By: Victoria Nolan, Head of Stakeholder Relations and Community Engagement, CNIB
We know it is against the law to deny access to a person because they are accompanied by a guide dog, but did you know it is also against the law to discriminate against someone for that same reason?
What does discrimination mean?
Discrimination is the practice of treating a group of people unfairly or differently than other groups of people. Sometimes, guide dog handlers wonder if the way they are being treated is reasonable or if it is discriminatory. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if other groups of people are also asked to do what you are being asked to do. Below, you'll find some examples:
- If you are being asked to use a back door while everyone else uses the front door, that is discriminatory.
- If a university wants to hold you financially responsible for any damage your guide dog may do, but other university students are not asked to make the same agreement for any damage that they may do, that is discriminatory.
- If presentations usually happen in the auditorium but you are asked to present in a portable at the back of the school, that is discriminatory.
- If a table by the window is available but the restaurant refuses to allow you to sit there with your guide dog, that is discriminatory.
Unfortunately, these are real examples that have been brought to our attention. While we continue to work to educate the public about access rights for people who travel with guide dogs, we must also be clear that human rights go beyond simply being allowed access. A person’s dignity is as much a part of being human as is access to goods and services.
If you feel that you have been discriminated against and you would like to do something about it, there are different ways to do so. Penalties for human rights violations range from $100 to $10,000. For more information, read our Guide Dog Handler Advocacy Toolkit.