Thanks to everyone for their prompt responses, much appreciated.

John

I was going to ask you direct but you beat me to it!!

Kind Regards
 
Justin Ryan  MSc MinstLM
Accessibility and Inclusion Manager 
Southeastern, 
Old Red Star Office
Canterbury East Station
Station Road East
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2RB 

F. 01233 617837

-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marcus Ormerod
Sent: 18 November 2009 14:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: guide dog users

Message from John Gregory, whose computer is playing up at present.

Hello Justin,

 

What you heard is essentially correct. While undertaking training with a new Guide Dog, very little training is carried out on railway stations as it is considered extremely dangerous and the training, such as it is, is only an introduction and GDMIs (Guide Dog Mobility Instructors) emphasise that working a Guide Dog on platforms is not encouraged and assistance should be sort wherever possible. The reason for this is exactly what happened - the dog could move around a passenger with luggage or other and, if the owner is on the rail side, could easily fall onto the rails. Tactile paving limits the possibility of this as the GDO (Guide Dog Owner) is aware of the platform edge, but without it there is no chance. Obviously GDOs who use a particular station regularly would receive training from a GDMI following their training with a new dog, but no matter how familiar one is with railway stations, accidents do happen - especially at busy periods and when trains are arriving or leaving the station as the GDOs hearing is hugely impaired by the noise. If training is provided to someone who regularly uses a station, it is usual for that person to be instructed on a route around the station/platform which, as far as possible, keeps the GDO away from the rail side and places the dog in that position.

If you want an authoritative view on this, please email [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  and I am sure they will be pleased to give their views.

Regards.

John.

From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ryan, Justin

Sent: 18 November 2009 12:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ACCESSIBUILT] guide dog users

 

Dear All

 

I recently saw some correspondence between a group representing blind/visually impaired people and a safety manager on the railway (both will remain nameless). It concerned an incident where a guide dog user had fallen off the platform whilst using their dog to navigate around the station. 

 

As far as I know this was a regular traveller who was familiar with the station layout and appears to have been negotiating their way around someone who had stopped in front of them, and their dog had walked around the person but unfortunately as the owner moved over they were so near the edge of the platform that they slipped off onto the track. Obviously the person was hurt, but not too badly and the dog was ok. 

 

However the issue I wanted to explore was that this group said that they advise their members not to work their dogs on station platforms and always ask for assistance. 

 

Can I ask, especially of those members of this group who are best in a position to comment (i.e. guide dog users), do you believe this is correct advice that guide dog owners and maybe even cane users should follow? 

 

Thanks

 

Kind Regards

 

Justin Ryan  MSc MinstLM

Accessibility and Inclusion Manager 

Southeastern, 

Old Red Star Office

Canterbury East Station

Station Road East

Canterbury

Kent

CT1 2RB 

 

F. 01233 617837

 

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