A new guide dogs initiative has taken to the streets of Derry to raise awareness to local businesses of difficulties faced by those who are visually impaired.
The law gives assistance dog owners the right to access businesses and services without discrimination.
But, according to Guide Dogs, 81% of assistance dog owners have been refused access to a restaurant, shop or taxi at some point because of their dog.
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Being refused access has a significant negative impact on the confidence, independence and wellbeing of people who use assistance dogs.
In response, Guide Dogs is campaigning to raise awareness about the access rights of guide dog owners and to make business owners aware of their legal duties to support assistance dog owners.
The 'Open Doors' campaign aims to remind high street businesses of their legal duties and reduce the number of access refusals while increasing the confidence of guide dog owners in going out to local shops.
Many guide dog owners, such as Andrea O’Hagan, who met with Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy, feel their freedoms are being removed through access refusals.
Andrea said: "As a blind person using a guide dog I feel it is very embarrassing and hurtful to be denied access to a building. Hopefully through the Open Doors campaign these types of incidents will not occur."
Mayor Sandra Duffy, joined Guide Dogs Northern Ireland to mark a month of action in support of the charity’s ‘Open Doors’ campaign and talking to them about the rights of guide dog owners to access businesses and services.
Mayor Sandra Duffy was delighted to be a part of the campaign and urged local businesses across the city and district to be mindful of these statistics and open doors for everyone in our community.
Mayor Sandra Duffy said: "I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all local businesses across the city and district to be mindful of these statistics and ensure all doors are open for everyone in our community."
The charity will also be holding a free sighted guiding training session in the Conference Room of Destined, Northwest Learning Disability Centre, 1 Foyle Road on Thursday 8th December from 1.30pm-4.30pm. You must book in advance by emailing inclusion.culture@derrystrabane.com
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