4 ms·

In all fairness, he doesn't look blind. There are many people with sight that have a service dog.

by mjpuser 10y ago

Greed 10y ago
Really does seem it's just because he doesn't quite look blind. Simple as that. Nothing to do with intentional discrimination.
- dgacmu 10y ago
  Much of it is likely intentional, particularly the taxi bit. See, for example: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/dc-taxis-discrimination-disabled_n_3274731.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/dc-taxis-discrimina... ouch.
- gugagore 10y ago
  When you are not careful to avoid making assumptions about people's disabilities, don't you think that's equivalently bad, intentional?
  - icebraining 10y ago
    You can't avoid making assumptions in this context, you can only try to make better ones.
    - gugagore 10y ago
      Okay, fine. "harmful assumptions".
  - Greed 10y ago
    It isn't about people making assumptions about his disability, though, it's about people not making the assumption that he does have one. Doesn't surprise me at all to see that today's super individualistic people didn't think twice about minding their own business when they see what appears to be just a guy with his dog. For all they know it's just a therapy animal, because he doesn't -look- blind.
jmcdiesel 10y ago
However, when you work a job (Especially a "customer-facing" government job - at least in the US) you're instructed to ask every person with a service animal or a cane / other indicator of blindness if they need help.
- 1_2__3 10y ago
  No... No you're not. Not at all. Why would you think this?
DanBC 10y ago
Service dogs that are not "seeing eye" / "guidedogs for the blind" are not particularly common in UK. His dog has a distinctive handle that's only ever seen on guidedogs for the blind - that handle isn't used for other service dogs.
avehn 10y ago
Unless the service dog has an "In Training" jacket, the person holding the service dog's harness is legally blind.
- cmdrfred 10y ago
  Is that true? It seems I can just fill out a form and pay these people $63 and my dog would then be a "service dog". https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-id/ https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-id/
  - detaro 10y ago
    From their "information" page: Service Dog Certifications does not certify or authorize anyone to use a Service Animal — nor is certification required by law. The privilege to use a Service or Assistance Animal is granted, under the law, by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and local governments. They give you a piece of paper that says "service dog", that doesn't make it a service dog in the legal sense.
    - cmdrfred 10y ago
      Why does anyone buy this product then? It seems to be effective enough to get your dog on a plane according to the testimonials.
      - uremog 10y ago
        Probably because it's made to look like it does something. Sometimes that's all you need to get people to buy. And yet, they (probably) make no false claims so they are not breaking the law.
- jonknee 10y ago
  It used to be that easy, but assholes have been scamming the system's goodwill by calling anything with four legs a service animal. If it's considered a service animal there is no pet fee, so it's becoming more popular on airplanes and hotels. The Washington Post actually just wrote this up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2016/12/27/what-you-should-know-about-that-dog-flying-in-the-seat-behind-you/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2016/12/27/w... > To further complicate matters, it can be difficult for staff members to identify a true service dog. Although pet owners can easily buy unofficial documents or apparel, these papers and emblems have no bearing on ADA compliance: The law does not allow public accommodations to require certificates, licenses or other physical proof that a dog qualifies as a service animal. Yet the ADA does not permit questioning a person about the nature of his or her disability. The general issue is that it's a much less big deal to let a scammer through than to accidently hassle someone with a legitimate service animal (big fine!).
gugagore 10y ago
Who are you trying to be fair to right now?

In all fairness, he doesn't look blind. There are many people with sight that have a service dog.

by mjpuser 10y ago

In all fairness, he doesn't look blind. There are many people with sight that have a service dog.

Greed 10y ago

Really does seem it's just because he doesn't quite look blind. Simple as that. Nothing to do with intentional discrimination.

dgacmu 10y ago
Much of it is likely intentional, particularly the taxi bit. See, for example: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/dc-taxis-discrimination-disabled_n_3274731.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/dc-taxis-discrimina... ouch.
gugagore 10y ago
When you are not careful to avoid making assumptions about people's disabilities, don't you think that's equivalently bad, intentional?
- icebraining 10y ago
  You can't avoid making assumptions in this context, you can only try to make better ones.
  - gugagore 10y ago
    Okay, fine. "harmful assumptions".
- Greed 10y ago
  It isn't about people making assumptions about his disability, though, it's about people not making the assumption that he does have one. Doesn't surprise me at all to see that today's super individualistic people didn't think twice about minding their own business when they see what appears to be just a guy with his dog. For all they know it's just a therapy animal, because he doesn't -look- blind.

jmcdiesel 10y ago

However, when you work a job (Especially a "customer-facing" government job - at least in the US) you're instructed to ask every person with a service animal or a cane / other indicator of blindness if they need help.

1_2__3 10y ago
No... No you're not. Not at all. Why would you think this?

DanBC 10y ago

Service dogs that are not "seeing eye" / "guidedogs for the blind" are not particularly common in UK. His dog has a distinctive handle that's only ever seen on guidedogs for the blind - that handle isn't used for other service dogs.

avehn 10y ago

Unless the service dog has an "In Training" jacket, the person holding the service dog's harness is legally blind.

cmdrfred 10y ago
Is that true? It seems I can just fill out a form and pay these people $63 and my dog would then be a "service dog". https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-id/ https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-id/
- detaro 10y ago
  From their "information" page: Service Dog Certifications does not certify or authorize anyone to use a Service Animal — nor is certification required by law. The privilege to use a Service or Assistance Animal is granted, under the law, by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and local governments. They give you a piece of paper that says "service dog", that doesn't make it a service dog in the legal sense.
  - cmdrfred 10y ago
    Why does anyone buy this product then? It seems to be effective enough to get your dog on a plane according to the testimonials.
    - uremog 10y ago
      Probably because it's made to look like it does something. Sometimes that's all you need to get people to buy. And yet, they (probably) make no false claims so they are not breaking the law.
jonknee 10y ago
It used to be that easy, but assholes have been scamming the system's goodwill by calling anything with four legs a service animal. If it's considered a service animal there is no pet fee, so it's becoming more popular on airplanes and hotels. The Washington Post actually just wrote this up: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2016/12/27/what-you-should-know-about-that-dog-flying-in-the-seat-behind-you/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2016/12/27/w... > To further complicate matters, it can be difficult for staff members to identify a true service dog. Although pet owners can easily buy unofficial documents or apparel, these papers and emblems have no bearing on ADA compliance: The law does not allow public accommodations to require certificates, licenses or other physical proof that a dog qualifies as a service animal. Yet the ADA does not permit questioning a person about the nature of his or her disability. The general issue is that it's a much less big deal to let a scammer through than to accidently hassle someone with a legitimate service animal (big fine!).

gugagore 10y ago

Who are you trying to be fair to right now?