Friday, June 22, 2012

Pay It Forward: Making Lemonade With Becky

Dear Ann Taylor Representatives,

I would be remiss to start this letter without stating that I defended my dissertation in a suit from your store. Every time I donned the suit I recalled the feeling of successfully completing my PhD. Until now. Now the items hang in my closet and I question when I will wear them again.

Last week a dear friend, Becky Andrews, was asked to leave your store - more than once - when she entered with her guide dog, Cricket. Told that dogs weren't allowed in the store, Becky explained that Cricket was her guide dog - her eyes. To both a sales associate and the manager Becky had to justify being in the store with Cricket. Cricket is indeed allowed in any public location thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Unfortunately, the ADA wasn't strong enough for the people who asked Becky and Cricket to leave. Saddened to read this reaction, I sent my own letter to Ann Taylor headquarters hoping to shed light on an obvious opportunity for some to expand their understanding of the ADA. I received no response.

Fast forward to today. In the past week sweet, kind, loving, courageous, inspiring Becky extended an invitation to the exact company who turned her away to offer an opportunity to educate sales associates so that the next time someone entered their store with a guide dog or another service animal they would be welcomed and treated with respect. Becky says this was a "simple" invitation - I see it as beautiful and thoughtful and loving too. With even more sadness, Ann Taylor issued a statement that Becky entered the store without Cricket in a harness. I second Becky's response, "Absolutely absurd!"  For any of you who read Becky's blog you know Cricket serves as Becky's eyes - she does this through the use of the harness. I was pleased to learn that the company recently retracted their statement that Cricket was out of her harness, but the response sent to many who they did reply to initially severely skewed (to the point of lying) what actually happened when Becky and Cricket entered the store.

While I was saddened by the Ann Taylor associates in Round 1 of this experience with Becky being asked to leave, Round 2 of issuing a statement that Cricket was out of a harness - essentially claiming Becky was doing something in direct opposition to who successfully guided her into the store - is, frankly, terrible. The recent statement was a meager step in an expected direction to healing for Becky.

Round 3? I don't know how to right a wrong. I don't know how one goes about retracting statements and making one feel welcome again, but I know that of all the kind, giving, loving people out there, Becky and Cricket always look for ways to see beautiful in the world. You'll remember Becky's outlook on life when she was featured as our See Beautiful woman of the month; she makes everyone around her feel loved and empowered. She does this for a living - every single day. Round 3 might just be a loss for Ann Taylor and a larger platform for Becky to educate people on guide dogs, the ADA, and her beautiful strength and courage.

We're paying it forward by using our saddened energy to squish lemons and make lemonade. Becky, thank you for your courage. Thank you for inspiring. Thank you for placing your energy in such beautiful, positive places. Thank you for the many, many ways you see the world and help everyone around you reconceptualize the lens through which we understand the world as well. Ann Taylor could learn so much from seeing the world through you and Cricket.

Sincerely,
Lydia Criss Mays, PhD
Founder & CEO, See Beautiful

To share your lemonade and support with Becky, click HERE.
If you feel compelled to weigh in with Ann Taylor, you may do so HERE.

18 comments:

  1.  I was very concerned when I went to Becky's site and read about her "Lemon" experience. I will contact AT, even though I now hear that they have retracted their earlier statement! Somewhere's along the line of that store/employees, that is where the mistruth has occurred. Becky is awesome, See Beautiful, you  spoken of Becky and Cricket so many times (their hearts, courage, accomplishments, ability to See Beautiful in all the world around them).
    See Beautiful, Becky, and Cricket.....Keep making that Lemonade..... Our world of ignorance can be eradicated by people/animals such as yourself and the lessons you are teaching us. . 

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  2. Becky sounds like an amazing person! One who I would love to share a cuppa with and talk about life, living with disabilities and theignorance, lack of respect & understanding by some in this world. I applaud her attitude, her ability to "see beautiful" in everything. I love the atiitude of "making lemonade".
    You have inspired me to strive to make lemonade in all we do, no matter how we are treated, what we are unable to do, or what life throws at us.

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  3.  Beautifully worded! We will absolutely cheers to lemonade with you. Happy seeing beautiful!

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  4.  Oh, she is so amazing and thoughtful and kind and giving and inspirational! You would really enjoy her blog. Yay! We'll cheers in the air to you with our lemonade. :)

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  5. This dog does not upset easily.  But when I read Becky's post a few days ago my furs stood up.  For Ann Taylor people do deny access in the first place is wrong.  But then to, and I'll just say it like I see it, then to lie to cover up what they did is beyond wrong and down right sinful.  There I said it and I don't feel bad doing so.  Becky and Cricket are wonderful and beautful and an inspiration.  AND what an example they are to us to try and turn a sour situation in to something sweet.  I can only hope that the Ann Taylors of the world are watching and listening. 
    Blessings,
    Goose 

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  6. Wow good for Becky!! She sounds amazing :)

    Paula
    lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com

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  7. Indeed, this sad story can and
    will be turned around for Becky’s good.  I
    have a blind friend who plays violin beautifully.  Her eyes are Duchess.   I’d be stewing if this had happened to my
    friend.  But you’ve shown here how to squish
    lemons and make lemonade, and how to see beautiful in any situation. 



    http://debrasblogpureandsimple.blogspot.com/2012/06/la-la-land.html


     


     

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  8. Indeed, this sad story can and
    will be turned around for Becky’s good.  I
    have a blind friend who plays violin beautifully.  Her eyes are Duchess.   I’d be stewing if this had happened to my
    friend.  But you’ve shown here how to squish
    lemons and make lemonade, and how to see beautiful in any situation. 



    http://debrasblogpureandsimple.blogspot.com/2012/06/la-la-land.html


     


     

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  9.  Thanks, Paula! She's a remarkable woman. Happy seeing beautiful!

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  10. I was crying as I read this ... so very deeply touched by your words.  What an incredibly beautiful woman you are - I also have many memories of special times in an AT outfit where I felt empowered!  (I still am hoping one day for that PhD time :).  Thank you for your love and support. As I spoke with someone in their headquarters today,  I am indeed encouraged that beautiful is going to come from this difficult experience.  Thank you for your amazing support.  The beauty is in the outpouring of such incredible support and the deep love that does abound for us with others.  I am inspired by that.    

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  11. You'd think in this day and age people would be educated enough to understand that guide dogs are okay and allowed. That's ridiculous they said the dog was not in a harness, because any seeing eye dog would need to be in a harness to guide its owner. This sounds like a lawsuit for discrimination of those with disabilities. Plus the fact that they lied about the harness, well, that sounds like desperation to discredit Becky. You're doing the right thing, spreading the word about the truth!

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  12. Unbelievable, unbelievable....first to deny her right to be in the store, but second to outright lie in an attempt to "make it somewhat right" on AT's behalf is just ridiculous. I am embarrassed for the store and do not plan on making a trip there any time soon. Thanks do much See Beautiful for bringing this story to light...more more so for making us all aware of how Becky and Cricket turned their story into something positive.

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  13.  I know, Goose. I thought of you while writing this. I knew it was going to be uncomfortable for you to read this. It is so sad. It is also so hopeful to know there are wonderful people like Becky out there who see so much beautful with us. ;)

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  14.  Thanks so much, Maria! So proud to spread the word and bring more awareness to this. You're right, it's completely ridiculous and could have so easily been avoided. The hurt that Becky continues to feel is so sad. Your insight is beautiful. Thank you.

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  15.  We have such great respect for you, Becky. You and Cricket are ever inspiring.

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  16.  Thanks so much, Debra. Experiencing the way Becky has used this experience to create so much more beautiful in the world has certainly been making lemonade.

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  17. Wow.  My adrenalin is pumping!  My initial reaction to reading this letter is anger and frustration, but you, Becky, and Cricket help me see beautiful and the beautiful opportunities that out there for Ann Taylor employees to learn and grow.  Becky is truly an inspiration to us all!

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  18. Wow. That's pretty disappointing to hear. I'm not surprised that you guys are finding the silver lining in the situation though. Good for you guys. Ann Taylor, you better hope you don't run into me on the street girl!

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts & helping others see beautiful too!