"The Federal Disability Act clearly stipulates that assistance dogs must be granted access to all public buildings. This applies to guide dogs for the blind, signalling dogs and mobility assistance dogs. And not exceptionally, but always. Instead of different house rules, we need a uniform interpretation of the law across the country," says Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz, referring to the house rules of the Linz Regional Court, which only list guide dogs for the blind, but not signalling and service dogs.
"Those affected repeatedly contact the Austrian Ombudsman Board and report that they have problems entering public buildings with their assistance dogs. It is unacceptable that people with disabilities who rely on their specially trained assistance dogs are constantly subjected to this tiresome discussion. Owners and their assistance dogs must be granted access to all public buildings. Anything else contradicts inclusion," the Ombudswoman states.
Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz cites the Song Contest as a positive example: "I received a letter stating that people with assistance dogs were excluded from this event. So I contacted the ORF, which responded very quickly with the good news: people with assistance dogs are also allowed to attend the song contest."
City of Vienna called upon to provide barrier-free access to the lake
Seestadt Aspern has been promoted by the City of Vienna as a barrier-free showcase project since 2014. However, accessibility ends at the entrance to the artificial lake, as Mrs H.'s complaint to the Austrian Ombudsman Board shows. This is justified by the fact that the lake was designed as a "near-natural landscape pond".
"That's strange. Nothing there is natural. Inclusion is different," criticises Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz in the ORF "Bürgeranwalt". "Recreational space should be accessible to all people, including the opportunity to swim," the Ombudswoman refers to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. "I appeal to the City of Vienna to provide barrier-free access to the bathing lake. What is possible in Gänsehäufl with a ramp and a handrail into the water must also be possible in Seestadt Aspern."
