David R. Hardiman is the author of the book Bailey's Remarkable Plan, which focuses on his life and his interactions with his service dog, Bailey. He is a businessman and entrepreneur, and he lives in Arlington, Texas.
Q: Why did you decide to write a book about Bailey, and what
role has she played as you face your health challenges?
A: I was working on another book when I realized, one
morning, I needed to write this book. Bailey and I had been denied the right to
be in a local shopping mall; and, even when I requested the police respond,
they were no better and stated they did not care what the ADA regulations
allowed. If I refused to leave, they were going to arrest me.
I was issued a criminal trespass ticket like a common
shoplifter. This was all because the mall did not allow “pets” which, of
course, are not the same as service dogs.
Without Bailey, I have significant difficulty in public due
to my struggles with PTSD. I have problems handling the stress of the noise,
the crowd and the interaction with people, and I become shaky and feel the need
to escape.
With Bailey, I am able to handle most situations. She alerts
me before I start to experience a panic attack, and I have time to adjust. She
makes it possible for me to have a better quality of life.
Q: What level of acceptance in society do you see for
service dogs? Has that changed at all in recent years?
A: Service dogs and their humans often face challenges in
public because people, including business owners, employees and even public
servants, do not understand or recognize the rights afforded us under federal
and state laws.
This is especially true for individuals who don’t show
obvious disabilities and for small dogs who may be more easily confused for
pets.
Bailey is beautiful and is show quality, which sometimes
causes the public to react as if she is just another pretty face. I think they
sometimes believe she could not possibly be intelligent enough to take care of
me. Others with service dogs have experienced this difficulty.
Some improvement has been made, but much more education
needs to occur. I have had occasions where people get in my face and scream
that I either don’t have a service dog or that I can't have her with me
regardless.
As more of us age or experience other issues in life, we are
finding help from these marvelous gifts from God. That is part of why this book
is so important and timely.
Q: You write in the book about various periods of your life.
Did you plan out the book’s structure before you started writing, or did you
make many changes along the way?
A: Bailey’s Remarkable Plan came together so quickly
and easily. It was like my hands just somehow knew what to write.
I made some changes as I wrote the book, and I went back
often to blend the events together; sometimes differently than first written.
After I finished, I changed the structure to make the book more appealing and
to help keep the interest higher from chapter to chapter.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am working on two prequels to Bailey’s Remarkable
Plan that will tell the story of my first years of life and some other
scattered episodes, and another that tells the story of my grandfather and some
very interesting aspects that turned out to be important in my future life.
I also am working two science fiction books. One is about
time travel and encompasses a series of events in my own life. The other is
about another world and is based on an interesting theory that is
scientifically logical.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Bailey’s Remarkable Plan is a timely book about those of
us who have disabilities, especially when they are not obvious, and who
have service dogs that do not look like typical service dogs. The book
helps inform people about all of us with service dogs in an entertaining
fashion, while also educating and encouraging all.
My challenges in life were many, and my ability to not only
survive but to thrive is unique with the congenital condition I fought
throughout my life. This book and my life are a testament to God’s power and
the blessings he offers.
My story clearly defines by my life why it is so important
to never give up, regardless of the difficulties and barriers that can be
placed in the way of success. Taking the negatives and turning them into
momentum can change the future to a positive.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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