The British government is making everyday life difficult for 24-year-old Paralympic swimmer Mar Gunnarsson, who is blind and has the help of a guide dog. Maximum to move
The young man hails from Iceland but studies in Manchester, England. Before Brexit in 2020, Gunnarsson was able to fly to the United Kingdom with her dog unhindered, but that has now changed.
After Brexit, the British government decided to change the rules for traveling with assistance dogs to prevent non-disabled travelers from declaring their animals have the condition to avoid paying a ticket. However, these rules prevent disabled people from traveling with assistance dogs that are not approved by the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Airlines in this country only accept assistance dogs trained by two organizations: Assistance Dogs International (ATI) and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGTF). Guide dog Maximum He trained in Sweden and was loaned to Gunnarsson by the Icelandic National Institute for the Blind, Blind and Deafblind.
Also, the athlete highlighted in newspaper reports Guardian, Maximum Recognized as a guide dog by the Icelandic government. But he reiterates that the document has no value in the UK.
According to the British newspaper, the change could affect the swimmer’s presence at the 2024 Olympic Games, which begin on July 26 in Paris. But, if that happens, it won’t be the first time a match has been lost for this reason. Gunnarsson hasn’t traveled outside the United Kingdom to the sporting championships – and he couldn’t get back to Iceland with his dog on the plane.
“Being a person fighting against a country is challenging, but I refuse to give up until justice is served. Maximum May we regain the freedom to travel,” he wrote on Instagram on June 23.
The young man took to social media to denounce what he called “discrimination” and call for a review of the law. Till date only Kunnarasa has been able to travel Maximum twice. The first flight to Iceland will be on December 17, 2023 by Icelandic airline Bla Airlines.
“It was our best flying experience so far. The airline allocated us three seats in the front row Maximum There was enough space on the floor to lie down comfortably without disturbing or taking up space for other passengers. During the flight, this is the quietest part of the plane, which helps to focus and relax in a busy environment,” he wrote on Facebook.
In early June he was able to board again, this time from Luxembourg to the United Kingdom. He claims to be the first passenger with a guide dog to use the new service – before him, the company didn’t accept any dogs on board, but they made an exception because it was a guide dog.
“After countless hours fighting bureaucratic hurdles with phone calls, Emails and complaints, we were finally able to open the door to change”, He wrote In social networks.
to GuardianGunnarsson said he was “on the ground”, that is, unable to climb along Maximum, since February the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has tightened the rules for flights with guide dogs. However, the site The agency says only that airlines must “accept all guide dogs on flights free of charge” and that animals must remain with their owners at all times.
The athlete, on the other hand, says he has only one alternative to fly with him Maximum: First take public transport from Manchester to London, then take a train across the English Channel You can fly to Iceland only in France, where guide dogs are not restricted.
According to the same newspaper, if the youngster chooses to fly from the United Kingdom to another country in the European Union (EU), they must present an animal health certificate issued by a veterinarian. This document replaces the dog’s European passport, but it costs up to 2300 euros. In addition, assistance dogs not trained by the ADI or IGDF must travel on hold, and owners are charged an additional fee of over 400 euros.
Gunerson and animal rights activists are calling for an internationally accepted definition of guide dog to avoid such restrictions. Meanwhile, the teenager highlights that the costs of traveling by train with a dog are affecting his studies.
“This discrimination is more disabling than blindness. I have reached my limit. Maximum He was my eyes and guided me through many difficult situations and made my life so much easier. I refuse to transfer him to a randomly assigned guide dog with a bureaucratic label,” he said.
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