[Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.

Sun Jan 30 22:17:39 UTC 2011

steve,
    with all due respect, we are not making any assumptions here; we are 
examining the fact as as they are presented to us by all parties. We will 
neither assume that the program nor the consumer is in the right. Thus far, 
however, there seems to be a pattern that is emerging.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

We will follow the facts and see where we end up. At the same time, as we 
see a pattern
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
To: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>; "Blind Talk Mailing List" 
<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.


>I have sceen blind individuals who have no business having a dog guide.
> They are not able to properly  take care of the dogs due to there economic
> situation and their attitude toward the dog.
> Steve
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 9:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.
>
>
>> Steve,
>>    I appreciate your message and hope I can share a few more details with
>> you. I also appreciate your willingness to defend Fidelco. It is very
>> difficult to believe that something like this could happen and understand
>> your hope that there is a reasonable explanation. I know there are other
>> consumers who may be concerned about the pursuit of this action. Some may
>> contact me but most will probably only chat among themselves. If you wish
>> to
>> share this message with others, you may certainly do so.
>>    Please be assured that the National Association of Guide dog Users has
>> exercised due diligence to obtain accurate information from this consumer
>> and to hear Fidelco's explanation. The consumer in question signed a
>> release
>> of information granting Fidelco permission to speak with us. I spoke with
>> Fidelco's Executive Director, Elliott Russman, on January 24 and he
>> asserted
>> the release was not sufficient, as it had not been notarized nor
>> witnessed,
>> and he could not verify that the signature on the form was indeed the
>> consumer's. This, in spite of the fact that he has several other 
>> documents
>> signed by the consumer to which he could compare the signature to verify
>> its
>> authenticity. I would add that probably none of these documents had been
>> witnessed or notarized but were acceptable to Fidelco as authentic. When 
>> I
>> asked if Fidelco had such an acceptable form for use under these
>> circumstances, the question was evaded. I asked the question a number of
>> times and in different forms and never received an answer.
>>    Mr. Russman asserted throughout the conversation that the dog was
>> repossessed "for safety reasons", refusing to elaborate on this 
>> statement,
>> again citing privacy and confidentiality concerns. He asserted I would
>> find
>> the same response if I contacted another program. Let me share with you
>> that
>> I have contacted another program to which this consumer has applied and
>> they
>> have agreed to discuss the consumers application with me based upon her
>> verbal permission to do so.
>>    During our conversation, Mr. Russman asserted there was "a missing
>> piece
>> of information" the consumer was not sharing and I should obtain "another
>> document" from the consumer. I asked for more information about what sort
>> of
>> "missing information or document" I should be seeking and he only replied
>> that I should ask the consumer. The consumer states there is no missing
>> information nor document.
>>    Mr. Russman also shared that the consumer's father had contacted him
>> and
>> they had a long conversation. He said the consumer's father was not a
>> client
>> and, therefore, their conversation was not protected by their privacy
>> policy. He stated that this person, in closing the conversation, said, 
>> "If
>> I
>> were you I would not give my daughter another guide dog, either!" I
>> contacted this person who stated, "He's a flat-out liar!" He further
>> stated
>> that the telephone call could be characterized as neither a conversation
>> nor
>> long, lasting a few minutes during which Mr. Russman said very little.
>>    I have given Fidelco an opportunity to respond and they have chosen to
>> be evasive. Their choice to hide behind "privacy concerns" in spite of
>> written permission to discuss the issue causes us to wonder what they are
>> hiding.
>>    I advised Mr. Russman that I have heard there are others who have been
>> treated similarly. He replied by quoting Mark Twain who said, "the rumors
>> of
>> my death have been greatly exaggerated!" I will share with you that, in
>> just
>> a few short hours after disseminating my inquiry, I have had four people
>> come forward with accounts of similar treatment.
>>    The primary concern of the National Association of Guide Dog Users is
>> the protection of the consumer and their equitable treatment. As one of
>> those consumers, I would hope that you share the same desire. Those who
>> support the mission of a guide dog training program do so because they
>> believe they are doing good work that enhances the lives of the blind
>> consumer. As a stakeholder in this mission, should you find that the 
>> blind
>> are being mistreated, I hope you would join us in correcting the
>> mistreatment. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel
>> free to get in touch with me.
>>
>> Respectfully yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>> HTTP://NAGDU.ORG
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 8:16 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.
>>
>>
>>> If you are not giving the dog excellent care it should be removed.  This
>>> sort of stuff is ridiculous.
>>> Find out what type of care the person was giving the dog.
>>> Stevgfe
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Marion Gwizdala (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)"
>>> <blind411 at verizon.net>
>>> To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:49 PM
>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Please distribute the following message as widely as appropriate.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>         January 28, 2011
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>             The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a
>>>> division of the National Federation of the Blind, has been contacted
>>>> by a consumer of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc., alleging that
>>>> they have arbitrarily and without just cause, removed her dog from
>>>> her. Fidelco contends that they removed the dog "for safety reasons"
>>>> but refuse to share any more details, citing confidentiality and
>>>> privacy concerns, in spite of a signed release of information form
>>>> granting permission to speak with us. Fidelco officials contend they
>>>> have given the consumer an explanation of the reason the dog was
>>>> repossessed, a fact the consumer denies. Fidelco has referred us to
>>>> their ownership agreement which states, "Fidelco may repossess the
>>>> dog. . .for any other reason as determined by Fidelco in its sole and
>>>> absolute discretion."
>>>>
>>>>             We have reason to believe that this is not an isolated
>>>> incident and there are other consumers who have been treated in a
>>>> similar manner by the Fidelco Guide Dog foundation inc. We are
>>>> interested in hearing from others who have had their dogs repossessed
>>>> by Fidelco without cause or explanation "in its sole and absolute
>>>> discretion." Fidelco consumers wishing to file such a complaint
>>>> should send their names, addresses (including email addresses), and
>>>> telephone numbers, along with the circumstances of the repossession to
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>>>
>>>> National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>
>>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>>>
>>>> <mailto:President at NAGDU.ORG>President at NAGDU.ORG
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>
>
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>
>
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> 14:34:00
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> 14:34:00
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