“Education is the key to Service Dog access. People in all walks of life need to know what Service Dogs are, what they do, and why the Service Dog must not be removed from the handler.”
There we have it, a
perfect blog intro.
“No mom it’s not perfect.—in fact, it’s watered down and not making the correct
point.”
“Hello Goodee the Service Dog you see your mom the human is working on the
blog.”
“I see your trying mom but not doing a very good job.”
“Okay, Goodee the Service Dog, just what would you say is a good blog intro?”
“UHHHM here it goes mom…”
Stupidity is the largest barrier to Service Dog access. Thousands of people are
totally dependent upon Service Dogs to help them with the most basic skills of
life. The Americans
With Disabilities Act, guarantees people with service dogs access to public
places. Many employers make sure their employees know the law by providing
Service Dog sensitivity training to their employees, then there are some individuals
who make no effort to know or understand the law and that creates the largest
problem for service dogs and their handlers—Not knowing the law, being dense,
refusal to understand, AKA: STUPIDITY.
“Goodee the Service Dog you have written a near perfect intro. Do you mind if I
join in?”
“Oh no mom anytime.”
As Goodee points out Service Dogs and their handlers are to be given access to
any area that is normally accessed by the public. In our nearly seven years
together Team Goodee has experienced challenges to access in: hotels, gas
stations, restaurants and office buildings. We do our share of education.
Usually misunderstandings are cleared up once people understand that Goodee the
Aussie is also Goodee the Service Dog (a medical device under the ADA).
Sometimes we have called local police, or members of management for further
clarification and things get ironed out.—however, there are times we will never
forget that require much more effort on our parts.
“Come on mom tell it like it is: There are times that we have to waste way too
much time and energy explaining things because people are being STUPID!”
“Oh yes Goodee the Service Dog, you are always good at being direct. Sometimes
people are just plain STUPID. If you have never been dependent upon a Service
Dog you may not realize just what one instance of Stupidity can do physically
and mentally to the Service Dog Team.
“Let’s insert our best example here.”
“Yes that’s a good idea Goodee.”
My mom was recently hospitalized due to heart AFIB and a related fall. . At age 88 she
often tries to do more than her body will allow. She was release to our home
with specific orders from Medicare that she was to receive regular visits from
a nurse. I welcomed someone looking after my mom’s well-being.
Goodee
the Service Dog had kept my life “normal” she assisted me in walking across
surfaces so I could do the shopping, banking, cooking, and laundry. When
migraine triggers suddenly presented themselves Goodee would help me get meds,
or a better position for my head. Life for Team Goodee was “normal” but going
at a strained pace due to the things
needed for my mom. The nurse called and demanded that he come during a specific
time frame. However, I was ready to get help for my mom’s medical needs. I
truthfully did not think about my Service Dog because she is just a part of
me.—like a leg or an arm, she is a body part. Little did I know I was about to come upon the
largest access issue I have had in the history of Team Goodee. – Here it comes
the largest barrier for anyone with a Service Dog.—what’s that word again
Goodee.—STUPIDITY!
“STUPIDITY,
Mom”
“Thanks
Goodee, yes Stupidity, meaning a lack of intellect.
When the nurse came to the door I was working on a three-day stretch of two
hours of sleep per night. Goodee the Service Dog was vested and leashed at my
side. Goodee barked at the first sign of a stranger at the door but soon
stopped when requested.
“I’m afraid of dogs.” the nurse said backing up a bit.
“Oh I’m sorry she is my Service Dog,” I said, through a closed door, showing
the “SERVICE DOG” –patch on Goodee’s vest, right next to the one that says,
“ACCESS REQUIRED.”
The nurse bristled saying “I don’t like dogs anywhere around me, can you put
the dog away?”
I was genuinely sympathetic to the situation and kept the door closed.
“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding I can’t be without the dog but could you
send someone who will work with dogs?”
“I will call my supervisor,” the nurse said, leaving the porch.
“Oh well I will clear this up with the supervisor and they will send someone
else,” I thought to myself.
Simple
right?
“WRONG MOM!”
"Oh hello Goodee the Service Dog, glad you are still around. Do you
remember what happened after this?
" Well mom you had a big “melt down"
because you were trying to explain things but no one was listening.”
That’s it in a neat nut shell yes Goodee. It wasn’t pretty.
My cell phone rang and the supervisor said “I don’t understand what’s the big
deal, what could it possibly hurt. just put the dog away for an hour
while the nurse is there.”
I was
then informed by the RN Nurse Supervisor that she would not send another nurse
that I was being “unreasonable” and she would not have her nurses go where they
didn’t feel safe.
I
tried several times in the conversation to point out that I was just requesting
a nurse that would work with dogs being present in the home. I went on to
disclose specific medical details as to why I needed the dog (something not
required by law but I felt would be nice to provide). I tried to explain the
dynamics, mom and I share a house, mom needs me, I need the dog, and the dog is
a SERVICE DOG a MEDICAL DEVICE, a TOOL NOT A TOY.”
“Yes that’s how it happened mom and in real life you were shouting in the all
caps parts. You shouted so loud that our friends could hear you all the way
down the driveway.”
“Yes Goodee I was pretty upset.”
For years I struggled to stand, walk and do things. Now with the right medical
team in place and Service Dog Goodee I am able to do things and actually be
there for my mom when she needs me. With Service Dog Goodee I have the freedom
to be normal but now I encounter the barrier of unnecessary STUPIDITY. These
people are as my niece so correctly stated “Uneducated ding-dongs.”
The
supervisor finally agreed to send a nurse who got along fine with Goodee the
Service Dog.—For the home health agency the problem was resolved but I was left with a large amount of anxiety due to
the encounter and Goodee the Service Dog also experienced anxiety of her own
due to my extra needs during the days following the event.
This
event illustrates the most unnecessary barrier to service dog access. –The
initial barrier that is perfectly preventable. It takes such a small amount of
time to LEARN THE LAW. Every walk of life will be touched by the thousands of
Service Dogs in use.
When an administrator called me about this event she was nice but the damage
was done.
“It’s such a learning curve for us,” she told me. While I am glad they were
open to education, it saddens me to find out first-hand how under-educated the
medical profession is about ADA Service Dog Laws.
We
would like to thank our friends and family who keep us going and our friends in
the Service Dog Community who know the shoes we walk in and the struggle we
face.
Team Goodee appreciates communication by email and Facebook. When you see us
out and about we will likely say: “Not Now We Are Working.”
---DD & Goodee
Goodeeworks@gmail.com
We
offer the educational links below for further reading and welcome the sharing
of our blog.
Service
Dog Resources
FAQ
Service Dog Access
DOJ:
Service Animal Briefs
Federal
Policies on Service Dog Access
Service
Dog Education for Law Enforcement & Business Owners
Service
Dog 411
Shepherds
for Lost Sheep, Inc.
A
non-profit organization dedicated to helping Veterans through the use of
Service K-9’s
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the
Golden Retriever Who Saved Him
By
Luis Carlos Montalvan & Brent Whitter
A
best-seller must read about a warrior and the life-changing effects of a
Service Dog
Available
in many formats
Coming
Soon
Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond
between a Soldier and His Service Dog by Luis Carlos Montalván,
Bret Witter and Dan Dion (May 27, 2014)
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