Julian backs Guide Dogs’ Open Doors campaign
December 7, 2022
Julian has pledged his support to all people living with vision impairment through Guide Dogs’ Open Doors campaign.
Several constituents had written to Julian expressing their concern that reportedly 73%-81% of guide dog owners have been refused access to businesses and services in the past 12 months for having their dog with them; a statistic which is shocking, uncompassionate, illegal. These refusals have a significant negative impact on the confidence, independence and wellbeing of people who have guide dogs.
Nobody should be turned away from businesses or services because they have a guide dog. Guide dogs provide many people with disabilities the freedom, independence and support they need to work, travel, shop, and take on everyday tasks with comfort and companionship.
The Charity does some fantastic work through engaging with guide dog owners, businesses, and services to help prevent discriminatory access refusals from happening and raising greater awareness.
The Equality Act 2010 clearly illustrates the duties of all people within society to permit guide dogs into their premises without hindrance. I welcome the fact that failure to adhere to this law can see offenders prosecuted or issued with a fine. Additionally, The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 which came into force on 28th June 2022 provides very specific protections for disabled people that prevents discrimination against people who require additional support from Guide Dogs.
Following the event, Julian commented,
“I was incredibly shocked to hear that over the last year 73%-81% of Guide Dog owners are reported to have been refused access to a premises just for having their dogs with them. This level of discrimination is not acceptable in our modern and compassionate Britain and can cause serious damage to the confidence of those victimised.
Everyone has the right to go about their daily lives as freely and independently as possible. It was a huge pleasure to attend Guide Dogs Open Doors Campaign event in Parliament speak to those who have faced this discrimination. What is clear is that we must raise awareness of the law, tackle this injustice, and recognise our responsibilities to others in society”.
Prior to the event, Julian submitted a Written Question to the Minister for Equalities, Stuart Andrew MP.
Julian asked the Minister, “if the Government will take steps to help ensure that guide dogs are allowed in all (a) shops and (b) venues?”
Minister Stuart Andrew MP responded by stating that,
“We are clear that no one should be refused access to businesses or services, including shops or venues, because they legitimately have an assistance dog.
Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), businesses that provide goods and services to the public must not unlawfully discriminate against people who meet the Act’s definition of disability. The Act places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises, buildings and services.
This duty could include allowing access to guide dogs or assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers. Failure to comply with this duty could amount to unlawful disability discrimination.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on their duty towards disabled people who own assistance/guide dogs. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance is available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf and makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.
These duties and protections are ultimately enforceable through the courts, but as a first step, anybody who thinks they have been discriminated against in the services offered to them – including a failure to make reasonable adjustments – can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) which provides free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns via their website – http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com, or by telephone on 0808 800 0082 or by text phone on 0808 800 0084”.
