Blind man refused entry to Clayton restaurant
Blind man refused entry to Clayton restaurant
A vision impaired Springvale man has been left humiliated and embarrassed after he was turned away from a Chinese restaurant in Melbourne' south-east because he had his guide dog with him.
Twanny Farrugia, who was celebrating his 60th birthday with a friend, was asked to leave Choi Palace, in Clayton South, when staff saw guide dog, Val.
Mr Farrugia said he tried to explain to the waitress that by law guide dogs are allowed to enter any public place, but she still refused him entry.
He then showed staff his ID, which states guide dogs can go to most public places with their handler, but was again told the dog was barred.
Mr Farrugia said: "I took my guide dog ID out to show to her. She picked it up from my hand, looked at it and again told me to leave. At this stage I got very angry. I said to her 'look you can't do this, this is against the law'."
Victorian laws permit owners of guide dogs to enter any restaurant and it is illegal to refuse entry.
Mr Farrugia is now calling on business owners to have a better awareness of the rights of guide dog owners.
"I felt very humiliated because there were some other people there - it was embarrassing. I also felt sorry for my friend who thought she would make me happy by buying me lunch for my birthday and then all this happened."
Mr Farrugia has lodged an official complaint with Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
He has also demanded an apology and that the restaurant donate $500 to Guide Dogs Victoria.
Less than two weeks ago, another vision impaired patron was turned away from a city restaurant.
Mr Farrugia and his friend ended up celebrating his birthday at another restaurant.
The Choi Palace manager issued an apology this afternoon.