YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-24-2005, 01:03 PM

I became passionate about this issue after reading this article:
One man's fight for disabled rights

By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer

James Woodrow has lived with two kinds of pain for more than a decade. One is physical ---- the torture of two debilitating nervous system disorders, sometimes so bad "it feels (like) razor blades or battery acid under my skin."

The other is the anguish and indignation the disabled man feels every time he walks into a store or restaurant with his service dog, Rocky, and hears the words: "You can't come in here with that dog," the 54-year-old Temecula resident said.

While most businesses don't think twice about allowing a blind person to bring a guide dog into a store or restaurant, that is often not the case with service dogs that assist those with other disabilities, especially when the disability is not visible, experts say.

The animals help the disabled in a number of ways. Some are able to detect the onset of a seizure, or provide balance to those with trouble moving around. Others help those with psychological disorders stay calm. The Michigan-based International Association of Assistance Dog Partners estimates that 20,000 disabled people in the United States use service dogs, including guide dogs for the blind and signal dogs for the hearing impaired.

Rocky accompanies Woodrow wherever he goes. If Woodrow falls, he leans on Rocky to get back on his feet. When he struggles to walk, Rocky pulls him along.

"With my dog and my faith in God, I was able to walk again," Woodrow said on a recent morning. "He's everything to me."

In the early 1990s, Woodrow was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome and fibromyalgia. Both of those conditions cause severe chronic pain.

When his suffering becomes unbearable, Woodrow locks himself inside the recreational vehicle he calls home, draws the blinds and prays for the torture to end ---- often for days at a time, he said.

Once his pain returns to a manageable level, Woodrow ventures outside with Rocky for a bit of shopping or a cup of coffee at a local restaurant. Often, he seeks nothing more than the solace of being around other people, he said.

But the simple, everyday pleasures most take for granted are anything but a given for disabled people like Woodrow.

Over the last few years, Woodrow says he has been barred from entering dozens of stores, restaurants and other businesses in Riverside and San Diego counties. And while federal law stipulates that such licenses are not necessary, Woodrow took out a state service-dog license for Rocky in 2003, just to try and avoid conflict with business owners, he said. Rocky wears the tag around his neck.

Yet, despite that precaution, Woodrow continues to be barred from some local businesses, he said. And on several occasions, he has made a citizen's arrest of managers who refused to allow him access with Rocky.

Discrimination common

Woodrow is not alone in his plight, says a spokeswoman for the statewide disabled-rights advocacy group Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

"We see it as a widespread problem," said staff attorney Diana Honig. "Based on the number of calls we get, there is a high level of frustration at the lack of access."

She said she attributes much of the discrimination to ignorance of the law and ignorance of the fact that many people suffer from disabilities that are not visible.

Discrimination of all types against those with hidden disabilities is especially common, according to Marilyn Golden, policy analyst with the Berkeley-based Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

"(It's) a huge issue," she said. "They encounter this all the time."

Businesses that evade the federal law or choose to ignore it do so at their own peril, she said.

"(They) are usually the ones who end up being sued," Golden said.

The U.S. Census bureau pegs the number of disabled in the country at 49 million people. Of those, about 12.6 million are categorized as severely disabled.

Whenever Woodrow enters a business with Rocky for the first time, he said, he explains that he is disabled and presents the manager with printed information on the Americans with Disabilities Act requiring that businesses allow disabled people access with their service animals. Even then, however, some employees still refuse to serve the man and ask him to leave, Woodrow said.

And that's when things begin to escalate, he said, as he insists they obey the federal law. Tempers flare and accusations begin to fly. Woodrow calls the police, saying he is making a citizen's arrest, and managers call the police, too, asking officers to arrest him for disturbing the peace. On more than one occasion, both have occurred.

(continued on next post)

06-24-2005, 01:03 PM	#89
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	My Passion I became passionate about this issue after reading this article: One man's fight for disabled rights By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer James Woodrow has lived with two kinds of pain for more than a decade. One is physical ---- the torture of two debilitating nervous system disorders, sometimes so bad "it feels (like) razor blades or battery acid under my skin." The other is the anguish and indignation the disabled man feels every time he walks into a store or restaurant with his service dog, Rocky, and hears the words: "You can't come in here with that dog," the 54-year-old Temecula resident said. While most businesses don't think twice about allowing a blind person to bring a guide dog into a store or restaurant, that is often not the case with service dogs that assist those with other disabilities, especially when the disability is not visible, experts say. The animals help the disabled in a number of ways. Some are able to detect the onset of a seizure, or provide balance to those with trouble moving around. Others help those with psychological disorders stay calm. The Michigan-based International Association of Assistance Dog Partners estimates that 20,000 disabled people in the United States use service dogs, including guide dogs for the blind and signal dogs for the hearing impaired. Rocky accompanies Woodrow wherever he goes. If Woodrow falls, he leans on Rocky to get back on his feet. When he struggles to walk, Rocky pulls him along. "With my dog and my faith in God, I was able to walk again," Woodrow said on a recent morning. "He's everything to me." In the early 1990s, Woodrow was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome and fibromyalgia. Both of those conditions cause severe chronic pain. When his suffering becomes unbearable, Woodrow locks himself inside the recreational vehicle he calls home, draws the blinds and prays for the torture to end ---- often for days at a time, he said. Once his pain returns to a manageable level, Woodrow ventures outside with Rocky for a bit of shopping or a cup of coffee at a local restaurant. Often, he seeks nothing more than the solace of being around other people, he said. But the simple, everyday pleasures most take for granted are anything but a given for disabled people like Woodrow. Over the last few years, Woodrow says he has been barred from entering dozens of stores, restaurants and other businesses in Riverside and San Diego counties. And while federal law stipulates that such licenses are not necessary, Woodrow took out a state service-dog license for Rocky in 2003, just to try and avoid conflict with business owners, he said. Rocky wears the tag around his neck. Yet, despite that precaution, Woodrow continues to be barred from some local businesses, he said. And on several occasions, he has made a citizen's arrest of managers who refused to allow him access with Rocky. Discrimination common Woodrow is not alone in his plight, says a spokeswoman for the statewide disabled-rights advocacy group Protection & Advocacy, Inc. "We see it as a widespread problem," said staff attorney Diana Honig. "Based on the number of calls we get, there is a high level of frustration at the lack of access." She said she attributes much of the discrimination to ignorance of the law and ignorance of the fact that many people suffer from disabilities that are not visible. Discrimination of all types against those with hidden disabilities is especially common, according to Marilyn Golden, policy analyst with the Berkeley-based Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. "(It's) a huge issue," she said. "They encounter this all the time." Businesses that evade the federal law or choose to ignore it do so at their own peril, she said. "(They) are usually the ones who end up being sued," Golden said. The U.S. Census bureau pegs the number of disabled in the country at 49 million people. Of those, about 12.6 million are categorized as severely disabled. Whenever Woodrow enters a business with Rocky for the first time, he said, he explains that he is disabled and presents the manager with printed information on the Americans with Disabilities Act requiring that businesses allow disabled people access with their service animals. Even then, however, some employees still refuse to serve the man and ask him to leave, Woodrow said. And that's when things begin to escalate, he said, as he insists they obey the federal law. Tempers flare and accusations begin to fly. Woodrow calls the police, saying he is making a citizen's arrest, and managers call the police, too, asking officers to arrest him for disturbing the peace. On more than one occasion, both have occurred. (continued on next post)