GUIDE DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS HELPING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GUIDE DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS Aguidedogprovidestechnicalassistanceto blindandvisuallyimpairedpeopleinorder toremedytheirfunctionallimitationsby providingmobilityandorientation. Servicedogscanincreasetheself-sufficiency ofpeoplewithaphysicaloracognitive disabilitybyhelpingthemmovearound andtakeholdofobjects.Theservicedogis trainedtoalertthedeaforhearingimpaired toavarietyofenvironmentalsounds. SERVICE DOGS AND CHILDREN WITH PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS (PDD) Aservicedogcanhaveapositiveeffecton thebehaviourofchildrenwithpervasive developmentaldisorders(PDD),including autismspectrumdisorders(ASD),increase socialinteractionsandenhancetheirsafety, athomeorinpublicplaces. PDDreferstoagroupoffivedisorders, includingautism,Aspergersyndrome andpervasivedevelopmentdisorder,not otherwisespecified. TheCommissiondesdroitsdelapersonneet desdroitsdelajeunesserecognizesservice dogsasameanstopalliateadisabilityfor childrenwithPDD,arightprotectedbythe CharterofHumanRightsandFreedoms. A MEANS TO PALLIATE A DISABILITY TheQuébecCharterofHumanRightsand Freedomsprotectsallpeoplewithadisability whouseaguidedogoraservicedog. Apersonaccompaniedbyaguidedogora servicedoghastherighttoaccess,without discrimination: • Publicplacessuchasbusinesses, restaurantsandhotels; • Publictransportandtaxis; • Workplaces; • Recreationalfacilitiessuchascampsites ormovietheatres. Thispersonalsohastherighttoobtain goodsandservicesordinarilyofferedtothe public,withoutdiscriminationandwithout additionalcost. ParentsofchildrenwithPDD,including ASD,arealsoprotectedbytheCharterof HumanRightsandFreedomswhenthey areaccompaniedbyaservicedog,even intheabsenceofthechild.Theparents areresponsiblefortheanimalandforits training. WHAT THE COURTS SAY Thecourtshaveestablishedthatservice dogsandguidedogsareameansof palliatingahandicap.Thefirstcourt decisioninQuébecwhichupheldthe prohibitionofdiscriminatingagainst personswhouseaguidedogdates backto1982. “aseeminglyneutralpolicy,suchas prohibitinganimalsinapublicplace, may nevertheless be discriminatory if it results in denying access to service dogs,” said the Human rightsTribunal. In2012,theHumanRightsTribunalruled thatitwasdiscriminatoryforarestaurant todenyaccesstoatetraplegicmanusinga wheelchairbecausehewaswithaservice dog.Themanreceived$9,000inmoral andpunitivedamages. FOR MORE INFORMATION Read the Commission’s opinion on service dogs for children with PDD: www.cdpdj.qc.ca HowTorecoGniZeaGuidedoGor aservicedoGinQuÉBec? • Thedog’sharnessbearstheMiraFoundation logo; • Thedoghasthecollarofthe Lions Foundation; • Thedog’svestbearsthePACCKFoundation logo; • Thedogownerhasaletterorcardissuedby arecognizeddogtrainingorganization. Formoreinformationaboutthese organizations: FondationMira : www.mira.ca PaccK : www.pacck.org LionsFondation : www.dogguides.com didYouKnow? InQuébec: • About 90,000 people are blind or visually impaired; • 60,000disabledpeopleuseawheelchair; • More than 10,000 children have PDD (pervasivedevelopmentaldisorders). Foradviceonhowtohandlearequestfor reasonableaccommodationfromaperson usingaservicedogoraguidedog,please contactthecommission’sadvisoryservice regardingreasonableaccommodation. Youaredeniedaccesstoapublicplace becauseyouareaccompaniedbyyour guidedogorservicedog? Youcanfileacomplaintwiththe commissiondesdroitsdelapersonneet desdroitsdelajeunesse. Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse Telephone: 514 873-5146 or 1 800 361-6477 TTY: 514 873-2648 Head office: 360, rue Saint-Jacques, 2e étage Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1P5 www.cdpdj.qc.ca All services offered by the Commission are free of charge. 037FA/2013-03 Photos:Mira