I agree completely -- different countries, different laws. 

U.S. law recognizes that there has been horrendous discrimination against people with disabilities throughout history.  From Eugenics and forced sterilization to being barred from restaurants because "they make us feel uncomfortable with their appearances," people with visible and invisible disabilities have faced and still face enormous prejudice.  People with disabilities have been made to feel ashamed of this very natural condition of disability (anyone can and likely will join this huge minority group at some time in his/her life).

U.S. law tries to eliminate some of that prejudice by limiting at least what entities and individuals can legally require for identification.  Again, while it makes it somewhat easier for people without disabilities to cheat the system, it more importantly insists on greater respect being shown to people with disabilities. 

As for service animals, while there is no certification or ID required from the owner for the same reason, an entity can ask what work or tasks the animal has been trained to do to assist the owner with a disability. For more information about service animals, see the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) publication on service animals at http://www.ada.gov//service_animals_2010.htm







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