I am handicapped -- this morning Spires Restaurant in Torrance , CA, discriminated against me.

[Hepburn]

157. I have severe difficulties with hearing things which are behind me.

Such as crossing a parking lot to get to the restaurant entrance -- I cannot hear people, cars, etc., approaching me from the rear. Also: Inside, if I get up from the table for any reason, I cannot hear people behind me or servers with hot food trays, even if they call out to me. My dog when outside pulls me away from sounds behind me -- such as to the side of a parking lot, roadway or side walk, or stops to let me know I need to be aware of what is behind me both inside a building and outside. If I am alone in a restaurant and a waiter or waitress walks up to me, at times I do not realize he or she may be there and speaking to me and the dog alerts to them by bumping my arm. If an alarm goes off -- such as a smoke alarm, my dog lets me know.

The most important thing with the dog and being in public is usually in grocery stores -- people at times let their children run around without supervision and I have avoided being run over several times by electric carts and children. My dog rides on a blanket in the "child section" of the cart with her head pointing to my left and I stay to the right. If something fast approaches from the rear, she alerts me immediately.

Malls are often a circus -- especially during holidays and right after school lets out. Same thing there -- dog lets me know if someone or something is fast approaching from the rear or if an alarm bell is going off.

In addition to being hearing impaired, I have some problems keeping my balance due to a hereditary disease. So, the dog alerting is very important to my safety for this reason as well.