No, I am not blind.

[Stag]

And even if I was, it WOULDN'T MATTER!

The story goes like this. My younger sisters are having a sleepover party tonight so we had to go out and get supplies. Walmart was one of the stops we made, and as I'm following my mom and sisters through the aisles, hanging onto Boo's harness, I realize that for the last five minutes, these two teenagers are following us at VERY close range. As in five or ten feet away.

Several minutes later, I hear the following exchange.

Girl: That dog is so cute, I just want to pet it.
Boy: Yeah, but the sign on the bag says do not pet.
Girl: Oh it's okay. He's blind, he won't even know. (reaches for dog's tail)

Really? REALLY? These kids were at least fourteen-fifteen years old, and while my dog works in what is essentially a modified guide harness... well there's no excuse. I can still hear you, after all, even if I was vision-impaired, and besides, I'd feel my dog shift under me as I often do when I'm not paying attention to her!

In addition, it is not okay to speculate VERY LOUDLY on what my disability is while I am standing ten feet away from you looking at things on the shelf. Usually I'm polite about this; if I hear someone explaining that the dog is in training to help someone else and they're close enough AND I'm not busy, I tend to smile and correct with a nice "Actually, she's mine!" However, "maybe he's blind." "no, those dogs do other stuff, maybe he's deaf." is kind of... be a little bit more discreet about it? A little? I don't think I'm asking for much, people....

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Now you see, this is why everyone with a disability should be given a Moron Alert! Sorry you have to deal with these numpties; unfortunately, physical violence cannot be condoned . You should get yourself a load of comeback for these people, and have them on-hand to use as needed. For instance:

I'm allergic to idiots and she's here to alert me to them. Please excuse me, she's currently trying like mad to get me away from you.

She's a disabled dog, I'm her service person.

Actually, I'm a compulsive liar, and she alerts to it (if you can silently command her to do a touch here, that would just complete the whole thing).

I'm sure you can think of many more things to say. After all, if you have to deal with these people, you might as well have a bit of fun messing with them

Hugs to you and Boo!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I'm allergic to idiots and she's here to alert me to them. Please excuse me, she's currently trying like mad to get me away from you.

She's a disabled dog, I'm her service person.

Actually, I'm a compulsive liar, and she alerts to it (if you can silently command her to do a touch here, that would just complete the whole thing).

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Sorry you had to go through that. Unfortunately, I witness similar behavior on a daily basis. I work with 2 blind (amazing) teenagers. I've seen people try to guide them in the bathroom (like they haven't been going alone for a few years now, and other things that would make a lot of people sick to their stomachs.

I agree with OneLittleSpark... having well loaded, "Here's Your Sign"-esque retorts are the best thing you can have in your arsenal. I always tell my kids, if you can laugh at yourself, it really makes the other guy look like an ****.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Sorry you had to go through that. Unfortunately, I witness similar behavior on a daily basis. I work with 2 blind (amazing) teenagers. I've seen people try to guide them in the bathroom (like they haven't been going alone for a few years now, and other things that would make a lot of people sick to their stomachs.

The number of people who try to grab hold of my wheelchair to 'help' me, without even asking, really is astounding. If I'm struggling, I love having the offer of help, even if I don't accept it; but don't just grab me and start shoving! That's the equivalent of picking me up and carrying me !

I agree with OneLittleSpark... having well loaded, "Here's Your Sign"-esque retorts are the best thing you can have in your arsenal. I always tell my kids, if you can laugh at yourself, it really makes the other guy look like an ****.

Yes, a wicked sense of humour is a great weapon and defense in one! When people completely blank me, or do something stupid like climb over my chair, I often just sit there waving my arms frantically until they look at me (they probably don't get what's going on, but it gives us a good laugh). Another one you can do is just turn to someone with you and very loudly say "Hey, have I turned invisible again? Because somebody just climbed right over me!". Adapted for this situation, you could use "Hey, do those people think I'm stupid, because they're talking about me as if I am!".

When people lean right over me, my fella says I should just lick their arm. I don't really want to do this - who knows what I might catch from them?!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

When people lean right over me, my fella says I should just lick their arm. I don't really want to do this - who knows what I might catch from them?!

Brilliant!

I'm still waiting for the day my girl says, "Sorry, didn't see you there.

 

[blessedmom4]

Okay, I needed a good laugh PROVING that those of us who deal with disabilities on a daily basis must have an awesome sense of humor! These are funny posts!

 

[jmartinez1895]

I can't stand that either. I try to pay not to let it bother me, but in while in Walmart our son ( who wears glasses) had his seizure alert dog with him and this man can up and said "thats so sweet, a little blind boy and his dog" My son, who is 6 by the way, looked at the man and said " I'm not blind, I wear glasses" and the man just turned around and walked off. I can only imagine how upset you must have been, and then to think they one of them thought that you where blind and was still going to try and mess with your dog.

 

[Stag]

I wear glasses, too, which is why it was even more baffling. It's the first time that's happened to me, the "oh he's blind, he won't know!" thing. Granted, she DOES work in a modified guide harness type of deal but she's got a big red tag on one side of her that says "MEDICAL ALERT DOG" so... you know. Also, the fact that I turned around and looked at them directly at least once didn't tip her off.

 

[pudge the fish]

I dislike it when people make assumptions and I am sorry these things happen.
I get annoyed when people assume things about me

something happened that made me understand why people say or think these things..
I went shopping with a friend the other day- she is not the smartest person and I don't mean that in a mean way. She is kind and sweet but not real bright. she woudln't hurt a fly and loves everyone!
She kinda bubbles her way through life.

We were shopping at the mall and a person came in with a service dog and she said Oh look - "a seeing eye dog". I saw it said Medical alert dog on the vest.
I asked her later why she felt it was a blind person with the dog and she told me, well it's a guide dog why else would anyone have a dog like that. ( and you could tell the person could see...)

I explained that some people have medical alert dogs, etc.. She had no idea. I think people just assume the dog is a "seeing eye dog"
I asked a few other people and they thought the same way. I think if you aren't in the know.. then maybe all you do know is a "seeing guide dog"

of course this doesn't excuse rudeness in trying to pet your dog or people saying things out loud & making assumptions.. NO excuse at all!
it just surprised me that more people don't know
again I feel bad you had to go through this.
but I Love onelittlespark's come backs & Sense of Humor