| I am a single Mom with multiple disabilities who utilizes a | | | | do things that he/she has difficulty with. |
| service dog. I am also a disability consultant and | | | | 3. Keep in mind that not all disabilities are visible. I'm a |
| motivational speaker; I travel the country with my | | | | case in point; I have a traumatic brain injury & MS. |
| service dogs, to visit schools, scout troops, businesses | | | | While I spent a period of time "on wheels" while |
| and such; teaching about the wonderful benefits that | | | | recovering from my accident in 1998, I'm able to walk |
| service dogs provide for their partners with disabilities | | | | these days (and on really, really good days, I can even |
| through a motivational speaking program that teaches | | | | country line dance...but that's another story There are |
| people to believe in the beauty of their dreams. | | | | many days when a stranger would not know that I |
| I was partnered with my first service dog in 1999, after | | | | have a disability because I "appear" fine; when in reality, |
| sustaining multiple injuries after a 1998 accident. I was | | | | I may be struggling with crippling cognitive dysfunction |
| forced to relearn how to read, write, walk and talk all | | | | or might be in a world of pain that absolutely exhausts |
| over again. My service dog pulled my wheelchair, | | | | me. |
| alerted to my seizures, and taught me how to walk | | | | On the days when people with hidden disabilities are |
| again...most importantly, he taught me how to LIVE | | | | struggling, and request additional help, (or use a service |
| again! | | | | dog, use a handicapped stall in a rest room, or park in |
| I was disheartened to learn that while my | | | | a handicapped parking space); the worst thing they |
| independence hinged upon the assistance of my dog, | | | | can hear is, "But you LOOK fine!" This implies that a |
| and I was aware how special he was, that the general | | | | person is "faking" it, or making more of their disability |
| public was not as impressed. While out in public with | | | | than they should. This sort of thing happens all the time, |
| my service dog, I've been yelled at, laughed at, had | | | | and I can tell you from personal experience; it is |
| things thrown at me and my dog, and have had kids | | | | downright hurtful. Such statements should be avoided |
| scream at the tops of their lungs because I have a | | | | out of respect. Just because someone has a disability |
| service dog in a store/restaurant/movie theatre, etc... | | | | that cannot be seen, doesn't mean that they don't |
| But that's not the worst of it! With kids, you can kind of | | | | have a disability; and all of the challenges that come |
| understand, cause after all; they're kids. From the | | | | with it. |
| adults, I've been illegally denied access to public places | | | | 4. On the subject of service animals; be sure to let |
| (more times than I can count!), sneered at, called | | | | your child know that if they approach a working dog |
| names, snickered at, and was once even told (this is | | | | team, they should always address the person first; it's |
| my personal favorite "Ah, you're faking it; you don't | | | | just good manners. It's is okay for them to say, "I like |
| really need that dog or wheelchair! You just wanted to | | | | your dog," or "May I ask about your dog?" Remind |
| bring your doggie shopping with you!" And you thought | | | | them that no matter how cute a dog may be, when |
| we lived in a "tolerant" society, didn't you? Well, I can | | | | he/she is in public, they are working and should not be |
| tell you from a personal perspective that today's | | | | disturbed. Teach them to be quiet and not make |
| society is anything but tolerant. But we can change all | | | | sudden movements around a dog, explaining that the |
| that! We're the parents of the next generation! | | | | dog is there to do a very important job, and if it gets |
| It's never too late or too early to teach disability | | | | distracted, the person they are supposed to be |
| awareness! My daughter once told a passerby who | | | | assisting could be hurt. If your child is afraid of dogs, be |
| attempted to pet my service dog, "You can't pet | | | | sure to explain to them that assistance dogs are |
| Dawson; he's working"...she was three at the time. | | | | specially selected and trained to be calm, friendly and |
| I'm amazed at how willing kids are to learn about | | | | safe around the public; and all of them have been |
| disabilities; and how they really grasp the concept of | | | | tested around children and will not bite. (I've had a |
| looking past disabilities to focus on the person's Abilities. | | | | terrified child throw boxes of cereal at my dog in the |
| They are more than willing to learn; we just have to | | | | supermarket, screaming at the top of their lungs |
| make it a priority to teach them. | | | | because their fear and the surprise of seeing a dog in |
| Age appropriate education and refreshers are very | | | | a store overwhelmed them. Proper education prior to |
| important to teach our children. Many kids with | | | | ever meeting a service dog would have prevented |
| disabilities are being integrated into the mainstream of | | | | this). Poor Dawson---he never even looked in the |
| the public school system. In order to achieve a | | | | child's direction, and doesn't really care for cereal! ;-( |
| successful integration, it is important to implement | | | | 5. Encourage your child to include children with |
| disability awareness. In addition, today's children are our | | | | disabilities, to play. If the child cannot play the same as |
| future; teaching them tolerance of those who are | | | | other kids, come up with innovate ways to |
| differently Abled now, ensures a more accepting | | | | accommodate the child's challenges. Making up games |
| society in years to come. | | | | can be lots of fun! |
| I'd like to share a few disability awareness tips that you | | | | 6. When talking to a person with disabilities who may |
| can share with your child, and help open lines of | | | | have speech or hearing impairments, talk normally, and |
| communication. | | | | face the person to make lip reading possible. If you |
| 1. Take a quiet moment at home to sit down and talk | | | | didn't understand them, don't pretend that you did. Ask |
| with your child about people who may be different | | | | them to repeat themselves slowly and/or louder. |
| from him/her. (Perhaps you could get a book from the | | | | 7. Lead by example! Be sure to check yourself the |
| library to help broach the subject and provide | | | | next time you encounter a person with disabilities in |
| guidelines). Let your child know that while people come | | | | public. I never realized it before being wheelchair bound |
| in all shapes, colors, abilities and sizes; and while we | | | | myself, then partnered with a canine companion; but |
| may look, sound, or do things differently; inside, we are | | | | people tend to ignore you and act as though you aren't |
| all very much the same. Use specific examples, and | | | | even there, even if you speak directly to them! |
| positive "first person" language while keeping | | | | If someone doesn't know how to act around someone |
| conversation open to questions (if you don't know the | | | | with disabilities (I didn't before I became disabled!), |
| first person language, do a google search to learn | | | | chances are they will avoid them; it's only natural. But |
| more). | | | | by learning about the different ways to communicate |
| 2. Let your child know that canes, wheelchairs, walkers, | | | | with PWD, and viewing PWD as feeling, caring |
| assistance dogs, and other medical assistive devices | | | | individuals, focused on their Abilities not dis abilities; you, |
| are an extension of the person with disabilities, and | | | | as a parent, will be setting a great example of |
| should not be leaned on, tampered with, stared (or | | | | tolerance for your child. |
| pointed) at, or played with. | | | | 8. Teach the golden rule; Treat others the way you |
| 3. Taking the time to teach your child about peoples' | | | | would want to be treated--you can never go wrong |
| differences at home can prevent a potentially | | | | by doing that. |
| embarrassing outburst in public! Remember, you won't | | | | I hope this information has been helpful. There is such a |
| be the only one to be embarrassed if your child yells | | | | huge need for parents to teach their kids these simple, |
| out, "Hey Mommy, Why does that man only have one | | | | yet very important tips! Often, we get so busy and |
| leg!?" or "LOOK, there's a dog in the store!" ... as a | | | | don't even think about these issues until they crop up; |
| PWD, I can tell you that this type of unwanted | | | | or we think our kids will react appropriately and are |
| attention can be quite embarrassing; on both sides. | | | | surprized when they don't act as we expected...and |
| That being said, all the preparation in the world may not | | | | that's okay. Hey, we've all been there! What's not okay |
| sensor the excitement of a child seeing a service dog | | | | is if we know the problem exists, we know how to fix |
| in a store for the first time! I hear so many parents | | | | it, yet choose to do nothing about it. |
| who are abhorred by their child's outburst regarding | | | | On behalf of all PWD, please, take your child aside |
| my service dog, shushing their child; "Shhh! We don't | | | | today and teach them that though some people may |
| talk about that like that!" At that moment, the damage | | | | look, sound, or do things differently, inside, we are all |
| is done; take the golden opportunity to stop whatever | | | | very much the same. Thank you! |
| you are doing and get down on your child's level. | | | | Kimberly & K9 partner, Dawson--together, we are |
| Explain that that person has a dog in the store | | | | Canine and ABLED! |
| because the dog is specially trained to help the person | | | | |