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Travelling with a Guide Dog: Experiences of People with Vision Impairment

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  • Jillian M. Rickly

    (Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK)

  • Nigel Halpern

    (Department of Marketing, Kristiania University College, 0107 Oslo, Norway)

  • Marcus Hansen

    (North Wales Business School, Wrexham Glyndwr University, Wrexham LL11 2AW, UK)

  • John Welsman

    (Guide Dogs, Reading RG7 3YG, UK)

Abstract

There is considerable research on people with vision impairment (PwVI) in the transport, travel and tourism sectors, which highlights the significance of real-time information and consistency in services to accessibility. Based on interviews with guide dog owners in the United Kingdom, this paper contributes an additional dimension to our understanding of transport accessibility for PwVI by focusing specifically on guide dog owners’ experiences in the travel and tourism sector. A guide dog is more than a mobility tool, but a human–dog partnership that improves the quality of life for PwVI; however, it also introduces constraints related to the dog’s welfare and safety. Further, lack of understanding of guide dog owners’ rights to reasonable accommodation leads to discrimination through service refusals and challenges to service access. This paper concludes that the limited and inconsistent public knowledge of disability diversity has serious ramifications for transport accessibility and suggests specific industry and legislative interventions in response.

Suggested Citation

  • Jillian M. Rickly & Nigel Halpern & Marcus Hansen & John Welsman, 2021. "Travelling with a Guide Dog: Experiences of People with Vision Impairment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2840-:d:511557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Wen, Jun, 2023. "Animal-assisted interventions and vulnerable tourists," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    2. Qiao, Guanghui & Song, Hanqi & Prideaux, Bruce & Huang, Songshan (Sam), 2023. "The “unseen” tourism: Travel experience of people with visual impairment," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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