Hindrad: om negativt bemötande av assistans- och ledarhundsförare

Abstract

Previous research, articles in the media, and appeals to the Discrimination Ombudsman on the subject document the negative treatment of guide and assistance dog users, despite in-place legislation for protection of people with disabilities from discrimination. The gap between how it should be and how it actually in practice is forms the point of departure for this thesis. My research aim has been to examine the negative treatment of guide and assistance dog users in Sweden. My research questions identify and illuminate the character of negative treatment as well as the perspectives of guide and assistance dog users regarding the negative treatment, and what explanatory motivations might lie behind discriminatory behaviors. In this mixed methods study, 25 interview subjects participated in group interviews and 12 interview subjects contributed to the qualitative research by keeping diaries over a period of five months. With respect to the quantitative part of my study herein, two census surveys in the form of telephone interviews with 67.5% of all guide dog users and to 10% of the members in two associations for assistance dog users were conducted. The theoretical framework employed is based on theories of ableism, the relational model of disability, animal geography, the minority stress model and coping strategies. The results of my research demonstrate that half of all guide dog users in Sweden have been denied access to places/activities once or on multiple occasions. Those denying access typically motivate their refusal to admit guide dog users as due to concerns of dog allergies and/or fear of dogs. Out of fear of being met with denied access, more than a third of the guide dog users abstain from activities, or leave their guide dog at home when they go out. One in four guide dog teams have been the target of hate, threats or violence. The findings for the assistance dog users are similar in all circumstances. The qualitative research demonstrates how multi-dimensional negative treatment, the minority stress of research subjects, and coping strategies are.