Service dogs are truly lifesavers for people with disabilities, especially those who are blind. These incredible animals undergo special training to assist visually impaired individuals in navigating the world, essentially becoming their eyes. However, the actions of one restaurant recently left a blind man dumbfounded, as he and his service dog were denied entry on the grounds that his disability was allegedly faked.
Meet Paul Castle, a blind individual from Seattle who relies on his trusty service dog, Mr. Maple, to help him with everyday tasks. Through his popular TikTok account, @matthewandpaul, Paul shares lighthearted videos showcasing his life as a blind person. These videos often highlight Mr. Maple’s remarkable abilities in guiding Paul through various situations.
While most of Paul’s videos focus on humor, he recently shared a more somber story of being kicked out of a Seattle restaurant. In the video, he expressed his disbelief, saying, “I’m blind and I just got kicked out of a restaurant in Seattle.” Paul explained that upon entering the establishment with Mr. Maple, an employee approached him and insisted that only service dogs were allowed, not pets. Despite Mr. Maple wearing a harness labeled “Guide Dogs for the Blind,” the employee skeptically questioned whether he was an emotional support dog.
When Paul emphasized his blindness, the employee responded, “You don’t look blind,” claiming to be looking directly at him. Paul clarified that while some blind individuals have functional vision, he only has a “pinhole of vision.” However, the employee remained unsympathetic, stating, “This isn’t my first rodeo,” and refusing to believe him. Even after offering to provide the dog’s paperwork upon return, Paul was threatened with police involvement if he dared to come back.
Unsurprisingly, this story sparked outrage among Paul’s fans, disability advocates, and animal lovers alike. Many commenters pointed out that the employee’s actions violated the law by denying Paul entry and casting doubt on his blindness. According to one commenter, the only legal questions a business can ask are: “Is this a service dog?” and “What services is your dog trained to perform?”
Numerous people urged Paul to name the restaurant so they could take action and protest, but he chose not to disclose its identity. Instead, he sought a different approach. In a follow-up video, he met with the restaurant’s manager (without the employee who caused the initial incident). Paul expressed that he didn’t want to press charges or get anyone fired. His sole desire was to raise awareness about the spectrum of blindness and highlight the significance of legitimate service animals.
During their conversation, Paul discovered that the employee had recently encountered an untrained service dog in the restaurant, which likely led to his skepticism. The employee also believed Paul wasn’t really blind because he was able to maintain eye contact. “I think most people want things to be black or white,” Paul reflected. “If you have a disability, they want it to be the version they’ve seen represented in movies and TV for many years, whereas 93% of people who are blind have some functional vision. This guy had no clue about that.”
Paul received an apology from the employee, along with a generous gift card for the restaurant. He simply wanted the establishment to learn from this experience, and he believes they have done so. Unfortunately, this is far from an isolated incident. Blind individuals and those relying on service dogs frequently face discrimination and doubt.
“I’ve had Uber drivers just drive away as soon as they saw my dog. So, it all speaks to a bigger issue,” Paul shared. However, instead of reprimanding people, he believes that education is the key to fostering understanding.
It is truly outrageous that a blind man and his service dog were kicked out of a restaurant, but we feel relieved that they ultimately received an apology. It is crucial for people to be more empathetic and accommodating towards individuals with disabilities who rely on service dogs. Let’s share this story and strive for a more inclusive society.
