Ernest Walker, 47, ordered food at a Chili’s eatery in Cedar Hill, Texas, on November 11. The Tex-Mex chain is among several restaurants that offer complimentary meals to both current and former service members on Veterans Day each year. Walker was waiting for his to-go order with his service dog, who was wearing a certified service tag and vest.

An elderly diner approached Walker and proceeded to question him about his military service. Walker, who was a member of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division from 1987 to 1991, was asked which unit he served. The man accused him of lying, saying “he was in Germany, and that they did not let blacks serve over there,” according to a post on Walker’s Facebook page.

Walker, who is black, dismissed the comments. However, a restaurant manager later stopped him from leaving with his food. The Chili’s employee said a fellow customer declared Walker was not a veteran because he was wearing his hat indoors and that he had lied about the service dog.

The manager demanded identification and kept on questioning Walker. Eventually, he took away Walker’s meal even though the veteran presented his military ID and discharge papers.

An upset Walker recorded part of his conversation with the restaurant manager on video, which he later posted on Facebook. The veteran said the incident left him feeling “grossly offended, embarrassed, dehumanized.”

On November 14 the restaurant chain’s president released a statement saying Chili’s had apologized to Walker and placed the manager involved in the incident on administrative leave. However, many Facebook users argued he should have been fired instead.

Captain Jason Haag, a former Marine, was trying to take a flight to Virginia with his service dog Axel. They were returning home after attending the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards in California, where his German shepherd was named Service Dog of the Year.

Haag’s relationship with his service dog has become a life-changing one for him. The 35-year-old veteran, who has served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He was introduced to Axel in 2012 through K9s for Warriors, a program that connects disabled veterans with service dogs.

In an apology issued by American Airlines on Sept. 21, company spokesperson Victoria Lupica said, “We apologize to both Captain Haag and his family for the confusion with the travel plans . . . Thank you, Captain Haag, for your service to your country. We are extremely proud to fly you, Axel and your family.”

The apology came after American Airlines employees reportedly demanded proof that Axel was a real service dog even though he was wearing a special vest and harness that identified him as one. Although Haag was in compliance with the airline’s policy on service animals, he was interrogated about his disability and asked to supply additional paperwork. The American Airlines website states that service dogs are welcome on flights and does not mention an ID card requirement.

The American Humane Association said Haag’s experience highlights the need for better employee training. “Service animals are absolutely essential to so many people who struggle with emotional and physical challenges. In this case, the airline did not even follow its own guidelines,” the association’s president and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert said in a statement.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Captain Jason Haag, a former Marine, was trying to take a flight to Virginia with his service dog Axel. They were returning home after attending the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards in California, where his German shepherd was named Service Dog of the Year.

Haag’s relationship with his service dog has become a life-changing one for him. The 35-year-old veteran, who has served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He was introduced to Axel in 2012 through K9s for Warriors, a program that connects disabled veterans with service dogs.

In an apology issued by American Airlines on Sept. 21, company spokesperson Victoria Lupica said, “We apologize to both Captain Haag and his family for the confusion with the travel plans . . . Thank you, Captain Haag, for your service to your country. We are extremely proud to fly you, Axel and your family.”

The apology came after American Airlines employees reportedly demanded proof that Axel was a real service dog even though he was wearing a special vest and harness that identified him as one. Although Haag was in compliance with the airline’s policy on service animals, he was interrogated about his disability and asked to supply additional paperwork. The American Airlines website states that service dogs are welcome on flights and does not mention an ID card requirement.

The American Humane Association said Haag’s experience highlights the need for better employee training. “Service animals are absolutely essential to so many people who struggle with emotional and physical challenges. In this case, the airline did not even follow its own guidelines,” the association’s president and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert said in a statement.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact an attorney about your Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Mental Health, Sexual Assault, Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, Medical Malpractice, or Aid and Attendance claim, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Current federal law requires some veterans who do not receive VA health services to carry paperwork as proof of military service to employers or private businesses for discounts. The document, known as the DD-214, contains Social Security numbers and other personal information that could make veterans vulnerable to identity theft.

“At a time when many vets are struggling to reintegrate to society, we should be providing them with solutions, not paperwork. This bill will allow veterans to immediately prove their service to employers, thereby expanding their access to jobs and a number of other benefits,” said Dan Benishek, chairman of the Veterans Subcommittee on Health and Northern Michigan’s U.S. representative, who has co-sponsored the bill.

The VA currently issues ID cards to veterans who receive its benefits, mainly for health care. The new ID cards would not replace the cards already issued to veterans, nor can they be used as proof of eligibility for obtaining federal benefits. No time frame has been determined for when the first ID cards might be given out.

Veterans requesting the ID cards would have to pay a small fee, the amount to be decided by VA officials. The payments would fund the program. In Michigan, like in many other states, veterans already have the option to declare their veteran status on state driver’s licenses or IDs with no extra cost.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans attorney, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

Current federal law requires some veterans who do not receive VA health services to carry paperwork as proof of military service to employers or private businesses for discounts. The document, known as the DD-214, contains Social Security numbers and other personal information that could make veterans vulnerable to identity theft.

“At a time when many vets are struggling to reintegrate to society, we should be providing them with solutions, not paperwork. This bill will allow veterans to immediately prove their service to employers, thereby expanding their access to jobs and a number of other benefits,” said Dan Benishek, chairman of the Veterans Subcommittee on Health and Northern Michigan’s U.S. representative, who has co-sponsored the bill.

The VA currently issues ID cards to veterans who receive its benefits, mainly for health care. The new ID cards would not replace the cards already issued to veterans, nor can they be used as proof of eligibility for obtaining federal benefits. No time frame has been determined for when the first ID cards might be given out.

Veterans requesting the ID cards would have to pay a small fee, the amount to be decided by VA officials. The payments would fund the program. In Michigan, like in many other states, veterans already have the option to declare their veteran status on state driver’s licenses or IDs with no extra cost.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans attorney, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com or call 800.693.4800

By Erin Wilson, Founder, If I Need Help.org
Last year, New Yorkers rallied to change laws regarding school safety and making tracking devices available to vulnerable people. According to Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education (AWAARE), a 2011 study conducted by the Interactive Autism Network through the Kennedy Krieger Institute found that:

• Roughly half, or 49%, of children with autism attempt to wander from a safe environment (a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings)

• More than one third of children with autism who wander are never or rarely able to communicate their names, address, or phone number.

As a mother of a child that has been severely affected by autism, I’ve had to deal with my son wandering on more than one occasion. After these awful experiences, my husband and I wanted to create a simple way to allow people to help our son if/when he is lost or wandering. So, we started a non-profit organization called If I Need Help that creates personal wearable QR codes.

QR codes are two dimensional barcodes that can be scanned by a smartphone or mobile device to hard link to or “object hyperlink” to a specific set of information or website. The QR codes we develop at If I Need Help are scanned or manually entered. From there, it links to a live profile to your child that can be edited in real time. The profile can be emailed to others when a search is needed. The barcode can be printed out with the free membership. We also offer personal codes on patches, pins, clips, ID tags for shoes, necklaces and ID cards. This way of identification and information is now also helping incapacitated people with mental illness, memory care or with physical conditions in which they may need help during critical situations.

Please go to www.IfiNeedHelp.org to learn more.

Learn more about Littman Krooks services at www.littmankrooks.com or www.specialneedsnewyork.com.

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Individuals with autism spectrum disorders may be prone to wandering or elopement, which can raise a significant health and safety risk. It is important for family members and caregivers to be aware of the risks and prevention strategies.

Wandering may include moving about with no apparent fixed plan in mind, or moving toward a location such as a landmark or place of obsession. Individuals with autism may also respond to loud noises or excitement by wandering or quickly fleeing. Elopement refers to a situation where a person with autism leaves a safe setting unnoticed or unsupervised. One of the leading causes of death among people with autism is drowning, exposure and other wandering-related factors.

Wandering has a medical diagnosis code approved by the Centers for Disease Control. Caregivers for people at risk of wandering should discuss the diagnosis code with the treating physician. A medical diagnosis can be helpful in obtaining insurance coverage for safety equipment and support requests for safety equipment in a school environment.

Caregivers should also be aware of strategies to prevent and deal with wandering. The first step is to understand wandering patterns and triggers in order to be aware of the problem. The individual’s home should be as secure as possible and the individual should be made aware of the importance of safety. Caregivers should consider identification materials such as a medical ID bracelet and location devices such as a personal GPS locator. Swimming lessons should also be considered. Finally, caregivers should make sure that neighbors and first responders are aware that an individual with autism lives nearby, which may improve response if an incident occurs.

For more information about autism safety, visit www.autismsafety.org. To learn more about our legal services for people with special needs, visit www.specialneedsnewyork.com.