An ambitious goal or mission is often at the heart of innovative not-for-profits. Without a goal, people don’t have a reason to innovate, they aren’t sure on what is important and they are often unaligned in their focus. In this article, I talk about the positive impact having a focus on mission and an ambitious goal is having at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, from a recent chat I had with their General Manager of Social Change, Tamara Searant.
Ambitious Goals and a Commitment to Change
The team at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT are on a mission to create a more accessible and inclusive world by the year 2030. "It's a big goal, a big moonshot, but we're very committed”, Tamara explains. This ambitious goal has been a driving force behind the organisation's innovative approach, compelling them to look beyond their traditional scope and truly understand the needs of the people they support.
Rather than simply maintaining the status quo or addressing individual issues as they arise, the organisation has been compelled to tackle the root causes of inaccessibility and discrimination. This strategic shift has been a game-changer for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. Instead of looking inward and optimising their existing services, the organisation has been driven to explore innovative ways to drive meaningful, lasting change.
Tackling Systemic Barriers Through Integrated Advocacy
To bring their goal to life, Tamara and her team have identified three key areas of focus in their quest for a more inclusive society: policy and legislation, enforcement, and education and awareness.
One issue the organisation has been tackling head-on is the persistent problem of taxi and ride-share refusals for guide dog handlers. Despite existing legislation prohibiting such discrimination, Tamara and her team have found that enforcement has been lacking, and awareness among drivers is often low.
To address this, they've worked closely with the New South Wales government to increase the fines for guide dog refusals from $330 to a hefty $1,000. They've also conducted covert operations, working with enforcement officers to catch and fine drivers who refuse service to guide dog users.
But the team at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT knows that legislation and enforcement alone are not enough. That's why they've also been focused on the education and awareness piece, bringing guide dog handlers into schools to share their stories and help reduce stigma.
"We really do try to get that message out there," Tamara says. "The schools program that we've just kicked off is really focused on getting people who are guide dog handlers or cane users, just people with lived experience out there to talk more broadly about their lives and increase general awareness of our community."
Inclusive Design: Walking the Talk
While Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is working hard to drive change in the broader community, they're also leading by example when it comes to inclusive design. Their flagship office in New South Wales was recently recognised as one of the most innovative offices in the country, thanks to its thoughtful and accessible features.
From the start they used co-design to ensure that people from their community provided input and feedback into what the design of the office would look like.
The result is a space that caters to the needs of people with visual impairments, from textured flooring strips to guide cane users, to braille and tactile signage, to designated rest areas for guide dogs. It's a space that not only serves the organisation's clients but also demonstrates the organisation's commitment to inclusion.
Mobilising the Community for Greater Impact
As Guide Dogs NSW/ACT looks to the future, Tamara and her team are focused on taking their advocacy efforts to the next level by mobilising the broader community. They’ve built a program called Access Allies, and hoped to get more access allies signed up to support their future advocacy.
By empowering individuals to become active advocates for accessibility and inclusion, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT hopes to amplify their impact and create a groundswell of support for their mission.
A Beacon of Innovation and Impact
As Guide Dogs NSW/ACT continues to push the boundaries of what's possible, they're earning recognition for their innovative and impactful work. From winning the AFR's Most Innovative Companies award to receiving the ACT Human Rights Award, the organisation is proving that a bold vision, combined with a commitment to action, can drive real and meaningful change.
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