Venues and services across the UK are breaking the law by denying access to the country’s blind and partially sighted people when they are out and about with their guide dogs.
New data collected by the charity Guide Dogs reveals that guide dog owners – or ‘partnerships’ – continue to be refused access to ordinary restaurants, cafes, shops, transport and other venues when going about their daily lives.
Restaurants the worst offenders
The largest number (24%) of reported incidents involved eateries, with restaurants the worst overall offenders. Restaurants made up more than half (60%) of all refusals in the eateries category, and one in seven of all reported incidents.
The report, which takes into account pro-active complaints received by Guide Dogs, reveals public transport is the next biggest offender with more than one in five (23%) reports of denied access relating to transport.
The law requires vendors to accept guide dogs
The revelations come as the charity prepares for next month’s Guide Dogs Week (5–13 October), which aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by guide dog owners in getting around with ease. Despite the long-standing law requiring vendors to accept guide dogs, the report shows that refusals remain all too common. The charity has seen complaints rocket in the last quarter, rising by more than a third (36%) since last year.
The findings also highlighted the difficulty faced by guide dog partnerships when shopping, with one in 10 (9%) complaints made about retailers.
Richard Leaman, CEO of Guide Dogs, said: “More awareness is needed to avoid blind and partially sighted people having to cope with this stress and discrimination in their daily lives. Although business owners are often eager to comply when we speak to them, our report shows that the situation is very different on the ground.
“Our research takes into account proactive complaints we have received, meaning the findings we have here could represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to everyday experiences of the community. We feel that more of the problems come down to poor training or ignorance of the law, and call on all organisations to ensure guide dog partnerships are welcome everywhere, anytime.”
Passing on the Baton
To highlight the need for equal access to all venues, Guide Dogs is putting the nation’s accessibility to the test, with an ambitious “Four Legs Tour” across the country during September. Celebrating the services of guide dogs and the superb accessibility they bring, owners and their dogs across Britain will take on the quest of visiting 30 venues in 30 days, reporting on the joys and trials of their experience.
To find out more about Guide Dogs Week 2013, please visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/news/national-events/guide-dogs-week-2013
Find out more about Guide Dogs at www.guidedogs.org.uk