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Access for dogs and owners
Newsflash: Guide Dogs have developed some information booklets designed to give an overview of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) and duties of service providers. The information booklets can be utilised in advising and informing people of their responsibilities in relation to access for guide dog owners and other assistance dog owners. The following are available on the links below: Access to hotels for guide dog owners, Access to restaurants for guide dog owners, Access to taxis, private hire vehicles and private hire cars for guide dog owners, and Access to sports stadia.
 | Access to hotels | 68 K |
 | Access to hotels | 411 K |
| Restaurant_information_sheet.doc Access to restaurants | 66 K |
| Access to restaurants | 338 K |
| Taxi_access_information_sheet.doc Access to taxis | 63 K |
| Access_to_taxis_and_private_hire_cars.pdf Access to taxis | 334 K |
| Access to sports stadia | 74 K |
| Access to sports stadia | 361 K |
If you would like any additional copies in other formats or you would like more information please contact our Information and Support officer by calling 0845 241 2178 or emailing gill.kenyon@guidedogs.org.uk.
Background
Guide Dogs launched the “Access for All” campaign in 2000 to ensure that guide dog owners receive the same treatment as everyone else and lead the fullest and most independent lives possible.
So far the campaign has focused on:
Private hire vehicles
For many years, Guide Dogs had been contacted by guide dog owners who told of frustrating and distressing experiences after being left stranded by cab drivers who refused to carry their dogs. Just two years after the start of the campaign in 2000, there was great news for guide dog owners who use private hire vehicles, otherwise known as minicabs. The Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) Bill, which was tabled by Neil Gerrard MP and supported throughout by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, had now passed all its parliamentary stages, and become law. The law extended the Disability Discrimination Act to make it illegal for minicab drivers, as it is for licensed taxi drivers, to refuse to carry guide dog owners just because they are accompanied by their dogs.
Restaurants and pubs
The following year entry to restaurants and pubs was highlighted. Although the Disability Discrimination Act makes it illegal for service providers to refuse a guide dog owner because of their dog, it appeared that not all restaurateurs and publicans were aware of this. To tackle the need for a greater awareness of the rights of guide dog owners Guide Dogs created: a freephone hotline number explaining to landlords and restaurateurs their legal obligations to welcome guide dogs; a guide dog owners' access card; 'Guide Dogs Welcome' stickers; and information and advice fact sheets.
Travel charter
In 2002 transport operators were encouraged to open their doors to guide dog owners and sign up to the Guide Dog Travel Charter. During Guide Dog Week (7 - 13 October 2002) an appeal was launched aimed at bus, coach, train, ferry, tram and airline companies, inviting them to not only welcome guide dog owners, but also to ensure their staff are familiar with the needs of blind and partially-sighted people.
High street charter
In the 2003 Access for All campaign, we teamed up with the British Retail Consortium to draw attention to the challenges guide dog owners face on a daily basis in and around the high street and to offer practical advice to high street businesses on welcoming people with visual impairment.
NHS services
More than a third of visually-impaired people feel that their GP is not fully aware of their needs, a new report issued by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has shown. The NHS Services Report has highlighted that although many blind and partially-sighted people are happy with the services of their GP, there are also significant problems and areas in need of improvement. In response to these findings Guide Dogs has launched the Access for All - NHS Services campaign.
Open your doors
Imagine attempting to enter a shop or restaurant, only to have the door shut in your face. Guide dog owners continue to face difficulties in accessing every day services and facilities the rest of us take for granted. The Open Your Doors campaign, aims to educate service providers about how they can best serve blind and partially-sighted customers.
