Norton Canes Primary Academy met
Carol and her dog Florad

'

Year 2 at Norton Canes Primary Academy met Carol and her dog Flora for the first time in January this year. They were embarking on a project about seeing in the dark (nocturnal animals) and invited Carol and Flora in because the children were curious about what is was like to be blind and how blind people coped.

They were so inspired they decided to try and raise funds to help Carol look after Flora. 

Their aim was £260 - £10 per class member. As a class they decided to do a sponsored walk of 10 laps of the school field. One Child took it upon himself to raise a whopping £340 on his own by cycling around Chasewater. Another child sold his Christmas toys to raise £75. The grand total came to £800 and was presented to Carol and Flora today to give to the Guide Dog Association. The children were ecstatic to see Carol and Flora again. '

Carol O'Brien

Teacher 26 May 2016

Carol and Guide Dog Flora meet Michael Fabricant MP

Michael Fabricant MP meeting Carol and Flora
25 May 2016

TAXIS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEED TO BE AWARE OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE BLIND AND THEIR GUIDE DOGS

Michael Fabricant and other MPs met partially sighted and sightless constituents in Parliament today (Wednesday 25^th May) along with their Guide Dogs.

Michael met Carol Trigg of Burntwood who, with her guide dog Flora, had been refused entry to a taxi in Cannock. Carol says “I am aware from conversations with other guide dog owners I regularly meet that I am not alone in having been refused a taxi in Staffordshire.”

Michael says “It is the law that taxi drivers must accept guide dogs and their handlers.  It is against the law to refuse and there are fines and the risk of the loss of their taxi licences if drivers do not comply.

“I have taken this up with the Government minister, Justin Tomlinson, who has responsibility for this and asked if the Government can give this law more publicity and increase the penalties on any driver who discriminates against anyone with a guide dog by refusing to carry them to their destination.  And this applies to train operators and buses too.”