Would it surprise you that only one in three people with low vision or blindness feel confident heading out and about, including into cafés and restaurants, in our community? It's a sad fact that, despite society's empathy and our love of Labradors, people with low vision or blindness are often turned away from venues – sometimes because they have a guide dog in toe. Shocker, right? These gaps in support lead people to opt out of public social interactions and dining out.
Almost 500,000 Australians are blind or have low vision, so in pursuit of transforming Sydney into a more accessible city, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has launched a new campaign to assist restaurants, cafés and bars so they can better cater to people with low vision or blindness. Their Access Means Business initiative provides a handy toolkit for hospitality businesses to use to make sure they’re equipped to support patrons with low vision or blindness.
Among the resources available are training modules and practical tools – and business owners have been encouraged to reach out to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT if they require further assistance to make their venue more accessible.
Urban accessibility is a work in progress for many Australian cities, and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT CEO Dale Cleaver says that Sydney has a long way to go in order to see public spaces and facilities inclusive for the needs of all members of the community. "Until now many businesses and staff still lack the tools and training to provide truly inclusive services.”
Cara Wood, General Manager of Social Change at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, says hospitality venues that it's not just people with low vision or blindness who benefit from accessible venues – businesses also reap the benefits. “Ensuring that as many people can get out and about in Sydney, a great cultural destination, through a variety of hospitality experiences, generates a range of wellbeing outcomes, and frankly, the city itself is more vibrant as a result.”
Tokyo Lamington in Newtown (pictured) is one such café that has leant in to becoming an accessible venue for people with low vision and blindness, and for that reason, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT launched the campaign there.
If you’re from a Sydney café, restaurant or bar, check out the Guide Dog's Access Means Business website here and learn more about how you can take easy steps to make your venue more accessible.