A Deafblind woman repeatedly denied travel and entry into businesses with her service dog says the newly announced ID cards are a positive first step, but not the only answer.
Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston said the Government introduced the ID card today and it would be rolled out in the coming months.
The nationally consistent photo ID card clearly states denying access is against the law and includes a QR code linking to further information.
Upston said the card would make it easier for people with certified service dogs to access public places, businesses and use public transport without being challenged or turned away.
Despite it being their legal right, recent reports show disability assistance dog handlers have been left to feel like a “second-class citizen” as they continue to be refused entry or service.
“These rights are not always well understood, or the dogs are interpreted as pets. That’s unacceptable and unfair,” Upston said.
Last month, Blind Low Vision NZ chief executive Andrea Midgen said incidents where people were denied their right to travel were reported daily.
What difference will this new ID make?
Upston told the Herald she hoped the nationally consistent card would help improve access and understanding, but did not expect all the challenges to be solved overnight.
She said Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People was running a campaign to increase awareness and educate stakeholders and businesses.
The minister said assistance dogs did not just help blind and low vision people, but also supported people with a range of other disabilities, such as hearing loss, epilepsy and mobility impairments.
“This can lead to misunderstandings and assumptions that are distressing and unnecessary,” Upston said.
She said the standardised card would help avoid those misunderstandings and improve clarity for businesses and the wider public.
“The card does not change existing rights; refusing access to a disability assistance dog and its handler remains against the law, and the card is not a condition of entry.
“Everyone should be able to access public places, businesses and public transport without unnecessary barriers. For many disabled people, a service dog is essential to their independence,” Upston said.
She said this “small change” would make a “big difference” to helping disabled Kiwis.
Belinda Simpson, on behalf of the Service Dog Advisory New Zealand, said it was a “significant and very positive step towards improving everyday access experiences for disabled New Zealanders who rely on legally certified service dogs”.
“Until now, there has been no nationally recognised form of identification for legally certified service dog teams.
“At the same time, imitation service dog jackets and identification have become increasingly easy to obtain.
“This has created uncertainty for businesses, transport providers, frontline staff and the public, making it difficult to know which dogs have been trained and certified by an authorised organisation.”
She said the National Service Dog ID Card provided a clear and consistent way to identify legitimate service dog teams across New Zealand.
What more needs to be done?
Deafblind woman and disability advocate Sally Britnell said the card in itself was an “awesome step forward”, but further education and legislation were needed to enforce accessibility.
For Britnell, her service dog, Priya, is not a pet or an optional extra - she is an integral part of her daily life and works to keep her safe.
She has repeatedly been refused Uber rides, challenged while trying to access public buses and told she could not enter restaurants.
“Society disables us; we don’t disable ourselves. So society also needs to change,” Britnell said.
The AUT senior lecturer, who has about five degrees of vision in her left eye, said it should not be up to disabled people alone to educate the public, with companies and the Government also needing to take responsibility.
“Sometimes you just get too tired to argue. You’re too tired to stick up for yourself because it’s exhausting,” Britnell said.
She said New Zealand was “a long way behind the eight ball” when it came to enforcing equality with legislation.
The announcement follows Britnell being cancelled on by three Uber drivers in a row in recent months. A similar issue occurred when she attempted to board a bus.
“I felt quite threatened and vulnerable, and I also felt very embarrassed in front of the bus customers.
“It makes me feel like a second-class citizen, and it makes me feel not worthwhile, and I was late to my physio appointment, which didn’t help,” Britnell said.
She told the Herald she had also had to fight for her right to enter a restaurant.
In one instance, after she was challenged, she was eventually seated away from the other customers in a corner.
“In an ideal world, I think society needs to actually value disabled people and to value the contribution they make.
“If people actually understood that we can contribute too, that we have a right to be out there in the community as much as they do, things would be better,” Britnell said.