Service Dogs Are Not A Pet Project | Jocelynn Johnson | TEDxWpg

Service dogs are increasingly visible in society, but do you know how to behave around one? Jocelynn Johnson, is a Geospatial Analyst for the Government of Manitoba. She is a graduate of both Red River College and the University of Manitoba (BSc), and is currently pursuing a third degree. While part of an average Winnipeg family, at age seven Jocelynn went from having perfect hearing to being completely Deaf overnight from meningitis. She became the first child in Manitoba to receive a Cochlear Implant. In her twenties, she had to have it removed after a medical incident, effectively losing her hearing for a second time. As a result, she has gone between existing in the hearing world, the Deaf world, and the grey area in-between. Since receiving her Hearing Ear Service Dog nearly nine years ago, she has recognized a gap in education about service animals, and has strived to narrow this gap by educating formally or informally whenever possible. Jocelynn is the co-chair and founder of the Civil Servants with Abilities Network and a founder of the Deaf Professionals Network. She is also President of the Manitoba GIS Users Group. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@Mimiki203]

The story about the little boy at the end is a perfect example of how children can be so much more understanding than adults sometimes.

[@fefranks]

I gave a talk to my daughter's high school about service dogs last week (I've had my SD for a year) and it was almost word for word the same thing!!! It seems like all SD handlers have the same experiences. I spent an extra HOUR in the store telling folks no, you can't pet my dog and why! I didn't even get my shopping done that day cuz of all of the distractions! DO NOT DISTRACT service dogs means do not pet, do not talk to, do not feed (my dog has a food allergy, everyone wants to give him Milkbones, but he can't have chicken), do not stare at, do not WAVE AT (he's not going to wave back, people.). And folks don't need to know my dog's name. There are zillions of distractions when we're out and about. He doesn't need an added one of someone calling out his name. Another thing I get tired of as an SD handler is that every time I go out, I'm hearing, "Look! It's a service dog!" behind me or next to me. It makes me extremely self-conscience! I told the high schoolers it would be like if as soon as they left the house, everywhere they went, they'd be hearing people whisper, "Oh look! They have hair! Look, their hair is dark! Their hair is straight! They don't have as much hair! Did you see their hair?". It's a DOG, not a magical unicorn! If I'm out with a magical unicorn, THEN talk about it! If it's just a dog, it is *JUST* a dog! WELL DONE with your speech, Jocelynn! I had a similar child & mother incident. The child started yelling, "PUPPY! PUPPY! PUPPY! I WANT TO PET IT! I WANT TO PET IT! PUPPY! PUPPY! PUPPY!!!!" The mom said, "Grandma has hearing aids, right?" The child agreed. The mom said the hearing aids help grandma, right? The child agreed. The mom told the child my service dog was helping me. She continued, "When we go to Grandma's house, do you yell, "HEARING AIDS! HEARING AIDS! HEARING AIDS!"?" The child giggled, "No!". The mom asked, "Do you want to PET grandma's hearing aids????" The child laughed, "NO!!!!!" "Well," said the mother, "That service dog is like grandma's hearing aids.". After a brief pause, the child asked, "Can we go look at toys?". WELL DONE, MOM!!!! THANK YOU again for putting our side of life out there. With more service dogs out there, helping more people with invisible disabilities, more education is needed! THANK YOU!!!

[@ambersmithpxt]

You know it's even worse when the people you live with don't get it. My housemates don't help reinforce and of my dog's normal behaviors and commands. If anything they constantly counteract any obedience training I do. Thankfully they don't screw with the task training because they don't know any of those commands or actions to screw it up for me. I gotta do the task training alone because they can't even get sit vs lay straight.

[@annafreaknbanana8261]

I have a service dog in training, so I am watching all the service dog videos that I can!

[@EmiliaZsuzsannaRak]

Excellent talk!! As SD handler with an invisible disability (PTSD) I am SO GRATEFUL for your wonderful talk that will hopefully educate the masses!!!

[@lillipup9504]

I love this talk as well! I have debilitating anxiety, depression, and a very severe panic disorder. I would love to have a SD, but my anxiety is largely centered around being in public around other people. So I’m not sure if it’s the right fit. I know this is vague, but do you think it would be something I could bring up to a doctor? Thanks, and I hope you are doing alright!

[@EmiliaZsuzsannaRak]

That's a good question and you do have valid concerns. I've always been of the opinion that if you don't ask the question, then the answer's always NO. Lol so yes, I think that asking your doc would be a great idea. I wish you good luck!!

[@lillipup9504]

Thank you! I just realized how old this comment is, sorry!

[@treborironwolfe978]

That is a beautiful "starting rule" at least... "just ask"!

[@TheAwesomes2104]

I'm literally going to force the next person who insists on taking time out of my day to berate me with questions to sit down for 16 minutes and watch this. I'm a college student with a service dog, and dealing with the public is awful. I literally get so many people taking pictures of me in class or at lunch, people asking me the same questions thousands of times a day. Every Friday, when I have chemistry lab, I only have a small 40 minute gap to make sure my dog eats and gets his bathroom break, and then make sure I get to eat and get a bathroom break. I probably sit down and eat for a total of 10 minutes, and during that time sometimes up to 7 different people will stop and interrupt me to ask "Why is he wearing goggles?" I used to answer "Because we have chem lab in 5 minutes." Then they'd say something like "Oh, that's so great that the LET you take him to chem labs!!", "Well, it'd be a literal crime if the university decided not to allow me to take Chemistry courses because of my medical equipment.", "Medical equipment?!", "Yes, service animals are medical equipment." "Oh, isn't that cool, or interesting, or abuse (everyone has an opinion with a follow-up question)" About 3 weeks into class, I just started saying "I'm in a rush, please don't ask about the goggles. If you have any questions, Google it." I want to get him a huge patch that just reads " G.O.M.D!!" 😂

[@servicedogskidboot]

There needs to be a sad button on KZbin just like on FB

[@Mimicomom]

Great job Jocelynn! I foster for the Lions Foundation in Oakville and know what special dogs we are able to raise. The training before they graduate is exceptional and the ongoing work that the handlers and dogs do never ceases to amaze me. I even have a hard time when I see working dogs because I am so interested in the handler's story but I respect them enough to give them their space and admire them from afar. Lulu did a good job on stage too, very professional.

[@servicepawsandvlogs2992]

YES!! I love this. So great and educational, thank you soooo much for making this.

[@thaliasjourney]

I have severe depression and moderate anxiety and I've been thinking about getting a service dog. That four year old was smarter than his Dad.

[@servicedogskidboot]

Great talk! Thanks so much Jocelynn! I am a relatively new handler (2 years), but I've had some negative experiences as well. I try to educate as much as possible by going to schools, camps, businesses as well as through social media.

[@LunaLuna-wn3uz]

Omg yeah no one tells your things like that it's so hard just to live

[@pixelzpupz6475]

Great talk! Thank you. 💕

[@KarynAtYourService]

This was great! And so accurate. Thank you for making this red talk thing. Will be sharing.

[@rhettoneill836]

Just outstanding...thanku very much for giving your & Loo Loo's time to educate the community on the do's & donts regarding service dogs...loved the storys of fireman coming to your rescue and of course the little boy we could all learn from...goodluck to you both ..cheers from Australia 🐶😎

[@FlawlessImperfectionBeauty]

Thank you for sharing, my dog has made such a difference. My Baron keeps me safe, I know he will protect me during a medical episode.

[@meredithbutikofer5658]

15:42 that kid is adorable! And that kid is amazing!

[@brendabolin7178]

Thank u for this video. I get people wanting to pet my puppy Kali in the dog friendly stores while training her. But most people leave us alone for now.

[@peteanddrake4242]

I've had a service dog for 5 years and never had a negative experience with the public. Everyone has welcomed us 100% of the time.

[@Trollestiatumblur]

You really sound fake... 5 years and not once had a problem? I’m sorry, but it’s really hard to believe that you have a service dog

[@sdigf3167]

@@Trollestiatumblur Actually, many men have that experience. They also may live in an area where they are well known. I have a friend in a small town and everyone knows them. They can honestly say they have never had and access challenge.

[@hollytobin6036]

Omg! The "people assuming I'm blind" story happened to me too! It was so funny to see their faces!!

[@ambersmithpxt]

Frequently people will just walk up and pet my dog or start petting her when I sit down next to or near them without asking. They always say "omg she's so friendly and she loves me!" But it's fairly annoying for several reasons, it negatively impacts her training (as she's still in training), it distracts her, and it makes me uncomfortable as I have issues saying no. I can talk and talk and talk all day but I have an extremely difficult time in social situations. I have a hard time voicing my opinions, I don't pick up on social ques, I struggle with maintaining my own body language and facial expressions when around others which impacts my emotional state when prolonged, and honestly it just makes things more stressful. People can't see these issues because I mask. If I am in front of another person (physically or not ) I cannot express my true emotions and feelings and generally look like the happiest, bouncy energetic person alive. This puts strain on me every single time I do literally anything. I wish people would just stop petting my service dog and stop trying to tell me why I don't need one or how she's not legally one because she's not certified (which btw the ADA and DOJ do not recognize any kind of certification or registration for service animals and it is not legal to require someone to have one). People yelling at me about my service dog actually really stresses me out esp when they won't listen to what I'm saying. I've only listed a small part of the things I need my dog for and unless my face is flushed and I'm turning pale almost passing out no one can see ANY of my disabilities. People need to stop acting like I don't have a need because they think my dog is just a cute ESA or something. She's in training because I need her in public, not just at home. She's not an ESA because I have too many issues for "cuddles" to support. I wish people would use their phones to look up the damn ADA laws themselves before talking to or yelling at me and my dog. Eventually she'll be fully trained but until then I wish people would stop making it near impossible to do the in public training.

[@rustythegreatandpowerfulla2676]

Get a vest that says she is in training, and not to pet. Then find someone you trust to role-play with. Practice these situations until they are second nature and you don't have to think about it. Play both sides and be aggressive sometimes when you play the "other' person. And last, you can get a tee shirt that says " my dog doesn't bite, but I do". Humor helps.

[@Gwentheferret]

One idea I had, that I plan on doing when/if I get a service dog... make little cards to give out with a "faq", rather than answer questions constantly.

[@rustythegreatandpowerfulla2676]

@@Gwentheferret I made up brochures. That when when someone asked for "papers" I give them that. Number one on the list is the law saying you can't ask for papers. You could have both. One for questions and one for challenges.

[@whitemansucks]

If you don't like ADA laws, simply more out of American... then you can discriminate. If you are in America and you don't comply with ADA law, you deserve felony charges.

[@briannamatias640]

yes I love it! service dogs love then is deaf is wishing hear service dogs good

[@judynguyen1579]

@10:17 again and again!

[@Techrideretc.6793]

Ok story time: so I walked in to a store with my to service animals and we where at the food area and someone asked to pet and I said “ sorry their working right now “ and the person walked away as I turned around a girl a bit younger than me moved over to let me though and just glanced at them we continued to the drink area a woman saw my SD’s and said “ I know I can’t “ and then on our way out a toddler reached out to pet one of my SD’s and the parent pulled them back and I was like ok

[@shawnsegebarth6707]

I had a guy glare daggers at me for bringing my service dog on the bus. I can’t afford a car so I use public transportation. And people crowd me and try to pet my dog Dx

[@ericabelt1930]

What is the nuance for service dogs in training?

[@sdigf3167]

What do you mean by nuance?

[@ericabelt1930]

I think I got auto corrected. I meant allowance.

[@sdigf3167]

@@ericabelt1930 Ah yes, autocorrect. The American's with Disabilities Act, which covers Service Dogs, does not cover Service Dogs in training. However, States are allowed to write laws that are less restrictive than the ADA, so they can give Service Dogs in Training full access. If you live in one of those states, you can train your dog anywhere. If you don't, you have to train only where pets are allowed.

[@gigischuster3078]

As rescue adopted dog and cat parent and to finally after years with misdiagnosis for Bipolar due ignorance in society that women can have CPTSD just like men and veterans. Like other pet parents as CPTSD Survivors out there, I found out I have CPTSD, and also Medical Conditions that can mess with my CPTSD if not monitored and Panic Attacks. I was recommended like others like me with similar yet different CPTSD and Medical Issues needed a Service Dog for the two. You spend 2 years researching what it implys and requires to be a team and rise above your CPTSD as a Survivor through the bond with Service Dog like you have with your EMS-CPTSD and Medical tasking at home pet/pets. However when I was given go ahead by specialists I soon ran into this with Service Dog Facilities. When they asked if I had pets already in the house reguardless of it being a bungalow with a nice backward, as soon as I said yes the guy said well then no you won't qualify, just to say we don't want to give Service Dogs to just anyone, especially someone or a family who already has pets in the house". Then said " I must rehouse them or wait till they pass of ol' age before contacting the Service Dog Facility for a Service Dog again" it didn't matter if the pet/pets were EMS-CPTSD tasking abilities and trained and only able to task at home not outside of home. And reguardless of the documentation and prescription saying Service Dog is needed and letter that my Pschologists sent that he has seen my pets and they wouldn't be an issue for a Service Dog the guy couldn't care and tried to push the "Service Dogs should be in a home as only pet" when I have seen tv specials where a Service Dog lives with either dogs, cats or both and no issues, so why and is this bias for a facility? Tried some other facilities who also turn away a CPTSD Survivor Civilian on grounds for what? Just because you pets at home. It didn't matter if we had dogs, cats or both and how good mannered and well-behaved they are and Specialists meet with us with them before finalizing the Service Dog Recommendation. Can a Service Dog demand you Rehome or Wait till pets already in house hold pass before reapplying for a Service Dog at Service Dog Facility? We will not surrender our good well behaved rescued-adopted pets away just to qualify for a Service Dog that wouldn't be at all right and I think those facilities know this yet why then say such a thing ? Sadly yet optimistic we hope not all Service Dog Facilities feel such a way about not allowing a person who needs a Service Dog denied one just because they have other pets, we were disgusted and appauld a Service Dog Facility would ever suggest we give up our rescue-adopted family pets over a Service Dog. It made me sick that a Service Dog Facility phone representative would assume a would with pets would be incapable of managing or working with a Service Dog to grow as partners and help one move forward. Can a Service Dog Facility say no to someone who seriously needs and is fundraising to cover cost of a Service Dog, can you by law or under ada be denied, be refused by any Service Dog Facility just because she has pets and they get along and behave, so whats the problem because I'm getting facilities saying no and others saying yes. While some say 1st come 1st served, just to say that only goes for Veterans, 1st Responders and then handicapped over a civilian with. CPTSD Hypoglycemia who has a serious case and was told should qualify by medical experts. This has been an uphill battle as a CPTSD Survivor living also with chronic asthma Hypoglycemia and Potassium deficiency. I'm doing like other civilian pet parents who need a Service Dog stay hopeful, however no grants for a Civilian unless a Veteran, 1st Responder or Handicapped, and then the "If you already have pets living with you issues" don't know what to do? We are running out of options.

[@authornesilstone]

I was once talking to my parents about a psychiatrist service dog and they were like “are you just asking cause you want another dog?”

[@jjbowman4653]

I had to explain that to my father. Yes I can barely manage to make it to class on time, but another PET is just what we need? Hahahaha. No. He still doesn’t get it but he trusts me enough to do what’s best for myself ❤️

[@mattiadizard7431]

I have ptsd and bipolar and borderline personality disorder

[@CoinCentrado]

I didn't know you couldn't touch them but I figured since some of the people who get them are autistic it's probably better to give them space

[@14Raine14]

It's something that many of us service dog handlers hear! I often have people ask why they xant pet SD Trinket, confused because They asked, right? It's not that we are monsters and dont think our dog deserves to be ignored. Instead, it's because they are living creatures, and being pet is distracting. You wouldn't think to run up to a firemen, a paramedic, or a doctor while they are hard at work, and it's no different for our dogs. Even if a doctor is sitting at their desk doesnt mean they aren't focused on their job, and likewise just because our dog guides look like they are just napping doeant mean they aren't listening, smelling, or waiting to respond

[@igametivi4649]

Hi

[@tracyhenry5032]

I need to fond a service dog! Can a Any one hep me Trained GOLDE RETRIEVER or trained service dog!