Businesses should understand the importance of service dogs
EDITOR:
My husband, service animal and I stood in line for about approximately 30 minutes to purchase tickets for SkyBridge, Gatlinburg’s newest attraction.
Two attendants greeted us and one of the attendants instructed us to a ticket window to purchase tickets for SkyLift/SkyBridge (all one price). We stood in line for approximately 15 more minutes waiting our turn in line.
Not one time did any attendant for SkyLift/SkyBridge say anything about my service animal.
As we were getting ready to board the chair lift that ascends to the top of the mountain, my husband was approached by Bob, attendant on duty, and ordered to leave with the service animal.
Bob stated “no dogs are allowed.”
Bob did not ask if the animal was required because of a disability, nor did Bob ask what task the animal is trained to perform, but rather as I stated he ordered my husband and my service animal to leave and immediately.
My husband state “this is a service animal and he (service animal) is allowed.”
Bob stated no animals are allowed and again demanded my husband and service animal to leave.
My husband left the business and no refund was offered by Bob nor given.
We paid $44.58 to Boyne USA Inc., and they profited because of my disability.
(Title 28, Chapter 1, Part 35, Subpart B, 35.136) Service animals. Access to areas of a public entity.
Individuals with disabilities shall be permitted to be accompanied by their service animals in all areas of a public entity’s facilities where members of the public, participants in services, programs or activities, or invitees, as relevant, are allowed to go.
(35.149) Discrimination prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in 35.150, no qualified individual with a disability shall, because a public entity’s facilities are inaccessible to or unusable by individuals with disabilities, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any public entity.
(35.151) New construction and alterations. (a) Design and construction. Each facility or part of a facility constructed by, on behalf of, or for the use of a public entity shall be designed and constructed in such manner that the facility or part of the facility is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if the construction was commenced after January 26, 1992. (b) Alterations. Each facility or part of a facility altered by, on behalf of, or for the use of a public entity in a manner that affects or could affect the usability of the facility or part of the facility shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be altered in such manner that the altered portion of the facility is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if the alteration was commenced after January 26, 1992.
Employee parking, delivery area for café, bar and gift shop - this public facility was not designed and constructed in such a manner that the facility or part (SkyBridge/or SkyDeck) of the facility is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
John Rose
Rocky Top
