tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437901534161780164.post2671465914574071792..comments2024-03-26T03:06:15.580-04:00Comments on Dog Law Reporter: Service Dogs and the Subtle Sociology of Prejudice in the Twenty-First CenturyJohn Ensmingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840129911400528572noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8437901534161780164.post-41041469424248320512011-11-08T11:50:20.687-05:002011-11-08T11:50:20.687-05:00My name is Patty Dobbs Gross and I serve as Execut...My name is Patty Dobbs Gross and I serve as Executive Director of North Star Foundation, a nonprofit organization that creates assistance dog partnerships between children who face social, emotional and educational challenges and well bred, socialized and trained North Star dogs.<br /> <br />I was very glad to read this blog, as I believe the time is right for the "differently abled" to realize the discrimination they face when they endure public access challenges. At this point in time, to not understand a child with autism's right to be comfortable in public, or fail to recognize that a specifically trained assistance dog can provide this child much needed security and comfort (along with help in communicating to others in public) is no longer acceptable. I believe the fact that the children's struggle is combined with the public access issues the teams face just gives us more benevolent company along the way on our journey toward equal rights for children with social, emotional or educational challenges...<br /><br />For many years over our last decade of incorporation I've counseled North Star families to "catch more flies with honey than vinegar" in terms of the public access challenges they face as I considered autism assistance dogs a pioneering field and I wanted to allow corporations and businesses a comfortable trip up the learning curve; education being an important part of our mission, I felt this was only fair.<br /><br />But we have now reached our second decade of incorporation as a nonprofit and I think the time is right to push for greater understanding in public, not just for autism assistance dogs, but for the child on the other end of the leash.<br /><br />Thanks, John, for pointing us in the right legal direction to begin to realize these rights the ADA granted us well over a decade ago... <br /><br />Kind regards,<br />Patty<br /><br />Patty Dobbs Gross<br />Executive Director<br />North Star Foundation<br />www.NorthStarDogs.com<br />northstarfoundation@charter.net<br />We help children find their way.Patty Dobbs Grosshttp://www.northstardogs.comnoreply@blogger.com