Access & Advocacy

Your Rights & Legal Information

Since our founding, The Seeing Eye has advocated for the rights of people with guide dogs.

A Seeing Eye graduate at Yoho National Park in British Columbia.

Your Rights & Legal Information

Through the efforts of Seeing Eye co-founder Morris Frank and other early graduates of our program, The Seeing Eye was instrumental in gaining access to public places, ground transportation, and air travel for people who work with guide dogs.

Today, federal and state laws guarantee the rights of people who are blind to be accompanied by their guide dogs in all aspects of life, but it’s not always as simple as it seems. If you are a guide dog handler with questions about your rights and responsibilities, or if you are someone who may not be sure what to do when you encounter a guide dog team, these pages are for you.

Much of this information is available from The Seeing Eye Advocacy App. 

Know Your Rights

A Seeing Eye graduate is guided by her Seeing Eye dog, a yellow Labrador retriever, inside a shopping mall.

Frequently Asked Questions

An overview of service animals in public places

FAQ
A Seeing Eye graduate is led by a black Labrador retriever on a sidewalk past a sign reading 'Now Open for Lunch'.

Food Establishments

Restaurants and other establishments that sell or prepare food

Restaurants
A Seeing Eye graduate hugs her Seeing Eye dog, a German shepherd.

Lodging

Hotels, campgrounds, and other places of transient lodging

Lodging
A Seeing Eye graduate sits on a bench and smiles at her Seeing Eye dog, a golden retriever.

Health Care Facilities

Hospitals, medical offices, and medical transportation vehicles.

Hospitals
A Seeing Eye graduate, wearing a graduation gown, hugs her Seeing Eye dog, a black Labrador retriever wearing a graduation cap.

Education

Educational institutions, from preschools to universities.

Schools
A graduate with her Seeing Eye dog at Disney World.

Recreational Settings

Theaters, amusement parks, fairs, farms, stadiums, and so on.

Recreation
A Seeing Eye graduate with her Seeing Eye dog, a yellow Labrador retriever.

Housing

Private homes, apartments, assisted-living facilities, and dormitories.

Housing
A Seeing Eye graduate with a golden retriever gets into a taxi cab.

Transportation

Public and private transportation, including rideshare services.

Transportation
A Seeing Eye graduate sits on a boat with his Seeing Eye dog, a golden retriever, at his side.

Airlines & Cruise Ships

Traveling by air or by sea.

Air & Sea

International Travel

Your rights while traveling outside the United States and Canada.

International
A yellow Labrador retriever, in harness, with a guide dog handler holding the handle.

Interference

What to do if you or your guide dog is attacked or interfered with.

Interference

Pedestrian Safety

Street crossings, traffic patterns, and electric vehicles.

Pedestrians
A Seeing Eye graduate hugs her Seeing Eye dog, a golden retriever.

Emergencies

Be prepared: prolonged power outages, natural disasters, and so on.

Emergencies
A yellow Labrador/golden retriever, in harness, walks with a woman on a suburban sidewalk.

Webinars

Webinars from our Department of Advocacy and Government Relations.

Webinars

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This pop-up reads: This Blindness Awareness Month, help us reach our gift goal of 1,000! One German Shepard and One yellow lab sit smiling at the camera with their tongues out. Below, a donate button and to the right, a thermometer showing about 75% of the goal has been reached.