Let’s face it, we all want, and actually expect, to be treated well when we go out into the world, especially when we are patronizing a business. And typically, we are not disappointed.

Sadly, this is not always the case for people living with disabilities. Whether the disability is physical or cognitive doesn’t matter. Sometimes this population is not treated well or is just plain ignored. It becomes a way of life.

DASH, the disability and aging services help line, is trying to change that by giving annual customer service awards to a business and an individual who show respect and exemplary treatment to seniors and to people living with a disability.

The 2008 DASH Customer Service Award for a Business went to Tim Horton’s on Broadway in Bangor.

Nominated by two people for separate incidents, staff at this Tim Horton’s have made it their business to be sensitive to all customers.

Danny Burke, a DASH coalition member who is living with Williams Syndrome, was impressed enough to nominate the restaurant when he and some of his peers ate there one day.

“We were having a conversation when the co-owner, Jamie [Myers], came over to speak with us,” said Burke in his nomination. “He spent 20 minutes with us talking about the business and about what kinds of things we like to do. I know this may not seem like a big deal for a lot of people, but it is a big deal for me. I have a disability and people are not always sure what to say – or willing to take the extra time it takes to have a conversation with me.”

Raymond Butera also was impressed with Tim Horton’s when he stopped in for a bite with his daughter Paula Matlins, a DASH member and staff person at Amicus. Raymond, who is legally blind and this day was using a walker, attempted to enter the restaurant via the handicap ramp. All was well until he reached the top where his path was blocked by a large trash can made extremely heavy by its decorative crushed rock.

Raymond was forced to give his walker to Paula, then inch his way around the trash can to the door of the restaurant. Once inside, Paula mentioned the situation to the cashier who happened to be co-owner Jane Myers and suggested the trash can be moved as to make the ramp fully accessible. The owners didn’t miss a beat.

By the time Raymond and Paula had finished their meals, Jamie Myers and two other staffers were moving the can.

Dora Petry, owner of the Beaded Moose in Bangor, is the winner of the individual award. Nominated by Paula Matlins, Petry routinely uses her store to hold beading classes for individuals with a “variety of special needs,” said Matlins.

“Dora takes time to search for beads with the clients,” she added. “Dora had all the clients who visited her store make two free bracelets – one to keep and one to give away to someone they care about. Each client has a personal budget and funny thing, no matter what beads they pick out, the total always falls within their price range. The bottom line is that Dora treats each person we bring in to her store with respect, dignity and she challenges them to do as much as they can for themselves. I am thrilled she won as she is an amazing person.”

Congratulations go out to both winners. But they are not alone. I speak for the community at large when I say that we are the true winners because these inspiring individuals live and work among us.

Carol Higgins Taylor is director of communications at Eastern Area Agency on Aging. E-mail Higgins Taylor at chtaylor@eaaa.org. For information on EAAA, call 941-2865, toll-free (800) 432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or log on EAAA.org. TTY 992-0150.