Client Forum Agenda

• Welcome, Housekeeping & Timetable for the day• Aftercare Workshops and Service – Discussion• Facebook page• Lunch (12.15 – 12.45)• Public Access Issues - Discussion• Retirement Process – Presentation / Discussion

Aftercare Service & Workshops

We are planning on running aftercare workshops, dates are yet to be confirmed but we have July and September in mind for Banbury.

They will run on the same days as the client forum and should be around 2-3 hours long.

The proposed content will be clicker training, recall training, distraction training, health and welfare input with possible guest speakers and activities such as agility.

We are also open to any suggestions and see these events as an additional way to connect and develop with you and your dog.

Latest in our client centred Facebook pages.

A restricted page that we invite you to join.

Aim is to bring people together irrespective of location.

Positive page that is for sharing experiences, stories, highlights, questions.

All instructors, Duncan, Sara, Laura are connected and will share things on the page about what we are doing and other information.

We would like your ideas on what you would like to see, or feel would help.

Public Access Issues

• Have you been denied public access with your dog?

• Due to your dog being with you, have you had to settle for lesser service?

• Do you know your rights with regards to accessing the public arena with your dog?

• Can you promote Assistance Dog Access Rights in your area?

Equality Act 2010

Guide dog and assistance owners have important rights under the Equality Act 2010 (EA). The EA provides for people with disabilities to have the same right to services supplied by shops, banks, hotels, libraries, pubs, taxis and restaurants as everyone else.

Service providers also have to make “reasonable adjustments” for guide dog and assistance dog owners. In 2004 the law was extended to state that service providers have to consider making changes to “physical features” which make it unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use their services.

Under Part 12 of the EA it is also illegal for assistance dog owners to be refused access to a taxi or minicab with their assistance dog. Medical exemptions are available if drivers have a certificate from their GP.

What the law means

It is against the law for service providers to treat people with disabilities less favourably because of their disability, or because they have a guide or assistance dog with them.

Making “reasonable adjustments” might mean giving extra help, such as guiding someone to a restaurant table, or making some changes to the way services or access is provided to make it easier for a person with a disability. It certainly includes allowing guide dogs and assistance dogs into all public places with their owners.

What to do if you are refused access/receive a lesser service?

1. A lot of confusion from service providers is simply a case of educating them as to your rights, so if you are going somewhere new phone ahead as a courtesy.

2. Try to resolve the situation amicably, remember you have a copy of your rights and useful information in your ID book and the ADUK website: http://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/

3. If this doesn’t work, it can be useful to ask to speak to a Manager/Supervisor to see if they can resolve the situation.

4. Is it just poor service you are receiving or is it discrimination.

5. If you have to leave the establishment, it is worth finding out who can be contacted about this issue so you can initially write to them and if no satisfactory response is received, refer it to Dogs for the Disabled.

Dear Mr Smith

I am writing to make you aware of an incident that occurred with myself and my Assistance dog Rover when attempting to access your premises today.On entering I was informed by a staff member that ‘Dogs are not allowed’.I dutifully explained that Rover was a trained Assistance Dog provided by the Charity Dogs for the Disabled and in line with the 2010 Equality Act he and I have joint rights to access your premises but the staff member in question was unwilling to listen and insisted I leave due to having my dog with me.

I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding on your staff members part and I am looking for you to reassure me that this is the case and in fact all Guide and Assistance Dogs are allowed onto your premises in line with the 2010 Equality Act.You can find out more information about Assistance dogs and their rights by visiting www.assistancedogs.org.uk

I look forward to your response.

With Kind regards

Retirement Process

Providing that there are no health issues that result in a dog being retired early, we will

start to talk to you about semi-retirement at just before the dogs 10th Birthday, with official (full) retirement commencing between 11 to

12 years old.

Your dog will naturally start to slow down as they get older and your Instructor or Aftercare Officer will discuss retirement with you on the annual aftercare visit closest to the dogs 10th Birthday, or on findings of a health issue that are detrimental to your dog working anymore.

The Charity understand that a dog retiring can be a very distressing time. This is why we use the semi-retirement status from the age of 10. At semi-retirement nothing changes with regards to the dogs working ability. But we will begin to speak to you about considering the future and preparing for full retirement.

We will help you to consider things such as:

• Being able to care for an older dog.• Being able to meet the costs of a retired dog – insurance, healthcare.• If training with a new dog, can you still support the older dog at the same time.

The Charity will support you throughout this process, so by the time the dog reaches full retirement age (between 11-12 years old), there is a plan in place and you are prepared.

What happens to my dog?• Some clients may chose to continue to look after their assistance dog during its

retirement, providing that they can care for an elderly dog/dog with health issues. This is the Charities preferred option, but in some instances this is not appropriate.

• In other cases the dog can be rehomed. The Charity has a list of fully vetted applicants who want to rehome an ex-assistance dog. This option is sometimes chosen by clients who want to train with a successor dog and are unable to provide the care for their dog alongside training with a new dog.

• In some instances it is appropriate for a member of the clients family/close support network to rehome the dog.

• Your Instructor, Aftercare Officer or Client Services Liaison Officer will discuss all options with you to reach a solution.

Should you have any questions about the retirement process please speak to Christine Temple, our Client Liaison Officer.

Thank You

Thank you for coming ,we look forward to seeing as many of you at the Fun Day 2015!