Visually impaired Teesside woman denied pub access due to guide dog
She was asked for ID on two separate occasions at two different pubs
A Teesside woman who's been visually impaired since birth says she's been denied access into pubs due to her guide dog.
Disability campaigners say Wetherspoons have been breaking the law since May last year as they started asking for proof that a guide dog is an assistance dog.
25 year-old Megan Stephenson from Middlesbrough was asked for ID to prove Bobbie is a guide dog on two separate occasions at two different Wetherspoons pubs.
She said: "The first time I experienced it I was out with friends. We were just going to grab a drink before grabbing the train home and as I entered the pub I was very quickly stopped. I was separated from my friends. My guide dog Bobbie was fully in harness, she had the flash on the lead and it's a very obvious guide dog harness but I was told unless I had the ID to prove Bobbie was a real guide dog, she wasn't allowed.
"At first I had no idea what was happening and to be asked for ID is not something I've ever had to do before. I was just a bit shocked and because I was separated from my friends, I felt really vulnerable and really anxious by the entire experience. To be treated differently infront of a pub full of people and your friends, it really is embarrassing.
"I felt humiliated when all I wanted to do was have a drink with my friends. I no longer want to visit any Wetherspoons pub as a result. Bobbie has given me so much independence and meeting up with friends is a big part of my life, so why should I be left feeling so vulnerable?
"This isn't something I face very often. Usually taxis are quite fussy and if I am stopped and questioned when going into shops, it's usually just checking she is a guide dog, usually if I say she is with the flash on her lead or I point to her harness, that's all they require. I've never been asked for ID before.
"A guide dog in a harness is enough proof that they are a legitimate guide dog. A guide dog harness isn't something you can just buy. If it's got a guide dog logo on, it's an official guide dog and that should be enough proof that they are a real guide dog."
Chris Theobald, Senior Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs UK, said: "The guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission is clear: 'Assistance dog users should not be refused a service simply because they do not have an ID book.'
"While there are understandable checks needed for travel abroad, we expect every-day shops and businesses to take a common-sense approach. Guide dogs, like other types of assistance dogs, enable people to live independently to live the life they choose, and the rights of assistance dog owners are well-established in law.
"Disabled people should not be forced to justify their presence every time they use a business or service.”
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon welcomes all guide dogs and also assistance dogs with accredited training from Assistance Dogs UK member organisations into our pubs
“We do not require proof for guide dogs, or details of training.
“We apologise to the customer who was refused entry, as this was not in line with our policy, and will be happy to investigate if she would like to contact us directly.”