Regardless of the mode of transportation - planes, trains, taxis, ferries - a guide dog must remain with his or her handler to help keep them safe. Guide dogs can vary greatly in size, shape, and flexibility, and transportation providers don’t always take this into account when they are designing their vehicles or booking passengers.
The Issues
- There is not always sufficient foot room for a guide dog handler and their guide to be seated comfortably (if at all).
- Staff and support personnel are not always aware of how to best assist a person who is blind and using a guide dog.
- Travelling internationally with a guide dog can be extremely complicated because of quarantine regulations and airline policies.
Our Goals
- All new transportation vehicles (including rail cars, busses, and aircraft) should be designed to accommodate a guide dog more easily. Existing infrastructure should be upgraded where it is possible to do so.
- Staff of all transportation companies should be educated on how they may assist guide dog handlers. Corporate policies need to be updated to reflect this training.
- International travel requirements for guide dog handlers should be clearer, less complicated, and more consistently implemented across carriers.
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