Survey highlights need for further advocacy
In February this year, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT commissioned research to better understand the issues clients face in the community.
Disappointingly, the findings revealed that 73% of Guide Dog users feel they had been treated unfairly in the past year. Common occurrences included refused entry to taxis, cafes, restaurants and shops.
In the same survey, 89% of Guide Dog users said their Guide Dog had been distracted by the general public or
off-lead pet dogs.
On a positive note, the research also identified an improvement in the public's attitudes and awareness of the needs and rights of Guide Dog users over the year.
These results reinforce the need for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to continue its important advocacy work to improve the community's awareness of the rights and needs of people who are blind or have impaired vision.