Children at a primary school in Teignmouth discovered how some four-legged friends can play an important role in helping people with visual impairments on Monday (February 4).

Guide Dog Ridley, an ambassador for charity Guide Dogs, and his handlers Peter and Mary Boston, visited Our Lady and St Patrick (OLSP) Primary School to give the children a first-hand account of how guide dogs help their owners to live independently.

Peter and Mary explained how these special pups undergo years of training so they can help their owners.

Ridley showed the children how he helps with everyday tasks, and demonstrated locating doors, stopping at pavements and avoiding obstacles. The children were very impressed about how Ridley was able to respond to specific commands as part of his role in helping guide his owners navigate safely through the world.

Ridley Guide Dog meeting children at OLSP Teignmouth
Children at OLSP were very excited to get up close to Ridley the Guide Dog (Contributed)

As well as getting to meet Ridley and finding out how important guide dogs are in the lives of many people, the children were also keen to discuss the concepts of inclusion and accessibility.

To get more of an idea of life with a visual impairment, some of the children also tried a braille exercise with Peter and Mary.

‘OLSP was so proud to have hosted such an important event. It reminded us all about the importance of accessibility and creating a more inclusive world for those with disabiliites,’ a school spokesperson said. ‘The visit also opened up conversations about how we, as individuals and as a school community, can help support and advocate for those in need, whether it’s by offering assistance to someone or simply understanding the role of service animals,’ the spokesperson added.

‘It was a brilliant day out for us all,’ added Peter. ‘The children were so keen and listened to all I had to say about our wonderful charity, Guide Dogs. They were full of questions.’