Blog Post: I Was Discriminated Against at Cook in Market Harborough — Here’s Why That Matters

Maisie Trying to look for her autistic owner - Being an assistant dog.

I visited the Cook store in Market Harborough — a place known for pre-prepared meals and advertised as assistance dog friendly. As someone living with autism and ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), cooking and nutrition can be a daily battle. So when I find a shop that might help me access food safely, I take that chance.

I went in with my assistant dog and my dad, Terry Slatter, who is also my main carer. We were both welcomed at first. A kind member of staff even offered us the opportunity to try something new coming into the store — a small moment that meant a lot to me.

But just 10 minutes later, everything changed.

A different staff member approached us and told my dad and both dogs to leave the store — including my assistant dog, even though Cook clearly states it’s assistant dog friendly. My dad’s dog is also well-behaved and leashed, but more importantly, I rely on both my dad and my dog to manage day-to-day situations, especially in busy or unfamiliar environments.

I was shocked. I was midway through trying to find something safe to eat, navigating the store with autism and ARFID — a moment that required calm, support, and patience. Instead, I was made to feel like a problem. Like I didn’t belong.

Let’s be clear:

• Assistant dogs are legally permitted in shops under the Equality Act 2010.

• Carers should not be separated from the people they support in public spaces.

  
  

  

  
  

I have worked incredibly hard to rebuild my life. I’m a disability and autism advocate, the founder of It’s Olivia’s World, and a Princess Diana Award recipient for my work in inclusion and visibility. But none of that protected me today from being dismissed, excluded, and disrespected.

This isn’t just about one store visit. It’s about the daily barriers disabled and neurodivergent people face — just trying to live, eat, shop, and exist in peace.

To Cook, I ask:

• Train your staff properly on disability awareness, especially hidden disabilities like autism and ARFID.

• Understand that assistant dogs and carers are lifelines, not optional add-ons.

• And please, mean it when you say you're accessible — because today, you weren’t.

To others reading this:📢 Your voice matters. Your access matters. You matter.We need to keep speaking up, because no one should feel like I did today — unsupported and uninvited in a place that claimed to be safe.

Let’s build a world where disabled people don’t have to justify our presence.

— Liv vwww.itsoliviasworld.com

Princess Diana Award Winner | Autism & Disability Advocate