“I’ve had several access refusals over the years. One of these times was at a local bar when I was catching up with some friends from school. I don’t get the chance to see these people often, so it’s always a time to be celebrated. We were getting the drinks in and having a lovely catch up. Unbeknown to me, the venue allowed pet dogs until 7pm. As 7pm approached a security guard told me I had to leave. I explained my legal rights multiple times and that my guide dog should be allowed entry regardless of whether the venue was dog friendly or not. This discussion went on for a while. They were intimidating, condescending and made me feel tiny. Above anything, I was embarrassed. I didn’t want to cause a fuss when out with friends and I certainly didn’t want to ruin their night. It took a friend speaking with the manager to resolve it, but the security guards should have known better.” CT