A Glasgow man has spoken out about the discrimination faced by visually impaired people and their guide dogs after being refused a taxi ride to a funeral.
Colin Hetherington, a director of Deafblind Scotland, was left outraged when a taxi driver refused to take him and his guide dog to a funeral on November 20th.
The driver cited allergies as the reason for the refusal, despite not possessing the required exemption certificate.
Colin explained: "I asked to see his certificate of exemption, which is legally required.
"He claimed it was in the office, then that his son was the one that had allergies while refusing to take me.
"I eventually told him he can either take me or I'll take him to court and report him to the taxi board."
The incident highlights a wider issue. A recent Guide Dogs survey revealed that 72% of guide dog owners faced access refusals in the past year, including being turned away from food and drink establishments.
Many reported negative impacts on their social lives and mental well-being.
Hetherington, who has previously taken legal action against taxi drivers in Newcastle and South Shields for similar incidents, emphasised the ongoing discrimination faced by visually impaired people.
Colin added: "Black hackney cabs aren't that bad but private hire will hit you with every excuse under the sun not to take the dog. It's common for them to claim they have allergies.
He called for greater awareness and enforcement of equality laws to ensure equal access for all.
"It's 2024, and discrimination against the visually impaired is still common," he said. "I refuse to be treated like a second-class citizen."
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