Living with a disability is difficult enough without having to endure discrimination, yet that’s exactly what a legally blind man and his service dog faced at a restaurant in Seattle.
Disturbing Incident at a Seattle Restaurant
Paul Castle, a legally blind TikToker with over 2.1 million followers under the username @matthewandpaul, shared a troubling experience on his platform. In a viral TikTok video, he recounted being thrown out of a Seattle restaurant because a staff member refused to believe he was blind.
“I walked in with my guide dog, Mr. Maple, and immediately, someone came over and said, ‘No pets allowed, only service dogs,’” Paul recalled. He responded, “It’s okay, he’s a service dog.” The staff member then questioned, “Emotional support dog?” Paul clarified, “No, he’s a guide dog for the blind.”
Threatened with Police Action
Even after showing Mr. Maple’s harness, clearly labeled “Guide Dogs for the Blind,” the staff member was still unconvinced. “He said, ‘You don’t look blind,’ and I explained, ‘Many blind people have some functional vision.’” Paul suffers from Retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes gradual vision loss by breaking down retinal cells. He explained his sight as a narrow tunnel with moving lights and colors, but the staff member remained skeptical. “He said, ‘You’re looking right at me,’ and I explained, ‘It’s like seeing through a pinhole.’ His response was, ‘This isn’t my first rodeo,’ insinuating that he didn’t believe me.”
When Paul offered to show documentation for his service dog, the staff member escalated the situation, saying, “If you come back with that dog, I will call the police.”
Using the Experience for Advocacy
Despite the painful encounter, Paul turned the situation into a learning moment. Using his TikTok platform, he advocates for greater awareness about living with disabilities, aiming to foster understanding and empathy. His efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“My manager shared this in our work chat to ensure we don’t make the same mistake,” one viewer commented.
The video, which has garnered 16 million views, sparked a flood of outrage and support. “Don’t be shy, tell us what the restaurant was called,” one person joked, while another added, “If you name the restaurant, Seattle’s service dog owners will gather there in protest.”
Although many urged Paul to reveal the restaurant’s name, he chose not to, wanting to avoid public backlash. Instead, he met with the restaurant’s manager, who apologized and committed to better training for staff on disability rights.
Paul’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of advocacy and education. By sharing his experience, he hopes to inspire others to stand up for their rights and to work towards a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, is treated with respect and compassion.