Campaigning

Northern Ireland

A selection of images of guide dog owners and Guide Dogs employees at the Stormont conference Guide Dogs has launched a campaign in Northern Ireland, highlighting to MLAs why many blind and partially sighted people are let down by lack of appropriate services.

Hosted for Guide Dogs by Michelle O?Neill MLA, a reception at Stormont (21 April) explained to MLAs why blind and partially sighted people should be entitled to services which offer opportunities for greater well-being and independence. The charity wants people with sight loss to have greater participation in a more inclusive society.

Andrew Murdock, Guide Dogs Policy Manager for Northern Ireland, said: "Future services should be based on a ?middle step? model, incorporating timely information and provision of emotional support; an ?outcomes-based? assessment during which the individual identifies their own personal goals alongside services that are user led."