Blind couple had to find own way to Salmon Arm because of guide dogs I.D.

Photo: Rob Gibson

(l)Dr. Paul Gabias, Kenko, (r) Maryy Ellen Gabias in front of Ebus in Kelowna

A blind Kelowna couple tells Castanet they feel their rights have been ignored as they were refused service by Ebus Friday.

Dr. Paul Gabias and his wife Mary Ellen, are both legally blind and were trying to catch a bus to Salmon Arm on Friday afternoon. They stated they weren’t allowed to board because they didn’t have the proper documents for their guide dog.

"They told me that she can't get on because the I.D. that I furnished them isn't from the government,” Gabias says.

Gabias explains that he has an I.D. card from Assistance Dogs of America for Kenko but that wasn’t enough.

John Stepovy, Ebus motorcoach director says, “the issue is, for the safety and well-being of anybody that travels, they're required to present proper documentation for a service animal or an emotional support animal. And they simply do not have the proper documentation."

Gabias is an associate professor of psychology at UBCO and he says he has never been refused travel by plane or bus before.

“The government has no business deciding what dogs are useful for blind people, I mean, she is perfectly trained. I've trained several guide dogs, blind people who come from other provinces, or other countries would not have this kind of government-issued I.D. So it's ridiculous.

“This is like fettering the freedom of movement of blind people throughout the country and throughout the world,” says Gabias.

According to the province registering and licencing guide dogs is voluntary, “guide and service dog teams with valid identification cards issued by training schools accredited by ADI or IGDF, regardless of Province or country of issue, are considered to be certified under the GDSDA:

1.1 (1) If an applicant is required under this regulation to provide an identification card, the applicant must provide a card, letter or other forms of record that

(a) is issued by an accredited or recognized training school,

(b) identifies an individual and a dog,

(c) confirms that the individual and the dog have together successfully completed a guide dog or service dog training program, whether through the school or another accredited or recognized training school, and

(d) has an expiry date that is after the date of the application.

(2) Despite subsection (1) (d), if the card, letter or record does not have an expiry date or has expired, the applicant may provide to the registrar a card, letter or other form of record that

(a) meets the requirements of subsection (1) (a), (b) and (c), and

(b) confirms that, as of the date of the applicant's application, the individual and the dog have active status as a working team.

The blind couple were forced to take a cab to Salmon Arm at a cost of over $300 and they have no idea how they will get back at this point. “I guess we’ll have to rely on family and friends.”

For his part, Stepovy says the couple and their dog are welcome to ride Ebus in the future, provided they get certification from a recognized organization like the International Guide Dog Federation.

“I don't understand why they wouldn't have legitimate documentation. Our job is to ensure the safety of every single passenger and service and emotional support animal on our coach. That's our job. That's our priority, without proper documentation we can't do that. It's as simple as that,” Stepovy says.

Photo: Contributed

Kenko I.D. from Assistance Dogs of America