Guide dog owners illegally denied access to restaurants

Guide dog owners are being illegally denied access to restaurants and leisure facilities, according to the charity Guide Dogs.

They say complaints from owners have risen by a third since last year.

Pets aren't allowed in many public places but some blind people have canine helpers and should have access.

Guide dog owners are being refused entry to shops, cafes, transport and other venues when going about their daily lives, a study found.

The report, which takes into account almost 400 complaints received by Guide Dogs, showed that the largest number of reported incidents involved restaurants.

• There are more than 4,700 guide dog owners in the UK, Guide Dogs says.
• The average working life of a guide dog is five to six years.
• The lifetime cost of a dog is about £50,000.

'More awareness needed'

Continue reading the main stor.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) says that by law, business owners must make "reasonable adjustments" to make their premises' accessible to disabled people. This should include being flexible on a "no dogs" rule for people with guide dogs.

Richard Leaman, chief executive of Guide Dogs said: "More awareness is needed to avoid blind and partially sighted people having to cope with this stress and discrimination."

The report was published ahead of Guide Dogs Week (October 5-13), which aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by guide dog owners in getting around with ease.

British Guide Dog stamp from 1981.

We've got a range of handy information booklets that explain the law and provide tips on delivering a better service. Ask for a copy by contacting your nearest Mobility Team or download the booklets you need from the list below.

• Access to leisure facilities PDF (707kb)
• Access to restaurants PDF (1MB)
• Access to sports stadia PDF
• Access to hotels PDF (2MB)
• Employing a guide dog owner - access requirements PDF (1.3 MB)
• Key messages on the street environment Word (119kb)
• Shared surface streets briefing note Word (158kb)
• GP Good Lighting Guidance Word (28kb)
• Guide Dogs GP Surgery Good Practice Guidelines Word (1MB)
• Guide Dogs in the Workplace PDF (144kb)
• Briefing note on Guide Dog owners in police custody PDF (280kb)
  
  This briefing note on Guide Dog owners in police custody has been jointly produced by Guide Dogs and the Police to give guidance to Police Staff on the appropriate way to manage a blind or partially sighted person who is accompanied by their guide dog in custody.

http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/access/#.Uin7jdK-ofg