Push to overturn NDIS ‘blanket ban’ on seeing-eye dogs for wheelchair users
A 25-year-old vision-impaired wheelchair user has launched a petition against the NDIS's blanket ban on funding guide dogs for electric wheelchair users.
A 25-year-old Geelong West woman with low vision is fighting to overturn federal disability funding rules that force electric wheelchair users to abandon their seeing-eye dogs or pay thousands of dollars out of their own pocket to keep them.
Lily Alford, who also has a debilitating neurological condition, has relied on her seeing-eye dog Prince to guide her since 2021.
“We were a walking team to begin with, so that was fine, it all got funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS),” she said.
But, Ms Alford said her neurological condition worsened over the course of that year meaning she had to transition to an electric wheelchair.
“When I lost my ability to walk, we had put in a change of circumstances to NDIS so that they would fund extra training for Prince to become a wheelchair guide,” she said.
“But they rejected my application using legislation where it says directly, ‘it is unsafe for dogs to lead an electric wheelchair’.”
Ms Alford has launched a petition calling on the federal government to remove that NDIS rule and instead fund guide dogs for wheelchair uses.
“I would like them to change the legislation so that it’s more case-by-case basis instead of ... a blanket ‘if you’re in a wheelchair and you have a guide dog, you’re out’,” she said.
She said she and Prince were among five guide dog teams and wheelchair users across Australia, working “safely and accurately”.
A spokesman for NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the operational guidelines allowed funding for an assistance animal in some instances.
“The NDIA also considers the welfare of the assistance animal and will not fund an assistance animal if there is a risk to its wellbeing and safety,” she said.
“This includes ensuring there are no risks to the assistance animal when it performs tasks, including lifting or pulling heavy items or leading an electric wheelchair.”
A Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs spokeswoman said the organisation supported discussion between the community and government around how funding schemes could adapt to best meet the needs of participants.
“The seeing-eye dogs wheelchair program and other similar programs internationally have shown dog guides can be a safe and effective mobility support for electric wheelchair users who are blind or have low vision,” she said.
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Originally published as Push to overturn NDIS ‘blanket ban’ on seeing-eye dogs for wheelchair users
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