Business Law According to the ADA

I just wanted to give a quick post today and some reading material until I have a chance to get everything all caught back up. This is a link to a manual for businesses on how to be prepared for handicapped customers by the ADA. It goes over lots of things but mainly Service Dogs are covered fairly early on and Anam and I feel it's important our friends know the rules. Don't worry! It's an easy read! Even a cat could handle it! (Anam wanted to include that part... Gwen is not happy about it!) On to the fun stuff!...

http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/smallbusiness/smallbusprimer2010.htm

This life isn't easy...

One of the guys in a group for spinal cord injuries I'm in passed away this afternoon after a battle for his life this past week. He had a blood clot that hit his lung and despite some serious great efforts just couldn't be reversed and he died. I'm so sad for his family.

This terrifies me on a very personal level too. I've had my own fight with blood clots and luckily won but it's something I have to watch for all the time. With decreased feeling in my legs, that's hard, along with less mobility which increases the chances. Its not just getting around that becomes the challenge when you have a spinal cord injury. Its not feeling well, figuring out why you don't feel well, what do I do about this... everything becomes such an emergency. A cold isn't just a cold any more. Now it's a chance to land you in the hospital for God knows how long because your body can't handle it. You have to always be on the watch for signs of a stroke... That's fun! When you're not injured, you take for granted how much your spinal cord does for you. You know it's important! But you just don't realize How important. For example... if your bladder becomes distended (full) and it sends a message to your brain. A normal spinal cord relays the message and you know you have to go to the bathroom as soon as you get a chance so you start planning for that action by looking for a bathroom or figuring when your break is, etc. With an injury the message gets broken up and the body panicks. Blood pressure goes up but heart rate can drop, body temp rises above injury site, muscles start to spasm, headache, and possible stroke... all because you have to go to the bathroom. Nothing is "normal" anymore. You have to plan your week to use energy in the right places and conserve in the right places just to be able to feed yourself or take a shower. A doctor's appointment becomes a 2 day event: 1 day for getting ready and the appointment and 1 day to recover from it.

I hear all the time how it must be nice to "Get to stay home". Yes it's wonderful to sit here and hurt non stop to the point you don't sleep, wonder if today you'll have a stroke or a seizure, maybe fall and break something again, will I be able to stay awake enough to eat today so I don't get sick, did I take my medicines... yes, its a fun life. I will gladly trade with anyone who would like to try it, even for a day, but you take the disability and all that goes with it too.

Very few people know what I go through on a daily basis. I hear how strong I am... No I'm not... I have no choice. What a great attitude I have... Wrong again... No one is around on the bad days and I stay quiet.

So tonight, I shed tears for Ory and his family and friends. His struggle is over and no longer does he have to live in fear and worry. I shed tears for myself and living in the middle of my struggle but most of all I shed tears for the lost of my former self that I still see in my dreams as she takes me dancing through the night from adventure to adventure where no one is afraid to love me for fear I might break. She's the one I miss the most in this reality I've been given.

April 4th, 2015

Today I decided to take Anam to Hobby Lobby for a little public access training. I've been having issues with the Autonomic Disreflexia mess and Anam has been doing really well alerting to the spells here at the house. So I figured I would see how it went while we were out since I seem to have more small spells when I'm walking or moving about because my back swells and puts pressure on my spine. (This is why I'm "suppose" to be in a wheelchair instead of walking a lot)

I was nervous about taking him. I geared up with the cards that have the ADA laws, went over TN law in my head a couple times, made sure his Service Dog tag was on his harness, we even had a chat about being a good boy and how important it was to listen and do well. Still, I was terrified of confrontation and that Anam would just go "puppy". He's only 7 months old after all! But he's been such a great dog lately with my dad in the hospital and having to be kenneled so much and all my down time from stress crashes. He needed something different! I didn't think about it being Easter weekend in a craft store... that means lots of people!

We loaded up and headed out. There was a handicap parking space in the perfect spot. Our Hobby Lobby has a huge grassy field next to it. I figured couldn't hurt to take a just in case potty run. Walked out and told Anam to go potty. The goofball fake pooped! He knows he's suppose to go potty before he gets to do good stuff. He had just gone before we left the house so I figured, if anything, he would have to pee ... Nope... fake squat poop. I got tickled! Ok... Works for me! Let's do this!

Through the door we went. A few people gave us strange looks but honestly, there's not a lot of service dogs around here so it's kind of neat to see one. I don't mind the looks of curiosity. Past employees at the front, all smiles, no one stopped us. I couldn't find what I wanted so I had to ask. The employees (there were 2) answered my question and kept glancing down at Anam who was standing at my side like a perfect gentleman. The girl asked what breed he was and I answered lab with a little something special and she giggled. The lighting in there showed his bridle strips on his sides pretty well. She looked at him and said he was handsome. He knows!

Anam walked through there like he owned the joint. Casually glanced as we walked by people but that was it. As we we're looking for the Modge Podge (serious craft-a-holic here) Anam brushed my leg with his nose and I thought he was just wiping his face usual so I ignored it. Then he came to a dead halt and sat down in the aisle which shocked me to no end. I looked at him and as usual asked "what's wrong buddy?" and he nosed my leg and pawed my foot. Oh! Alert! Got it! I was so focused on going through the store I forgot all about that part! He gets really upset when I ignore his "work". He's very proud of his job. I stood in the aisle and waited. Just like clockwork it hit. That flush heat wave of my upper body that brings nausea, perspiration, quick mild headache, dizziness and that "oh dear Lord please don't let me pass out" feeling that feels like it takes hours to pass but it's only seconds. I felt Anam press against my leg and sit on my foot... then it was over. We moved on. My question was answered. Yes, Anam will alert while out! Supplies found! Mission accomplished!

When we were heading up front I had no choice but to walk right by a couple and I could see it on her face that she was melting. I thought "oh no... I'm going to lose him". They stopped and asked questions about Anam's breed and about service dogs, commented on how well behaved he was, asked his name and chatted for a minute which I don't mind at all. It's a chance to educate people about service dogs, rescues, also about Brown-Sequard Syndrome and cancers. Another customer and I guess her elderly mother, came up behind us and the "mom" made kissy noises at Anam. The lady with her said "that's a service dog... You're not suppose to do that". I turned and smiled. Then they asked a few questions and apologized for the kisses. The 5 of us stood talking for a few more minutes. The whole time Anam just sat beside me, calmly, like no big deal, even through the kissy noises. He almost looked bored. I was beaming with pride! We said goodbye and went on our way. We got up to the counter and stood in line. There were 2 ladies and a little girl in front of us. One lady said to the little girl "oh look! A puppy!" The little girl (probably 8ish) turned to her and very matter of factly said "Nana, that's her service dog and it's working. You don't talk to working dogs no matter how cute they are!" The little girl looked at me and I smiled and said "High Five Sister!" which earned me a huge smile in return and a high five. Anam didn't move. The cashier said people bring in dogs and fake service dogs all the time and they don't really care as long as they aren't on the floor or cause a problem (she had been telling me about a miniature poodle)but she was so excited to have a Real Service Dog in the store and to please feel welcome back any time! I just keep thinking We Did It! Our 1st Really Crowded Store! YES! No one even questioned him or if he was still in training or not. So Proud!

We went to the car and I seat belted Anam in. I looked at him sitting there with his chest puffed out looking all proud and tears filled my eyes. He's such a smart dog. As much as he's a goofball and ignores me sometimes, when it counts, he steps up and does a beautiful job! What did I do with out him? As a reward we went to Sonic and he got a water with ice in it. He LOVES thier crushed ice! (So do I) He was a very happy puppy... and I had watery drool running down my arm. Totally Worth It! (I got a Peach Ring Slush as my reward! Hey! I trained him! LOL)