[Ohio-talk] service animals

[Marianne Denning]

First, the woman who was checking the woman out had every right to ask
that question. According to the ADA an employee can ask 2 questions,
was that dog specifically trained to do a task and what task was it
trained to do. The person with the dog was absolutely wrong in this
situation. BTW, HIPA only covers medical facilities. I don't think it
applies to retail stores. Since the Ohio Association of Guide Dog
Users has been working with the Ohio law regarding service animals we
have become very familiar with ADA requirements. Thanks for pointing
this out to us.

On 10/14/17, Wanda Sloan via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Thank you Barbara.  I feel the same as you do.  As an NFB member, we are to
> educate the public in a tactful way as not to be rude or insulting to an
> inquiring person.
>
> Wan Sloan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barbara
> Shaidnagle via Ohio-Talk
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2017 8:58 AM
> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Barbara Shaidnagle <bshaid at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Ohio-talk] service animals
>
> I am concerned at times about an animal designated as a service animal
> especially when they are not wearing a jacket, merely accompanying the
> person.  And I  told one person at the airport in Bham a year ago, "you are
> what gives guide dogs a bad name..."
>
> DEAR ABBY: Yesterday I was in a retail store with my service dog. The clerk
> asked me what kind of service dog she was and I replied, She's my service
> dog. She kept pressing me as to exactly why I have one, so I asked her if
> she was inquiring about my disability. When she said, Yes, I politely
> informed her that federal HIPAA laws protect my right to privacy. She then
> said -- loud enough for everyone in the store to hear -- I don't know what
> the big deal is. I just want to know what the dog does for you.
>
> Please let your readers know how to be around a person and their service
> animal:
>
> 1. You do *not* have the right to ask about the person's disability. To do
> so is rude. Most people prefer strangers not know their medical condition.
> The dog may be for PTSD, a hearing or seeing dog, or to alert the person to
> a medical emergency.
>
> 2. Children (and adults) need to understand that when service animals'
> jackets go on, the dogs know it's time to go to work, and they take their
> job seriously. At that point, they are not pets and should not be treated
> as
> such. If a child rushes a service dog, the animal may react badly because
> it
> is there to protect its person.
>
> 3. You may ask to pet the dog, but don't assume it will be allowed. If
> given
> permission, the dog should be scratched under the chin *only*.
>
> Service animals know their place. It's a shame that most people are not as
> polite. -- NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS
>
> DEAR N.O.Y.B.: Thank you for sharing this information. According to the
> Americans With Disabilities Act website (ada.gov): Businesses may ask if an
> animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to
> perform, but cannot require special ID cards for the animal or ask about
> the
> person's disability.
>
>
> .
> DeColores
> Barbara
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053