Legally Blind Man Faces Discrimination at Seattle Restaurant
Navigating life with a disability is challenging enough without encountering discrimination. Yet, this is precisely what happened to a legally blind man and his service dog in Seattle, as they faced disbelief and hostility in a restaurant.
Heartbreaking Discrimination at Seattle Restaurant
Young blind man shares how restaurant worker mocked his guide dog.
@matthewandpaul/TikTok
Paul Castle, a legally blind TikToker with over 2.1 million followers on his account @matthewandpaul, shared a distressing experience on TikTok. He recounted how he and his guide dog, Mr. Maple, were kicked out of a Seattle restaurant when a staff member refused to believe he was blind.
“I walked in with my guide dog, Mr. Maple, and immediately somebody rushed up to me and said, ‘No pets allowed, only service dogs,’” Paul explained. He responded, "'It's OK, he's a service dog.’ The staff member looked at me and said, ‘Emotional support dog?’ I clarified, ‘No, like a guide dog for the blind.’”
The Staff Threatened To Call The Police
Young blind man shares how restaurant worker threatened him.
@matthewandpaul/TikTok
Despite showing the staff member Mr. Maple’s harness labeled “Guide Dogs for the Blind,” Paul was met with skepticism. “He said, ‘You don't look blind,’ and I said, ‘A lot of people in the blind community still have some functional vision.’”
"You don't look blind."
Paul has Retinitis pigmentosa, a condition causing vision loss due to the gradual breakdown of cells in the retina. He explained his limited vision, describing it as a small tunnel surrounded by moving lights and random colors. The staff member remained unconvinced. “He said, ‘You're looking right at me.’ I said, ‘Yes, but it's like I have a pinhole of vision — that's all I can see.’ He replied, ‘This isn't my first rodeo,’" implying he believed Paul was lying.
The confrontation escalated when Paul offered to bring his dog’s paperwork. The staff member responded, “If you step foot back in this restaurant with that dog, I will call the police.”
Watch The Full Video Now:
@matthewandpaul “This isn’t my first rodeo” 💀 #blind #guidedog #servicedog #storytime
He's Using This Experience To Spread Awareness
Young blind man plays with service dog, Mr. Maple.
@matthewandpaul/Instagram
Despite the negative experience, Paul is turning this situation into an opportunity to educate and inspire others. Through his popular TikTok account, he is raising awareness about the realities of living with a disability and the importance of understanding and empathy. And it's working.
"My manager sent this to our work chat to make sure we don’t do the same," one comment read.
Paul's video has since garnered 16 million views, with many commenters expressing outrage and support. "Don’t be shy, tell us what the restaurant was called," one hilarious comment read. Another added, “Pretty sure if you name the restaurant all the Seattle baddies with service dogs will congregate.”
Even though comments were asking Paul to name the restaurant, he decided not to as he doesn't want the restaurant to face backlash; however, he did meet up with the manager of the restaurant who sincerely apologized to him and told him employees would be better trained on this topic.
Paul’s story serves as a powerful reminder that advocacy and education can lead to a more inclusive and compassionate society. By sharing his journey, Paul hopes to inspire others to stand up for their rights and foster a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, is treated with dignity and kindness.
Should I Be Of Service to Myself Or Others?
Which path - Service to self or others?
Most of us chose our professions by responding to an instinctual angst to fix a problem. Our childhood experiences showed us a need we tried to fill by righting wrongs or injustice. Often becoming our raison d'être for this life. It directs us to a life of service to self or service to others. You could call it nonprofit vs. for-profit, but it’s not that simple.
Working for someone else’s dream is a service to others and not necessarily the selfless concepts we associate with that term. Service to self at it’s best is the call of the artist within us all to create and be. Please don’t limit the concept of an artist to paintings, sculpture, etc. Art is our calling for the lessons we want to learn in this life. The Mayans left us the formula for mankind: Time(Energy)=Art.
We live in a time of big questions and choices on a personal and planetary level. The world is getting united as we become more connected. We see the pains and joys from around the world and the cybersphere have emotionally fused the two.
The question next is how to exit the matrix. Or switch the priority from service to others then self, to service to self then others. These polarities are best served by equal service to both. Neither are bad or good because each needs the other to succeed.
Isn’t that narcissistic? No, two Burning Mans and an Afrikaburn taught me that. Try it, spend a week receiving from others. You’ll feel the desire to do give as well. Radical receiving begets radical giving. Our species at it’s finest.
Think of the prep you do when you have a cold. You get the medicine, tissues, cream for your skin, liquids and hunker down to rest. Give yourself that radical self-care on everything as the patient. Be the best friend who you would do anything for your wellbeing. Don’t forget to apply tough love as needed.
Ask yourself this: “What would someone who loves me say?” Tell your ego to answer that question and you will put it in the place it’s supposed to be: guiding not driving. You are in the best position to give advice because you know you. The lazy you, the parts of you that need a kick in the pants, the insecure child, and what brings you joy and tears. Treat yourself like a lover, best friend, parent or whomever you love the most. And then take the advice.
Take heed that negative thoughts or fear will be like self-abuse. While at Afrikaburn, an alchemist and I measured the Schumann Resonance at 27 SR. That’s one of the highest readings on the planet according to those who pay attention. And expected at high vibration events. At 21 SR it's said that we will see instant manifestations. During the burn, I saw fear manifest on two different occasions. Camp members mentioned their fears of safety, and both were victims of theft.
Negative emotions coupled with thoughts are just as powerful as your positive ones. But there is no need to hide from fears or ignore them. Just acknowledge and release them with self-acceptance. Or as we say back home ‘check yourself before you wreck yourself.’
Radical self-care is the polarity (and partner) to radical world service. Acknowledge and accept that both need to exist. I like what a friend said ‘life is the dance between the two polarities. When we accept either service option for our lives, we automatically need the other.
My service to others involves teaching in foreign lands, writing stories fresh from the muses and trusting the flow of it all with one-way tickets. The radical service to self requires a diet of no sugars, gluten or meat. Spiritual nurturance starts with solar gazing and wearing a uniform.
Synchronicity flows best when I have no plans for the day and options are laid out for me to choose instead of guessing the right choice. A lesson I wish I knew at 35 instead of 55, but I’m better understanding today.
When you need advice ask yourself 'What would someone who loves me say?' And then listen to the loving response.
About The Author
Phyllis Serene (https://www.phyllisrawley.com) is the founder of God/Dess University (GU) (https://www.goddessuniversity.org). GU offers courses in earth sciences, energy medicine, life cycle support and sexual wellness. Her career includes Christian missionary, executive recruiter, non-profit director and Dominatrix. She is Southern California Leather Woman 2010-2011 an international sexual wellness educator and author. Her latest book is "All My Heroes Were Ho's, Life Lessons From The Dungeon". She is an advocate for sexual wellness and creator of the Five Alignments course. Teaching the five intelligent systems: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, instinctual and sexual. Interviewed by Essence.com the largest African-American women's magazine. And seen on E Networks "The Real 50 Shades of Grey".