As the Access and Inclusion Manager for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, I recently attended a meeting with Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) representatives to discuss how Olympic and Paralypmic Games organisers plan to cater for all assistance dogs and their recipients at Olympic venues in 2012.
After learning of the plans being put in place, not only am I confident that the event will be enjoyable for hearing dog recipients, but I also believe it will be fully-accessible for deaf people without hearing dogs.
ADUK members have been assured that staff working at all venues will be fully-trained to assist both deaf people and also assistance dog recipients.
Provisionally there will be around 900 members of staff allocated to disability access and all will have deaf communication included in their training. Plans are in place for ticketing points to be equipped with induction loops and deaf people who require communication support in British Sign Language (BSL) are set to be directed to a video relay point where online BSL interpreters will be on-hand.
Along with the nine million spectators expected to attend both Games, it’s important for all disabled people to be able to enjoy the experience. For those with assistance dogs, it’s just as vital that their dogs are comfortable too.
Organisers have pledged assurances that staff will be aware of the needs of assistance dogs and will be told to ‘go the extra mile’ to ensure the needs of each recipient and their assistance dog are met as far as is humanly possible.
In addition, so long as assistance dogs recipients inform organisers that they will require space for their dogs, arrangements will be made to provide extra room. This will also be out of direct sunlight where possible. Assistance dog ‘spending areas’ are expected to be well signed and generally will be built inside stadium security zones.
As someone with both a professional and personal interest in the welfare of assistance dog recipients, I am extremely confident that next year’s event will be one that is accessible to all.
Philip Biggs
Access and Inclusion Manager and hearing dog recipient
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Watch a short video of Philip and Marsh outside the Olympic Stadium:
