Dr. Robert L. Wilkinson, DC

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I had been seeing Wilkinson Chiropractic's fantastic physical therapist, Andy, for over 9 months. My mother, along with her service dog, had been there on several occasions as well. On 8/17, I went there for my therapy session with Andy, and was accompanied by my mother and her service dog. I believe that this was the first time Wilkinson had noticed her in the office.



I had just completed my pre-therapy heating pad, and had moved to the table for weight work. My mother was sitting quietly in the waiting area, while an office staff member attempted to engage her dog (in spite of his vest, which clearly states “Service Dog, Do Not Pet”) to “shake”. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Robert Wilkinson appears and tells my mother, “You can stay this time, but you can't ever come back with the dog”. My bewildered mother asked him what he was talking about. He stated that he didn't allow dogs in his establishment. My mother pointed to her dog's vest and certification tag, and advised him that he was a service dog and allowed in all businesses. Wilkinson stated that he only had to allow “seeing eye dogs”. My mother said, “oh, so you'd rather I just fell?”. Wilkinson said he would put up a sign that said “no dogs allowed”. My mother told him that wouldn't do any good, because service dogs were allowed everywhere. At that point Wilkinson said, ”Well, you can just leave and go sit in your car”. My mother got up and left. As she was exiting the door, Wilkinson said, “And your dog was pooping all over the grass out there a couple of days ago”. My mother said “how dare you suggest such a thing”. At that point, Wilkinson slammed the door in her face. His accusation was, of course, entirely untrue, as 1) The dog had already relieved himself an hour before arriving at the clinic, 2) My mother carries bags in her service dog's vest and always picks up after him, and 3) The dog hadn't even been there for over a month!



I had heard this whole conversation, and was removing the weight from my ankle so that I could go confront Wilkinson. I said, “did you just kick my mother out?”. He said yes, she had to go because she couldn't be in there with the dog. I said that was ridiculous; her dog is a certified service animal, and is allowed by both federal and state laws to be in any establishment, including hospitals and federal buildings. He said he only allowed “seeing eye dogs”. I said you can't discriminate against which disabled people you accept. All disabled persons and their service animals are allowed anywhere, and by removing my mother, you have broken the law. He told me he loves dogs, but he can't have them in his office. He said he would put up a sign that said “no dogs allowed”. I told him his feelings towards dogs were irrelevant, and a sign would do no good, as he was not legally allowed to discriminate against what kinds of disabled people he allows in his establishment.



As I was leaving, Wilkinson was still attempting to rationalize his behavior. It was only after I yelled (loudly enough for all his clients to hear) that I would be reporting him to both state and federal authorities, that he ran out to the car to say “work with me here” to my mother. I'm not sure what he expected, since he was the one who threw her out. The laws are clear. There is nothing to “work with”.



Aside from violating both state and federal laws by removing a disabled person from his business, what kind of vile, disgusting, hateful thug tells a woman in her sixties to sit out in a car in 92 degree heat?!?



I have reported Wilkinson to both the state and federal authorities.



This man's hateful, discriminatory behavior is no different than discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. To knowingly continue to patronize an establishment that engages in such hateful and discriminatory behavior only condones that behavior, and is just the same as if you had actually done it yourself.