Susinko Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I have a great psychiatric service dog who goes with me everywhere and has really helped me to get out in the world. The only problem I have is the fact that people like to play the game of "What's defective with THIS guy that he needs a service animal?" I've had people come up to me and ask me bluntly "What's wrong with you?", and then angrily gesture at my dog. A lot of the time I'll get people talking loudly behind my back that my service dog is helping that blind lady. That makes me uncomfortable, makes me feel like I'm a fake or something. It also bothers me because of the blind who have to hear that everyday too. They're blind, NOT deaf. All this REALLY helps fuel my paranoia. There was also this one lady at the bookstore. My dog and I were quietly looking at some books when she glanced over at me and GLARED. She narrowed her eyes and looked me up and down to see why I merited a service dog. After her inspection, she gave me a dismissive look as if she categorized me as being beneath her and went back to browsing. I was pretty annoyed and explained to my daughter how wrong it is to judge someone without knowing a thing about them. I think she heard me, but I find that funny if she did. In the end, my dog helps me more than she causes unwanted attention. Sometimes I want to pin a button to her service vest that says, "Yes. I'm crazy. Go back to what you were doing.", but my husband says that wouldn't be a good idea. It's funny though. There are service dogs for the blind, deaf, siezure alert, diabetes, psychiatic , autism. They are all valid service animals and all are recognized under the American's With Disabilities Act. Why all this judgement and hate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shesellsseashells Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I like your button idea. Sorry you have to deal with rude, ill-mannered people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 very rude I wonder if this varies in different parts of the country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderful.Cheese Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I'm glad you have a service dog. Sorry about the people who judge you. That's so wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooster Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I have had similar experiences, Susinko, ranging from people saying, "What's WRONG with you?" (as though needing a service dog implies one is defective) to calling me a "fraud" for wearing sunglasses (it was genuinely sunny) but not being blind. One of the most obnoxious was someone who waved their hand in front of my face and said, "Can you see me?" I'm not sure if you're aware of much of the history of disability rights. Some people with predominantly physical disabilities wanted to exclude "those crazy people" from being covered under the ADA because they thought it would hurt their chances of getting the legislation approved. Stigma continues. Psych service dogs are the bomb! Nugget is my luck dragon, life saver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susinko Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 I'm glad that your service dog helps you so much too, Wooster! I really don't know what I would do without Ellie. I had to get groceries today and by the time I was done, I was literally panting with anxiety and that's WITH Ellie. I did it though! Groceries aquired! I didn't know that some of the people with physical disabilities tried to exclude the "crazies" from being covered under the ADA. I'm actually horrified to be honest. That dog helps me live with otherwise crippling and agonizing anxiety, severe paranoia and psychosis. She's the difference between me being able to make it out of Best Buy when the lights started to stare at me in a threatening manner and me having to hide from them under the shelves until the store called someone to come and drag me out. The thought that some jerks could have prevented that makes me really angry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
writehellarandomshiny Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I'm glad you have a service dog. Sorry about the people who judge you. That's so wrong. ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 That makes me so angry that people would treat you that way! Service dogs are NOT just for the blind anymore. I helped train a service dog in 2012 with my roommate at the time. He was being trained for autism help. People would come up, try to pet him, even though he had the vest on (Service Dog in Training) and he was a miniature (between standard and toy) poodle. It was gratifying to train him. The founders of the Guide Dogs trained specifically for autism, mental illness, seizures, etc. Not for the blind. That's a separate organization. But congrats on getting a service dog, I know it's not easy. And I'm glad your dog helps! They're such great animals. People judging can shove it up their ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyfroglady Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 i'm sorry people judge you - I myself want to get a service dog but the cost is prohibitive good on you for getting out and about i'm glad your sd helps the people who unfairly judge or make comments need serious adjustment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 You know what particularly sticks in my craw about this? That it happened in a book store. I guess I hold the patrons of bookstores to a higher standard of behavior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planking Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Probably going to get burned for this but I've actually loved making fun of people behind their backs with my cousin grandma and friends since I was little, it's hilarious. Just laugh it off because what does it really matter, you shouldn't take things so serious. You should have squinted back. Light love and laughter a recipe for happiness. Idk I think bookish people are stuck up. At least all the ones I've meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Probably going to get burned for this but I've actually loved making fun of people behind their backs with my cousin grandma and friends since I was little, it's hilarious. What a charming family. If behavior like this fuels the OP's paranoia, it's hard to "laugh it off" I'd imagine. And stigma against the disabled is pretty serious, but that's just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimako Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 wow. I'm sitting here hoping that's a troll. But my natural cynicism says it's not. Some people do suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Probably going to get burned for this but I've actually loved making fun of people behind their backs with my cousin grandma and friends since I was little, it's hilarious. Just laugh it off because what does it really matter, you shouldn't take things so serious. You should have squinted back. Light love and laughter a recipe for happiness. Idk I think bookish people are stuck up. At least all the ones I've meet. Mocking people behind their backs is cowardly, unkind and graceless. Mocking disabled people is just mean spirited and ugly. Neither of these scenarios remotely resembles "light, love and laughter". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cady Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wj74 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I would imagine that the people being made fun of didn't find it hilarious. And screw people who think they can judge you. Some people need to get a hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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