It's time for the discrimination to end
Discriminate against a person with their Guide Dog and you're breaking the law.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT provides vital assistance to people with vision impairment who wish to travel independently.
Despite this, many people who are blind or vision impaired, travelling with their Guide Dogs, are still being discriminated against.
we hear stories of people being turned away from restaurants, shopping centres, cinemas and beaches. even though we provide training to all new taxi drivers in Sydney, some taxi drivers still refuse to pick them up.
While people understand the Health Act and are aware that pets cannot roam through restaurants and other places, they are often unaware of the rights of a person with a Guide Dog.
Guide Dogs is holding an outdoor advertising campaign to highlight these discrimination issues and also to educate the community about the access rights of people with guide Dogs.
Outdoor advertising in Sydney will feature on rail and road billboards, at bus shelters and on bus sides, for the entire month of May.
This campaign will also be delivered regionally, with an advertising presence in Canberra, Newcastle and Coffs Harbour.
To further support this important campaign, we will be running a unique installation in the Sydney CBD. So please check our website or contact us for more information. We would love people to come along and show their support.
Discrimination against a person with a Guide Dog is illegal and carries a heavy fine. If you see a person with their Guide Dog, remember, they can go anywhere together, without exception or penalty.
If you've been witness to, or a victim of, discrimination against people with Guide Dogs, please call 02 9412 9300.
Guide Dogs are permitted by law to accompany their users in all public places
and on all public transport - shops, hotels, motels, restaurants, as well as taxis,
buses and trains. These rights are covered by the following legislation:
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth)
• Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (New South Wales)
• Companion Animals Act 1998 (New South Wales)
• Passenger Transport Act 1990 (New South Wales)
• Rail Safety Act 1993 (New South Wales)
• Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)
• Domestic Animals Act 2000 (ACT)
At Guide Dogs NSW/ACT we work to support and defend the access
rights of people who are blind or vision impaired and advocate on behalf
of our clients to ensure that all public premises and transport facilities
are accessible.
Click here to go back to "Visions" Volume 22 No.2 - Autumn 2008 - html index .