I have a service animal for a few medical disabilitys. He is trained for a few general task to help me as well as specific task for me. What I would like people to know is that not all service animals are for people who are blind. Please don't pet working animals, and thank you for thinking I don't look disabled, but yes this is my service animal, just because you can readily see a disability does not mean it does not cause havock on your life and those around you. So, no I'm not training the dog for someone else. I know the dog is cute, but it is very distracting to his work when your pointing and making awe look at the cute puppy noises and faces. I know its hard, but pretend like service animals are just an extension of their human. Show off your service animal etiquette, No touching, No talking and No eye contact with working dogs. The reason for this is a distracted dog may miss subtle cues and early signs to alert its handeler or a medical emergency or other tasks it has been trained for. When this happens s to me in public, it feels like someone kicked out my crutches from under me. But, now you know.
@UvBensued
wow thank you for this if raises 2 very important points
- invisible disability just because someone doesn't look disabled (what are we meant to look like?) Doesn't mean our disability and associated challenges don't exsist.
- service dogs not all service dogs are guide dogs for vision or hearing issues. Service dogs are a lifeline for a whole range of conditions
I think people are genuinely uneducated when it comes to service dogs and the dos and donts with regard to behaving appropriately around them. How would you feel about creating a thread in the forum to educate the community a little more? Just an idea with absolutely no pressure attached.
thank you so much for your amazing input :)
@Rycochet I would consider it. I'm still getting used to this app and not quite sure how to use it all yet so it would take some time for me to feel comfortable to navigate but am willing to give it a shot in the future.
@UvBenSued
i completely understand that - no pressure at all so take your time :) just wanted to put the idea to you xx
Way too much to actually list here, overall I just wish people wouldn't assume things.
I want to be able to explain to some non-horse people that horse back riding is a sport. "You just sit there / Horse does all the job / Poor horse / Everybody can do that / That's so easy", I'm so sick of this words! If you don't see all the pain, time, bruisings and love we put in this, then don't you dare to judge us. Why don't you take a ride and show us how "easy" it is? Also stop saying that all equestrians are rich. Sure there are some that have lots of money, but most of us spend all the money for horse. We hardly buy a fancy phone, but we are proud on it. We actually don't know what would we do without our horses. Stop being so close minded and try to understand us.
#ByEquestrians
I wish that people would stop saying to me "but you look so well!" They think I want to here that, when in fact it would be easier if there were some outward sign of my disability so they could understand that things are hard
@Gozzil
Having a hidden disbility can make us feel invisible. People cannot see it therefore to them it isn't obvious or real.you are far from alone and I think many could relate to that frustration
finding people who are willing to listen and ready to accept how your disability effects and feels to you can feel so empoering - I hope you do find that. I am on a break right now recovering from illness but if you would like to talk please feel free to message me.
Disability is real regardless of whether it is visible or not xxx
Just because you don't see damage on the outside doesn't mean everythingis ok on the inside. My illness is invisible to those who see me. But far from invisible to me.
My entire life. I want some to know my story, my pain, and for them to just hug me.
@Annihilator
-hugs- Be well my sweet. You're okay. We're okay.
Don't assume some one is unfriendly because they don't speak, you never know unspoken conversations (a smile, or kind word ) could be the key of improving their day
Don't take me for granted, just because I look normal on the outside. No one knows how some one feels unless you walk in their shoes. But that's not an excuse to be rude either.
I'm so tired of acting strong, everyone thinks I'm weak. I wish people saw how hard I'm trying.
@MissAnglerfish I understand. This can be so frusterating:/ sometimes I feel angered that my friends don't understand what I've been through.
I don't need pitty for how I have become, a kind word or a smile goes a long way, I am human, I have feelings, don't treat me different, I'm not, it just takes me a little longer to do things and to get started.
