Henry Smith MP attended an event in Parliament run by the charity Guide Dogs to raise awareness of discrimination against guide dog owners.
The Crawley MP heard from guide dog owners about the impact of being turned away by businesses because of their dog. He also collected a Christmas card with messages from local residents highlighting Guide Dogs’ Access All Areas campaign.
Henry said;
“I’m pleased to reiterate my support for Guide Dogs’ important work in Crawley and in Westminster. It’s wrong that guide dog owners are turned away by businesses. This isn’t just poor customer service; it’s discrimination and it’s unacceptable. Disabled people have the same rights as anyone else to shop, take a taxi or visit their local pub.
“I support Guide Dogs’ Access All Areas campaign to open all doors to guide dog owners this Christmas.”
It is against the law to refuse access to a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog except in the most exceptional circumstances. However, a Guide Dogs survey found that three quarters of assistance dog owners reported that they had been refused entry by businesses.
Organisations that closed their doors to assistance dog owners included shops, supermarkets, gyms, campsites, places of worship, public transport, taxis and minicabs, pubs and hotels.
James White, Senior Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, said;
“It’s against the law for a business to close their doors to someone because of their assistance dog, but it’s still a daily concern for many guide dog owners going about their lives.
“When you rely on your guide dog to get around, leaving the dog outside is not an option. Businesses shouldn’t be allowed to make guide dog owners feel like second-class citizens. That’s why we’re calling for better enforcement of the law, and better staff training in some sectors to stop this discrimination from happening in the first place.”
Picture: Henry Smith MP with Sally and her dog, Yoko.
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