SPRINGFIELD, Ill (WICS/WRSP) — A veteran of the Iraq War with post traumatic stress says the state of Illinois won't allow him to bring his service dog into work.
From nightmares to flashbacks, Charles Richardson suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
He says Department of Human Services not allowing him to bring his service dog to work hinders his ability to cope from those events.
The service animal is a dog named "Moose", an 11-month-old service animal.
He's training to wake Richardson up from nightmares and alert him when he senses a flashback.
A veteran of the Iraq War, Richardson survived an ambush bombing in Baghdad in 2005.
"I've dealt with PTSD and physical injuries ever since," Richardson said. "There's still times where even the strongest man or woman needs need something else to help them out when the medicine doesn't always work.
Moose goes everywhere with Richardson, from car rides to restaurants.
Everywhere except where he works.
Moose isn't allowed inside the office at the Illinois Department of Human Services, where Richardson works.
Richardson said state officials don't view Moose as a service animal.
"And that he's been trained as a comfort therapy dog when three professionals that deal with him or know about him and deal with him are saying totally different.
Richardson said not bringing Moose to work is a setback.
"That does delay the training because I'm not able to bond with him at work and he's not able to see what he's supposed to do," Richardson said.
His union, AFSCME, filed a grievance with the state and they want Moose approved for the workplace. They called previous denials unreasonable and unfair.
"The injustice of their decision is made worse by the fact that Charles sustained his disability in combat as a soldier in the U.S. Army," AFSCME said in a statement.
"I don't sleep well at night is it is from the nightmares. And then this on top of it just exacerbates it," Richardson said.
I reached out to the Illinois Department of Human Services and asked for an interview but they provided a statement.
"Requests for accommodations are handled in a confidential and timely manner, following the process set by the ADA. Again, due to BAJA's commitment to upholding privacy laws and standards, we have no comment related to individual cases," IDHS said.
foxillinois.com
From nightmares to flashbacks, Charles Richardson suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
He says Department of Human Services not allowing him to bring his service dog to work hinders his ability to cope from those events.
The service animal is a dog named "Moose", an 11-month-old service animal.
He's training to wake Richardson up from nightmares and alert him when he senses a flashback.
A veteran of the Iraq War, Richardson survived an ambush bombing in Baghdad in 2005.
"I've dealt with PTSD and physical injuries ever since," Richardson said. "There's still times where even the strongest man or woman needs need something else to help them out when the medicine doesn't always work.
Moose goes everywhere with Richardson, from car rides to restaurants.
Everywhere except where he works.
Moose isn't allowed inside the office at the Illinois Department of Human Services, where Richardson works.
Richardson said state officials don't view Moose as a service animal.
"And that he's been trained as a comfort therapy dog when three professionals that deal with him or know about him and deal with him are saying totally different.
Richardson said not bringing Moose to work is a setback.
"That does delay the training because I'm not able to bond with him at work and he's not able to see what he's supposed to do," Richardson said.
His union, AFSCME, filed a grievance with the state and they want Moose approved for the workplace. They called previous denials unreasonable and unfair.
"The injustice of their decision is made worse by the fact that Charles sustained his disability in combat as a soldier in the U.S. Army," AFSCME said in a statement.
"I don't sleep well at night is it is from the nightmares. And then this on top of it just exacerbates it," Richardson said.
I reached out to the Illinois Department of Human Services and asked for an interview but they provided a statement.
"Requests for accommodations are handled in a confidential and timely manner, following the process set by the ADA. Again, due to BAJA's commitment to upholding privacy laws and standards, we have no comment related to individual cases," IDHS said.
Iraq War Veteran with PTSD says IDHS won't allow service dog at work
A veteran of the Iraq War with post traumatic stress says the state of Illinois won’t allow him to bring his service dog into work.
foxillinois.com
