Advocacy at The Seeing Eye

10/01/2026

We've kicked off Blindness Awareness Month by highlighting our State of Access Report Card, which grades and ranks the states based on how well they protect the rights of service dog handlers. https://seeingeye.org/access-advocacy/stateofaccess/

It's wonderful to see states taking the report card seriously and looking at what they can do better.

Check out this segment on Louisiana Considered! https://www.wwno.org/show/louisiana-considered/2026-09-09/breaking-down-louisianas-tax-incentives-for-spacex-how-guide-dog-availability-in-la-stacks-up-to-other-states

Video Description: A video graphic features the Louisiana Considered, NPR, and The Seeing Eye logos along with the text “How guide dog access laws in La. Stack up to other states”. Below the text is a circular image of Melissa Allman, Senior Specialist, Advocacy & Government Relations, smiling as she sits on a bench. Her yellow Lab Seeing Eye dog sits on the ground between Melissa’s legs.

10/01/2026

📣 Extra, extra! Our October Monthly News Update is here, and this one has something special to bark about! 🐾

It’s a SPECIAL EDITION celebrating our Every Crossing Counts campaign and Blindness Awareness Month! 🎉

Come see what we’ve been cooking up: free campaign goodies to share, real stories, handy talking points, and a peek at the wonderful people who helped bring it all together. There’s even a “Recipe for Safer Street Crossings.” Spoiler alert: a pinch of patience goes a long way! 😊

Our message for drivers and cyclists is simple:
Stay Alert. Slow Down. Yield.

Grab your favorite fall beverage, settle in, and give it a read! 🍎
https://www.PineTreeGuideDogUsers.org/monthly-news-updates

Then help us get the message moving by sharing this post with friends, family, and your community. Every share helps make every crossing count! 💛

A big thank-you to Guiding Eyes for the Blind for sharing this wonderful photo!

10/01/2026

Join us in celebrating Blindness Awareness Month this October! 🦮

Blindness Awareness Month is not only about supporting people who are blind, but also recognizing the challenges to equal access in daily life they face.

Here's how you can get involved this month:

🐶Learn more about service dog handler rights and where your state stands with our State of Access Report Card. seeingeye.org/access-advocacy/stateofaccess/

💚 Start a fundraiser to share with your friends or loved ones. seeingeye.org/you-can-help/fundraise-for-us/

🔄Follow us on socials and reshare our posts.

🐾Consider becoming a Paw Partner with a monthly gift. seeingeye.donorsupport.co/-/XGSBDCJY

Whichever way you choose, thank you for your support and commitment to the success of future life-changing partnerships between people who are blind and Seeing Eye® dogs.

PD: Text reads, "It's Blindness Awareness Month - Make a Gift Today" An image of a smiling golden retriever wearing a Seeing Eye puppy raising program bandana sits in the right corner with an ombre light green backdrop behind her. The Seeing Eye logo is in the left hand corner.

09/21/2026

Thank you to Pinetree Guide Dog Users for launching this campaign with a focus on keeping Street crossing safe for everyone! It’s not easy to be a pedestrian these days, let alone a blind pedestrian,  so what better time to raise awareness than on the approach of Blindness Awareness Month 

🚦 Get Ready to Make Every Crossing Count!

Whether you drive, cycle, or simply care about safer streets, Every Crossing Counts has a message for you.

This October, in recognition of Blindness Awareness Month, we’re launching a new public safety awareness campaign promoting safer street crossings for people who are blind or have low vision.

Visit EveryCrossingCounts.org to learn how drivers and cyclists can recognize pedestrians using white canes or guide dogs—and respond safely and predictably. You’ll also find real-life accounts showing why these actions matter.

📣 Download and share our free campaign materials:

Flyers, posters, and tri-fold brochures
A Driver’s Guide to Safer Street Crossings and campaign talking points
A children’s bookmark, sharing ideas, and a customizable press release
The Every Crossing Counts logo and T-shirt design
👕 You can even wear the message! Use our design to create your own campaign shirts or other gear. Organizations can also add their name to many of the materials.

Display a poster. Share a flyer. Give materials to a local business, library, police department, driving school, or community organization. Post the website on social media—or simply start a conversation.

🐾 We’re grateful to Leader Dogs for the Blind, The Seeing Eye, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind for generously providing several of the photographs used throughout the campaign. Special thanks also go to Dave Cleaveland of Maine Imaging for taking many of the original photographs that bring the campaign’s message to life.

Explore the campaign and download your free materials at EveryCrossingCounts.org.

09/02/2026

07/29/2026

Guide dogs help their users to travel around independently and safely, giving their users more independence, freedom and confidence.

Search for your local IGDF accredited Guide Dog provider to learn more: https://www.igdf.org.uk/closest-dog-guide-providers/

Image Description: A black dog in harness guides her handler along a paved street. The team is walking past a green garden bed with a decorative flower clock. Thank you to VBM Guide Dogs for this photo.

07/29/2026

Is a Seeing Eye dog right for you? 🤔🦮

Our guide dog training program has a host of benefits, but we thought we’d share a few of our personal favorites! From our full ownership policy to our well-rounded traffic training program to our lifetime of follow up service, we work hard every day to ensure the safety and confidence of all Seeing Eye teams.

Learn more about applying for a guide dog at https://seeingeye.org/guide-dogs/admissions/

Already a Seeing Eye graduate? Share your favorite Seeing Eye memories below!

PD: A sable German shepherd Seeing Eye dog in harness appears atop a digital list that reads “Benefits of Raising a Seeing Eye Graduate – Enhanced independence & dignity – Complete ownership over your Seeing Eye dog – Praise-based training – Potential to matched with a German shepherd, Lab, golden retriever, or Lab/golden cross – Well-rounded traffic training program – A lifetime of follow up service at no cost – 97+ years of experience – Seeing Eye dogs are raised and trained in all four seasons”

07/26/2026

"When advocacy becomes discouraging, let’s remember that we do have laws to protect us because people like Morris Frank and his allies pushed the envelope, educated people who didn’t even know what Seeing Eye dogs were, and laid a foundation for us," wrote Melissa Allman, Senior Specialist, Advocacy & Government Relations and Seeing Eye graduate, in our latest blog post.

"We can use Disability Independence Day as an opportunity to build momentum in small ways. Let’s hold space for stories about access barriers and denials, but also share stories with us about triumphs or times where your education efforts paid off."

Read Melissa's full reflection on the history and future of advocacy efforts at https://seeingeye.org/july-26-is-disability-independence-day/

PD: 1 - A historical black-and-white photo of Seeing Eye co-founder Morris Frank and Buddy, his German shepherd Seeing Eye dog, exiting a United plane.

2 - An archival letter by Morris Frank reads, "July 26, 1978 - Mr. w. A. Patterson United Air Lines P.O. Box 66100 Chicago, Ill. 60666 - My dear Mr. Patterson; The years are long and the years are many, and our association with Marty Strauss goes back many years. I still remember with pleasure, our meeting in New York a few years ago and glad to hear from your office that you are still well and active. The purpose of this letter, in in 1938, you and your foresighted manner, along with United Airlines, officially recognized that The Seeing Eye dog was an important part of a blind person's life. Not only did you open your own airline, but you helped to open other lines. The other day, I came across a newspaper clipping which showed the first Buddy boarding a plane in Chicago and landing here, which concluded before she died, the pioneer work in opening all transportation for Seeing Eye dogs. Even, before this official opening, United had always given permission to Buddy and me to fly your lines. Your interest and support over the years in helping blind men and women to live independent lives and to be tax payers, instead of tax recipients, will long be remembered by all of us. With kindest personal regards and for the many courtesies extended to us, Sincerely yours, Morris S. Frank and Buddy"

07/23/2026

The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois

07/09/2026

Thinking of going to Rocky Mountain National Park this summer with your guide dog? Check out this article for some refreshers on what you need to know about bringing your guide to the park.

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