People illegally turned away from transport services
Disability advocates are making renewed pleas for people who use assistance dogs to be treated fairly. There are growing concerns people are being illegally turned away from transport services and other public places. One Adelaide man says two taxi drivers refused to accept him in a single day.
Transcript
00:00 Alan Belton and his guide dog Viva share a special connection.
00:06 She's good company and if somebody comes to the front door, she's there. She's there first.
00:14 Mr Belton has visual and hearing impairments and an intellectual disability.
00:19 Viva helps him maintain independence and get around safely.
00:24 But the pair has repeatedly faced discrimination, including being refused two taxi trips in a single day last month.
00:33 Ride shares discriminating against people with guide dogs is a national problem and it is unlawful.
00:39 While other drivers have accepted Mr Belton and his assistance dog, his support worker says some have tried to charge extra cleaning fees or been annoyed that he was travelling with a dog.
00:50 We're all equals. Treat others how you want to be treated. It's not right.
00:54 That's a very, very horrible sort of feeling so I really hope people get the message and think about life from the other side.
01:01 All assistance dogs are guaranteed access to public places in Australia under federal anti-discrimination laws.
01:08 And taxi or ride share drivers who refuse service to someone with an assistance dog can be fined thousands of dollars.
01:15 But advocates say experiences like Mr Belton's are far too common.
01:21 If you see someone being refused a ride, I would encourage you to intervene.
01:26 A plea for inclusivity this festive season.
01:29 season.
01:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]