Reflecting on Independence: On the Street and Online

At Access Advisors, our beginnings in Blind Low Vision NZ shapes how we work today. We focus on real-life independence and participation, not just “tick-box” compliance. We are also unapologetic dog lovers (Ross, Chandra and Kevin included), so celebrating guide dog partnerships is both personal and professional for us. 

Because of our roots, we have strong friendships in the blind and low vision community. We spend time with people who have guide dogs, walking with them, catching up for coffees, giving pats when they are off harness and (most importantly) listening. Those everyday experiences keep our work grounded in what matters, getting where you need to go, understanding what’s around you, and being able to do things independently. 

That connection also shows up in how we do our work. We’re guided by ongoing relationships across disability communities. Through our Access Panel (our research panel of people with lived experience) we sense-check ideas, content, and user journeys against what works in the real world.  

One of our dearest friends, colleagues, panel members and guide dog handlers is Sally Britnell. Many people in our community probably know Sally, and may also know Priya her new guide dog, from photos and videos shared publicly online. Priya has a way of leaning on things and people that makes people smile. But when Sally needs her, Priya is focused and highly skilled, supporting Sally’s independence in a way that is both practical and profound. Their partnership is a clear reminder of why guide dogs matter. 

Sally and Priya have a strong following because their content helps people understand what a working guide dog does and how much trust sits between handler and dog. When Sally shares day-to-day moments, it gives the public a practical view of a partnership built on training, communication, and companionship. If you’re curious about guide dogs, Sally’s public posts are a great way to learn. 

There are many other guide dog teams across Aotearoa with stories just as powerful. Sharing these stories helps everyone understand guide dogs not as pets, but as trained working dogs. They need space and focus to do their job. When their harness is on, they are in work mode, keeping their handler safe. 

Guide dogs are often very likeable, and yes, we all want to give them a pat. But if you want to approach a guide dog, always speak to the handler first and teach children to do the same. Typically, if the dog has their harness on then the handler is likely to ask you not to pat them. Don’t be offended, the dog is working. Even small well-meaning distractions can interrupt a guide dog’s concentration. 

There have also been recent conversations about keeping guide dogs safe in public, including incidents involving roaming or uncontrolled dogs. These moments can put guide dogs at risk and can place handlers in danger. That’s why public awareness matters and keeping pets under control helps people who rely on guide dogs move safely through their communities.  

Independence doesn’t stop at the curb, digital matters too 

While guide dogs support people in the physical world, much of life now happens online. A person may travel confidently with their guide dog but then hit a digital barrier that stops them. Maybe it’s a form field with no label, an error message that isn’t announced by a screen reader, a button you can’t reach by keyboard, a page with no clear headings, or a PDF that’s been scanned as an image.  

Just like electric scooters causing barriers in the psychical world for Sally and Priya, these types of digital issues can block access to essential services such as banking, booking appointments, applying for jobs, studying, or contacting a council. Digital accessibility extends independence beyond the footpath and into everyday life. 

That’s the space Access Advisors works in. We help organisations design, build, and maintain digital experiences that work for blind and low vision users (and for everyone else who benefits from accessible design). That can include accessibility reviews and audits, practical remediation guidance for designers and developers, content and document accessibility support, and team training.  

International Guide Dog Day celebrates the dogs who make independence possible. It also recognises the handlers, whānau, trainers, puppy raisers, and communities who support them. For us, it’s a chance to reflect on how guide dogs fit into the wider story of accessibility in Aotearoa, including digital accessibility. It’s also a day to acknowledge our friends, including Sally and Priya, and to recognise how much guide dog teams teach us about independence, trust, and capability. 

We’re sharing this because we care about the people in our community and the partnerships between handlers and dogs. We also care about building a world where physical and digital independence are supported equally. Guide dogs help people navigate the world. Digital accessibility helps people participate in it, privately, independently, and on their own terms. Both matter. Both work best when they’re treated as essential. 

We wish everyone a warm and thoughtful International Guide Dog Day.  

If you’d like support to make your website, app, documents, or online services more accessible for blind and low vision users, we can help with research, reviews, practical remediation advice, and training that fits your team.