GDUI Accessibility & Legal Resource Center

A woman and her guide dog sit in a whitewater raft on a calm river with a group of other people. The handler holds an oar in one hand and rest the other on her dog.These pages have been compiled by the GDUI Legislative Committee. We thank the participating organizations for their agreement to share links and valuable information about accessibility and legal obligations at the international, federal, state and local levels.

Guide Dog Users Inc. (GDUI) has been instrumental in assuring access to people who work with all types of assistance dogs. Our landmark work involving the right to travel to Hawaii with our dogs is just part of how we actively monitor and participate in access legislation.

In 2008 GDUI commented on proposed revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding service animals. We have also worked through our state and regional affiliates to affect state laws regarding attacks on our assistance dogs.  In 2003 GdUI conducted a survey on dog attacks among guide dog handlers to help further such legislation.

Please check out the links listed here for a range of information.

  • If you have difficulty accessing a public accommodation, such as a business, hospital, hotel, recreation area or other venue, do not hesitate to contact us.
  • If your dog has been attacked and you are not sure what to do or what laws can assist you, contact us.
  • If you have helpful resources that are not listed here, please contact us.
  • If there are topics or resources you don’t find here but would like to know about, contact us.

GDUI Legislative Committee: Don Brown, Chair

Americans with Disabilities Act and State Laws

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law governing the civil rights of people with disabilities. This law also provides a definition of “service animal.” Each state has its own laws specific to the access rights of people working with service animals.  The links below will take you to pages outside of the GDUI web site.

United States Department Of Justice (DOJ)

ADA Home Page
Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals in Places of Business
ADA Business Brief: Service Animals

Guide dog School Resources

 

a team walks down a sidewalk
Copyright 2008 Liisa Kyle

The following guide dog schools have graciously allowed us to link to their pages on accessibility laws.

 

Other Resources:

Contacting GDUI

GDUI is here to help with individual advocacy or support for state and nation-wide issues. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our officers & directors and/ or our legislative committee.