AU / Clayton cafe refuses guide dog

[responsiblek9]

 AU / Clayton cafe refuses guide dog
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/row-brews-as-guide-dog-barred/

Waverley Leader -

GUIDE Dogs Victoria is pushing for greater awareness of the rights of blind dog owners after a patron was told to leave his dog outside a Clayton cafe. ...

[Smithcat]

No!!!!!! This can't be!!!!! He had his omniscient, all powerful, foolproof government-issued ID with him!!!!!!! How could this happen???? We have all been told that if we sell our civil rights out to obtain a government ID for both our service dogs and ourselves, all will be well and there will be no more access challenges, because after all, the government graciously allows disabled individuals the privilege of being seen outside their own homes....as long as they have their government approved and sanctioned ID.

Either this article is a lie......................or the fantasy myth of a government ID solving all the access problems of disabled users of service dogs is a lie.

Cynical ramblings over now. You may resume your previous activities.

[responsiblek9]

  Well this was Australia . With different access rules than here in the US. 

[FrostedAcres]

Buy aren't people pretty much the same wherever one goes?

[SeptemberJoy]

I'm just boggling over “What if six or more people with guide dogs turned up at once?” - simple, you serve them!

I have the access card, it actually has helped. I'm onto my second guide and only once has someone ignored the law once presented with it.

That said, having signs ("Please do not touch my Guide Dog) etc have probably helped more - doesn't stop them touching but it seems to serve as a reminder these are not pet dogs.

[Kirsten]

When I saw the comment about six guide dogs, the first thought in my head was, "oh good!  Business is picking up."  Shame he sees them as dogs first and customers not at all.  If he saw them as customers with dogs instead, he wouldn't have as much difficulty with the concept.

[caring canine]

I have the access card, it actually has helped. I'm onto my second guide and only once has someone ignored the law once presented with it.

What information is included on the access card?

[SeptemberJoy]

Front:
My name
Dog's name
Dog's medallion number
School's contact information
"Guide Dogs are quiet, well behaved, non aggressive & completely clean."

Back:
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (both of which override the Health Act) permit a blind or vision impaired person to be accompanied at all times when the Guide Dog is being used 'bona fide' by him or her. This applies even when and where a sighted person may be prohibited from taking a dog into that place.

It is generally unlawful to refuse access to a blind or vision impaired person on the grounds that he or she is accompanied by a Guide Dog.

Signed by the Victorian Attorney General

[silverpegasus]

lol I read the bit where it says what if 6 people turned up and thought "been there, done that". Reasonable establishments are more likely to exclaim over how gorgeous they are than to kick them out. At a recent conference we asked the hotel for special permission to bring a retired guide as well. We were up front with them and said he had no legal right but that he's very well behaved and health is what stopped him from being a guide not behaviour. They basically said "eh what's one more?".

I always find lines like this funny in a not very funny kind of way:

“It’s a big issue with hygiene, having animals in a cafe. It’s a worry the law makers have taken away cafe owners’ rights like this.

Just how dirty do they think the dogs are? More to the point, just how clean do they think the rest of their patrons are? And do they think every other patron makes a huge effort to ensure they bring absolutely no pet hair in with them on their clothes?

As for the ID card it's definitely a little different here in Australia. It's a very clearly Guide Dogs company branded card which is intended to quote a little of the law to help with access. It's kind of the same as you printing out something with bits of the ADA on it. When I was given mine I was told it wasn't really anything legal but it can help. The more legal thing for Guide Dogs specifically is their medallion that they get issued when you graduate. It's an ID tag which is even reflected specifically in some of NSW law and I think also in Victoria. I have heard a rumour that those in power are looking at national SD certification but I have no sources to quote on this.

Anyways for anyone curious the NSW version of the card which SeptemberJoy quoted says:

Front
Guide Dogs: Through Mobility Comes Independence
My Name - Guide Dog Handler
My Dog's name - Guide Dog Reg No. ####
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
For information about Guide Dogs please contact client services manager Ph #### ####

Back
The important roles that Guide Dogs perform is recognised in NSW law.
Anyone who is blind or vision impaired can enter any public place or use any public transport with their guide dog in NSW, other states and territories.
This includes restaurants, hotels, motels, buses, trains and taxis.
Preventing a person with a guide dog from entering public places or vehicles or imposing fees for permitting them into public places is a criminal offense. This could mean a fine of up to $500.
Discrimination against guide dog users is also prohibited by anti-discrimination legislation in all states and territories.
Please treat the bearer of this card with courtesy.

Signed by the Attorney General.

[unicyclechick]

I also have one of these ID cards the same as septemberjoys luckily i have never had to use it since i havent had an access issue yet

[j]

Does anyone know when VIC is getting the new govt certification system?

Is it gonna be about the same as the QLD one?

[unicyclechick]

i mean access card not ID and sorry J i dont have a clue about what is going on there

[caring canine]

It is my understanding that little will change in VIC until such time as the National Framework is structured. The framework could still be years away though I have heard some suggest that it could be months. It will then be up to the individual states (or Territories) as to how that framework will be implemented within their borders.

As to whether or not Victoria will be the same as QLD, we will have to wait and see. 

[dxenion]

Victoria is currently reviewing their Domestic Animals Act, particularly Section 7 which relates to public access for trainees. Currently only dogs working as or in training as GDs or HDs have full public access under VIC state legislation. Although all service dogs (GD, HD and AD) are covered under the federal DDA, Victoria covers GD and HD trainees too but not AD trainees.

They are now reviewing this to consider AD trainees too as, all things being equal, the current Act discriminates against handlers with AD trainees based solely on the task the dog is being trained for (ie not guiding or audio alert tasks). The VIC Dept of Human Services is now reviewing this section of the Act as part of the national working group commissioned by the Community and Disability Services Minister's Advisory Council. I will be advised of the progress of the review and the way forward shortly.

The national AD ID program working group's next meeting is early next year.

[Magesteff]

I put in a comment and got a reply today from the Paper asking to use my comment. I sent back some additional information but also had to mention that I live in Pittsburgh, but that I am a Person with a disability and it would make me frustrated and upset to be discriminated against in this way. I also included some infor about the ADA business brief and that SDs are trained to lie under the table and ignore food on the table, and that Handlers are trained to keep their SD clean for public access.

Hope it gets published, and that the paper includes information about SDs or does a follow up article.