In Seattle, a blind man named Paul Castle was asked to leave a restaurant because a worker did not believe he was blind, even though his guide dog, Mr. Maple, was with him. Guide dogs help many blind people live more independently by helping them with daily tasks.
Paul, who has less than 10% vision, depends heavily on Mr. Maple. He also runs a social media channel with his husband to raise awareness about blindness. Speaking about his experience, Paul said:
“When I encounter a situation like this, when I’m completely rejected not only because of my dog but also because people don’t believe in my disability, it really makes me sadder than anything else. difficulties that I have faced.”
Paul points out that some people abuse the system by pretending their pets are service dogs, which makes life more difficult for those who truly need them. He also mentioned that most legally blind people can still see to some degree.
“I think sharing our personal stories and finding ways to grow and learn together is the ultimate goal,”
The Washington State Commission on Human Rights states that businesses can only ask if the animal is necessary for a disability and what task the animal is trained to do. They cannot require any special paperwork or that the animal must wear a specific vest.
Despite this unpleasant experience, Paul hopes it can lead to positive changes. “I just hope that situations like this can actually be minimized through better education and training,” he expressed.
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