As you may recall, Paul Castle (from Matthew and Paul), a blind artist, shared a now-viral video detailing how a Seattle restaurant questioned his blindness and Mister Maple’s legitimacy as a service dog. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end on a sour note.
Manager Steps Up
The good news? The restaurant manager reached out to Paul, seeking a meeting to address the situation. Paul, ever the optimist, mentioned that while he was nervous, he hoped for a positive resolution. Adding an interesting twist to the story, a woman who witnessed the whole ordeal contacted the restaurant after seeing Paul’s video. This helped add another layer of clarity to the situation.
“The reason he didn’t believe me or thought this was another one of those situations (faking disability) is because I told him I was blind, but I was able to sustain eye contact with him.
I think most people want things to be black or white. If you have a disability, they want it to be the version that they’ve seen represented in movies and TV for many years. Whereas 93% of the people who are blind have some functional vision.”
Black or White
Paul also shed light on the alleged reason for the initial confusion. He mentioned that the staff member who denied them entry had previously encountered someone faking a service dog. This sheds light on the complexities of service dog etiquette and the challenges faced by both restaurant staff and patrons with disabilities.
@matthewandpaul Replying to @Milk Minute Podcast thanks for having my back!! #blind #storytime #guidedog #servicedog
A Lesson Learned (With a Gift Card)
Paul and the restaurant manager met, and thankfully, the situation was resolved. Paul accepted the restaurant’s apology and even received a gift card! More importantly, Paul mentioned not wanting the incident to negatively impact the restaurant as a whole.
This whole incident was surely a learning experience – not just for the restaurant staff, but for everyone, in the disabled community. He also expressed his gratitude to his TikTok followers for their overwhelming support, emphasizing how their positive messages made him feel “seen” and understood.
While this incident highlights the importance of proper service dog training and education for restaurant staff, it also showcases the power of open communication and a willingness to find solutions. Fortunately, it seems Paul and Mister Maple will be enjoying a delicious meal at that Seattle restaurant soon, this time with a warm welcome!
