I'm on a list serve for people who live with and use a PSD. We were having a discussion about the doubts that people face when they are starting to consider living and working with a PSD. This is the response that I wrote for the topic and I wanted to share it with open cyberspace because it may ring true with some other people.
1. Accepting myself as disabled.
I have a disability that limits my life and the way that I live it. I couldn't go out all the time. I was missing a lot of school and work. I couldn't go to a mall or grocery shopping by myself. Never mind being able to go somewhere fun by myself.
2. Paige is a medical devise.
People without legs need wheel chairs. The blind need a cane or dog. The hard of hearing need hearing aids. Lots of people need glasses. I needed a companion to accompany me in public so that I can get done what needed to get done. Service humans are unreliable at best and are busy with their own lives. Many of my friends who I discussed this with would comment how better functioning I was after I took a mental break at home with the cats for a couple of days. A service dog would let me get through life on my own.
3. I have the right to bring my medical devise out in public with me.
Nobody apologizes for needed a walker, wheel chair, cane, or guide dog. I now refuse to apologize for needing Paige. But this was the hardest step for me. It actually took me going out with Paige a few times and realizing what a difference it made in my life. When I started public access training with Paige, we started with walk in the doors and walk straight back out. Once this had gotten far enough for me to be able to make a quick purchase in the grocery store, I suddenly realized what this dog was going to open up for me. I wanted to go to the museum, the art gallery, go for tours of the parliament buildings here, go on the historic trolley car and now I can. I never ask for access to a store or bus with Paige. I have the right to be there. I will inform them that she is a working dog and then I carry on because I belong there and she belongs at my side. I'm careful to not leave a bad taste in anybody's mouth from them meeting with me. I always smile. I always say thank you for any accommodation that may be made (eg. People giving up their seat on the bus for me). I also block people from touching my dog. Yes my devise is fuzzy and cute but you wouldn't walk up and grab an old lady's walker. I explained it to my coworkers that they should picture Paige as my new purse. I still have one who says to me every time I see her "I love your beautiful purse." We both laugh and it's a running joke.
Once you get past these mental hurdles, you won't believe how much your life will open up. Where have you really always wanted to go? Can you go there with other people? Can you find people to go with you again, and again, and again if that is what you want? Does it suck to be tied to service humans? Imagine getting to go there as many times as you want and as often as you want, on your own, with a piece of medical equipment who also happens to be your best friend. Then smile, sigh, and go take your SD for a walk.
