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

People are dicks. They don't give a shit about others. They will take advantage if they can, and they do

Yes sadly disability isn't the only category people try and take advantage of.

It's appalling in this day and age.

And the fact that she was questioned as to her disability and why she needed the dog was also shocking,

I don't understand how people can be so unaware and the training should already automatically be in place.

Would you want to discuss your personal health issues with a waiter in a restaurant?

Most guide and assistance dogs have 'official' harnesses. That's a bit of a clue, I don't think you order them from Amazon

That sounds like you've shoved a special harness on your pet dog after you've trained him to do a couple things and then called him an assistance dog. You can’t do that!

I know of someone wheelchair-bound who is unable to function in day to day life at all without her assistance dog. He opens cupboards, fetches and opens medication, gets clothes and slippers and post, flushes the loo, and even loads the washing machine. He is her independence, the difference between her ability to live reasonably well at her own home with carers, and the need to go into a care home.

He is a bloody marvel. But he isn't a guide dog. She can see.

That's the funniest post on this thread. That's when you KNOW it's still half-term.

bit like those ridiculous people in the US who claimed all sorts of creatures were their assistance or comfort animals a few years ago

There's a diver who has an emotioanl support (Bull) shark, I kid you not!

emotional

It's perfectly legal for people to self train assistance dogs. And even guide dogs.

You absolutely can do that.

So going forward would an assistance dog passport/ID card issued by a specific charity or organisation be the answer? All that would be needed would be a photo of the dog (and user maybe) and validation of the issuing body. If this was shown on entering the premises there would be no need for questions. No ID, no entry.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Belababy-Breathable-Adjustable-Training-Assistance/dp/B083B9RF1H/ref=asc_df_B083B9RF1H/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=394272386076&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6942821584708904116&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046547&hvtargid=pla-868918420307&ref=&adgrpid=82722463420&th=1

@Bamboux Blatant ableism. Totally disregarding hidden disabilities. I have MS but I suppose people like you will just assume I'm 'helping myself' to disabled facilities! So to you, disabled toilets are only for "severely disabled" is that right? What about working, functioning adults who need space to empty their colostomy bags? Ffs

I also have fibromyalgia and I can tell you it's NOT self diagnosed AT ALL! I was diagnosed by Rheumatology and separate to my MS, I am in a LOT of pain daily. I certainly DO need disabled toilets.
Oh and I was awarded full PIP, a Motability car and a Blue Badge on the basis of fibromyalgia- I was diagnosed with MS after these were all awarded.

God your ableism is vile

I can see why you're saying this, but it seems unreasonable that those with disabilities, who require equipment to make their lives easy / more equal, should have to carry special ID with them. That also sounds discriminatory.

A £20 voucher feels like inadequate compensation for this discriminatory behaviour. £100 is more like it.

Sounds like a fabulous dog.

I sit corrected

@Jonei No, they cannot expect restaurants to allow their pet in just because they've shoved a special harness on! Then throw a tantrum when the restaurant points out the sign on their door which clearly states Guide Dogs Only.

As a disabled person myself, I'm sick to death of people doing these things purely to make their lives easier! To me, it's akin to creating your own blue badge

@Jonei but doesn't a blue badge do the same thing?

Probably a court case to highlight it and send a strong message to other business owners would be better. Financial compensation isn't really the issue I don't think.

@CurlyhairedAssassin It's not half term though? It's the Easter holidays

It's not half term though? It's the Easter holidays

Whatever. I work in a school so obviously know the difference but so many people don't distinguish and just use "half term". There was a thread on it recently how it annoys people. It doesn't bother me and I'm usually very pedantic with semantics. We all know what it means. It's the split between the 6 weeks of a half term. Whether that is at the end of HT1 or HT2 is neither here nor there for most people who aren't involved in school curriculum or planning, they only know that the holiday at the end of a HT2 is a week longer than at HT1, unless it's the summer holidays and then it's 6 weeks.

People are allowed to self train their assistance animals. They are also allowed to take them in to restaurants. They do not need to be registered. There is no universal way of registering them. They are protected by the equality act. It may be akin to making their own blue badge in your mind, but this is the law.

I see what you're saying.
But someone using equipment, whether it is a dog or a wheelchair provides some level of equality for people with disabilities. people with disabilities shouldn't have to spend all of their lives proving their disability in order to function as other people who are not disabled do.

Of course some of those people may also need blue badges. But a much higher proven threshold needs to be met to enable people to park using the benefits of a blue badge.

I also suppose a hell of a lot more people would take advantage of this as car drivers, if they could self identify as needing a blue badge. It would be chaos out there. I guess on balance far less people would bother to take advantage in order to take a dog into a restaurant just because they want to.

The badge isn't for the person, it's for the dog! For one thing, it les you know that the dog is working, do you don't distract it as people often do with pets.

Are emotional support dogs allowed in restaurants does anyone know?