This year, CNIB’s annual awareness campaign is focusing on guide dog access in health care settings.

Guide dogs and their handlers have the right to access to any premises that the public would normally have access to. This applies to medical clinics, doctors’ offices, dentists’ offices, hospitals, and anywhere a guide dog handler would seek medical treatment or advice.

Guide dog handlers also have the right to visit family members in any area of a health care setting or medical facility where other visitors are allowed.

While guide dogs may not be permitted in specific environments like operating rooms or areas with radiation exposure, a reasonable accommodation must still be provided for their handlers in such instances.

By learning more about guide dogs, you can help shift social attitudes towards universal acceptance and appreciation for guide dogs, ensuring the rights of guide dog teams are always respected.

Get involved and show your support for guide dog teams by:

• Visiting guidedogchampions.ca – CNIB’s one-stop shop for businesses to become more welcoming to guide dog teams.
• Reading CNIB’s guide dog etiquette digital resource and FAQ, specifically about access to health care spaces.
• Registering for CNIB’s information session about guide dogs and health care spaces on September 29.
• Learning more about guide dog legislation.
• Following CNIB on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to like, comment on, and share our activities throughout the month.
• Ordering a free “Guide dogs welcome” decal for your business to show support for guide dog teams in your community. Email advocacy@cnib.ca for more information.