To think this is a serious error and the resolution doesn’t really cut it

[Myinterestingnewpath]

Visited a well known chain restaurant, early in the week so it wasn’t busy, only about six tables tables taken. I was with my daughter, asked if I could have a table instead of a booth, as I have an assistance dog. My dog is a small/medium size, and was wearing his harness. I got asked if he was a guide dog, I said no an assistance dog. He then asked what that meant. I explained that the dog helps me with tasks that help me live my daily life. He then asked what exactly that meant. So I explained I have neurological damage after breaking my neck, and I can’t feel my fingers so drop things and the dog retrieves them. I also explained I have balance issues, so bending down without falling over is a problem. I then got asked if it was a guide dog again. I said no. He then said you can’t come in because it’s not a guide dog and you’re not blind!! I am not a confrontational person so I just said ok, we’ll just go the restaurant next door, (which is owned by the same group) as they always welcome me. The next day I rang head office and they admitted that what he did is unlawful, and they would do some staff training. Turning away a disabled person because of their equipment is a serious issue. Dogs are classed as auxiliary aids same as wheelchairs. I have been offered £20, I think they’ve got off lightly. What do mumsnetters think?

YABU-restaurants can choose who dines
YANBU-it’s discrimination

Your interpretation of a 'registered disabled person' is very narrow-minded.

The op doesn't need to explain to anyone how she got there, why she might need it enroute, or any of those things. And for her to be required to pass some sort of test as to whether her disability is severe enough, with some half arsed criteria being set out by some random, is disability discrimination.

Rubbish, you're being offended for no reason at all. No, clearly a disabled child's dad could NOT carry them everywhere, don't be so bloody ridiculous! And I've just explained the difference with guide dog situations. It is NOT clear from what OP has said exactly how she got the restaurant and what kind of tasks the dog might be needed for on the way. I wondered what they are, that's all. It's a chance for OP to explain. eg If you have to use public transport, are you likely to drop your ticket/card and your dog need to retrieve it? If you put your bag on the floor at your feet does your dog need to lift it up?

It is helpful for members of the public like me if people who have hidden disabilities explain to others what they may need help for without other people stepping in on forums like this in faux outrage to accuse others of being offensive for even asking what those kind of tasks may be.

This is a really weird and oddly aggressive post. 'lying through her back teeth'? 'attempting to exploit laws'?

The dog may well be registered with an assistance-dog body.
And the OP having also trained dogs to compete in obedience doesn't necessarily mean she therefore hasn't trained her dog as an assistance dog as well. She says her dog has to pass exams, which sounds more like assistance training than obedience.

I know there’s no register. Which is how I know the op is a liar when she says her dog is registered.

It is true there is no national register for "Assistance Dogs", but this does not mean the OP lying. There are many charities which run good training schemes which lead to an "accreditation" for the dog, if it passes. These may not have legal status but the owner will be able to show paperwork which most businesses will accept.

OP I dare say your dog helps you a lot when you’re alone, but on this occasion you just wanted your dog with you. He/she wasn’t needed as your daughter was there. Given that everyone tries to take their dogs everywhere these days, I can see why the restaurant questioned it. And if you didn’t have any documentation to prove it then I can see why they turned you away - a seemingly able-bodied woman, with no proof of need for assistance dog, and another adult with you.

And as inconvenient as it might be carting documents around, I think it’s necessary. The massive explosion in dog ownership and peoples desire to take their dogs everywhere, means that set-ups like this are open to abuse. Anyone can claim their untrained Rottweiler is an assistance dog and should therefore be allowed into a child’s soft play!

They are breaking the law. See equality act

Sorry Op, this thread really does show the ignorance, arrogance, spitefulness and lack of compassion of so many on here.

There is such contradiction on this thread. It's full of people saying the man in the shop was wrong to do and say what he did, that he is misinformed and the company needs to train its staff. Yet when people on here ask for more information about hidden disabilties and the type of tasks that an assistance dog may do in everyday situations such as a visit to a restaurant (which is EXACTLY what would be discussed as part of staff training!), people are suggesting that they shouldn't even be asking, because to do so is just being discriminatory.

How on earth to you expect people to become more informed on things like this if people don't want to discuss it? We don't want to end up like the US where people can take their pot bellied pig on a plane, FGS.

Can you attach a link ?

Exactly!
Surely people with disabilities, hidden or otherwise, should be in favour of requirements to prove their needs. Because otherwise people without disabilities can take advantage.

My cousin has a son with significant ADHD and milder ASD. He is able to get to the front of the queue at theme parks. When you meet him you’d think he was fine, because most of the time he is. But when he’s triggered by something he’s not fine. They have to show their paperwork to get to the front of the queue. If they didn’t have to do that, what’s to stop every teenager going to the front and saying they have a hidden disability, when in fact they just don’t want to wait in the queue?!

The op has already told you the reason for the dog.

However, she doesn't have to tell you. And you (general you) have no right to demand this information from a disabled person. Because that is discrimination. And businesses need to understand their legal obligations around this. They wouldn't generally use Mumsnet as a basis for staff training. The equality act would be their place to start.

Of course, if there was something I really wanted to know, then there is always Google to discover what tasks assistance dogs might carry out. But no restaurant / business has the right to demand this information from individuals. Just like they don't have the right to ask why someone is in a wheelchair. They just are. That's all they need to know.

We don't want to end up like the US where people can take their pot bellied pig on a plane, FGS.

Come on, if this is a thing that happened YABU not to give us a photo of it.

People with disabilities are not required to explain anything to you nor are they required to have their aids dictated by someone who by their admission doesn’t know what they need.

https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/30/travel/emotional-support-pig-booted-flight/index.html

You're welcome.

Nonsense. There is one charity that registers dogs, the ADUK, and her dog is not registered with them. It’s a lie.

The pig was more about it being disruptive, rather than it being an assistance animal.

Define “assistance dog”.

Thank you Bamboux, you have made my day with that!

I suggest you read all her comments. She’s clearly stated it’s registered.

Nonsense. There is one charity that registers dogs, the ADUK, and her dog is not registered with them. It’s a lie

You are very aggressive. And clearly have not read her posts properly.

Also, regardless, people don't need to have their assistance / guide dogs registered.

However rude and aggressive you are will not change the legal truth. Which is extremely easy to look up.

So it’s just a free for all, people can say their dog is an assistance dog and no one can question them. Even ADUK thinks there should be a regulatory system because of people abusing this and people training their own dogs. It’s just entitled dog owners wanting their dogs to be allowed everywhere.

@Jonei

How helpful for all the non-disabled people who just don't want to queue, or to leave their dog at home, or to pay for their friend to accompany them to a show. They can just say they're disabled and woop.

I've worked on quite a few projects with disabled artists/performers and in recent years the cohort has become increasingly self-defined. In earlier years there were far more wheelchair users, visually impaired, d/Deaf, people with cerebral palsy, etc. Now it is far more likely to be (frequently self-diagnosed) ADHD or mood disorders or fibromyalgia.

People don't have any compunction about taking advantage of accessible facilities that were originally created to help severely disabled people and using them for themselves. I even have a close family member who does this.

People who genuinely need additional support and exemptions etc. should absolutely support the push for greater proof of need. It can only disadvantage those who are taking the piss.

If it wasn't 'an assistance animal' it wouldn't have been on the flight. That's kind of the entire point.