in my room?" She apologized and said that she
> had to ask me not to bring the dog into her exam room again.  Having gone
> through dog allergies myself, I totally understood where she was coming
> from, and either left my dog home, or left him in the waiting room with my
> husband or a friend for the remainder of the time she was my primary care
> physician.  We have rights, but we also have a responsibility, in my
> opinion, to care about other people.  Many of you don't know what it's like
> to have your throat be scratchy all the time, nose running, not able to
> breathe well because of an allergy to dog.  And some allergy relief meds
> make people sleepy.  So maybe when calling a cab, telling them isn't such a
> bad idea.  Just my opinion.
>
> It's a different matter when you're hailing a taxi on the city street.  I
> do
> think it's rude and inconsiderate for a taxi to just pull away.  I
> personally think if they can't or won't pick someone up, they should at
> least have the courtesy to pull up and
>
> tell the person that they're calling another cab.     Debby and
> Nova
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/lkeeler%40comcast.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/kaybaycar%40gmail.com
>

-- 
Julie McGinnity
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri second vice president,
National Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President
graduate, Guiding Eyes for the Blind 2008, 2014
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7