[Oagdu] article about guide dog banned from church bus

[Deanna Lewis]

Hi Marianne,
I didn't see the original article in your message, so I am pasting it below for those interested.
I can offer my comments in a separate post.
Deanna

Guide dog banned from church bus

Posted:Jul 15, 2015 8:03 PM EDT Updated:Jul 16, 2015 7:34 AM EDT

By Lisa Hutson

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lhutson at fox19.com

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(Source: Lisa Hutson, FOX19 NOW) (Source: Lisa Hutson, FOX19 NOW)

MOUNT ORAB, OH (FOX19) -



A blind Sardinia woman says a Brown County church is discriminating against 
her by not allowing her guide dog on a church bus.



Cathy Inglis says Tiny, a 6-year-old Boxer is an extension of herself 
helping her to live independently even though she is completely blind. While 
she has

had to explain Tiny's role before, she says she never thought a church would 
turn him away.



"They told me I was not allowed to ride the church bus,” said Inglis.



After asking to ride the Sunday school bus to church with her 6-year-old 
grandson and Tiny, Inglis says Bible Baptist Church in Mt. Orab told her 
Tiny could

not ride the bus.



"If I have offended them, I would like to ask for their forgiveness because 
I would not want to offend them,” said Pastor Ted House of Bible Baptist 
Church.



House calls the entire discussion a huge misunderstanding. Both Tiny and 
Cathy are welcome anytime inside or outside the church he says but any dog 
on a

church owned vehicle poses liability concerns.



"It's just I don't want the dog on the bus around those children in those 
close quarters because a dog is a dog no matter how well they are trained 
and

a dog might nip a kid and then I've got a parent upset and a lawsuit,” said 
Pastor House.



Inglis says she has never had any aggression issues toward humans with any 
of the seven guide dogs she has owned throughout her lifetime. Each of them 
Inglis

says go through extensive training to behave in public.



House says he has suggested other options besides bringing Tiny on the bus 
such as having volunteers guide Inglis on Sundays or having a church member 
pick

up the pair in a private vehicle. They are options Inglis says she should 
not have to choose from based on her disability.



“I didn't get the dog to leave him and be guided by somebody else. I got him 
so I could work him and get around as best I can,”

said Inglis.



According to American Disabilities Act, churches are not required to be ADA 
compliant but most do so voluntarily. By law, Bible Baptist Church has the 
right

to refuse to accommodate anyone with disabilities.



Pastor House admits while he should have communicated the issue better, he 
sticks by his decision to protect the children on the bus.



-----Original Message-----
From: Oagdu [mailto:oagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marianne Denning via Oagdu
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 6:25 PM
To: Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users List; NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
Cc: Marianne Denning
Subject: [Oagdu] article about guide dog banned from church bus

Good afternoon.  I finally read this article and found out it was in Brown County, OH.  The minister is not opposed for religious reasons but for the safety of the children.
The dog is also not banned from the church services.  Do you think this is really protected under the first amendment? Should either the state NFB affiliate or OAGDU reach out to this woman?
--
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053

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