[Tn-talk] Discrimination against shoppers with service animals

[Sheri Anderson]

Good morning NFB of Tennessee,

The below information has been popping up on listserves throughout the
state for the past couple of days. The timing of such news causes
pause, with the NFB’s initiative to stop the practice of paying
subminimum wages to those with disabilities and the Goodwill boycott.

Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee, a non-profit legal
center advocating for the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities,
together with the national civil rights law firm Goldstein, Demchak,
Baller, Borgen & Dardarian are investigating complaints of
discrimination against shoppers with service animals at Goodwill
stores across the United States.  In particular, we are investigating
complaints that shoppers have been asked to provide “credentials” or
documentation for their service animals; have been barred from
entering or have been thrown out of Goodwill stores because they do
not have documentation for their service animals; or have been asked
questions about their service animals even when the handler’s
disability or the service provided by the animal is obvious.

If you have been denied access to Goodwill stores or have been asked
inappropriate questions by Goodwill employees because you use a
service animal, we want to hear from you.

To share your stories, please call Scott Grimes at Goldstein,
Demchak’s toll free number: 1-800-822-5000, or email
sgrimes at gdblegal.com, or Sheila Odusote at sheilao at dlactn.org.

All communications will be kept confidential.