On Dec 6, the Commissioner joined the Minister for Human Services, the Hon Nat Cook MP and Guide Dogs SA/NT CEO Aaron Chia to call on South Australians to be more socially aware in public places and consider the needs of people with disability.
Business operators, transport and other service providers were also reminded of their legal obligation to ensure customers with low vision or blindness and their assistance dogs, have the same rights to access venues and services as the wider community.
The Commissioner recently wrote to transport providers advising of reports to her office of discrimination on the basis of disability, with some customers and their Guide or Assistance dogs being refused service.
It’s unlawful to discriminate against people who are vision impaired and those with Guide or Assistance dogs. Penalties apply and range from $1250 to $2500 if upheld.
The Commissioner said that is a time of year which all of us like to celebrate, but being able to get around with friends to venues is more difficult for some including those with vision impairment.
Many people don’t want to make a formal complaint but want to talk about their experience, while others make complaints to my office about discriminatory conduct.