[BlindTlk] a Message from a Sighted Federationist was Southeastern at it Again!

Mon Mar 8 16:05:56 UTC 2021

I feel for you guide dog owners even though I’m not a guide dog owner myself. When I was at the orientation Center for the Blind back in 2004 I applied for a guy dog with GDB and then I had to cut my stay with OC be short because someone at sexually assaulted me causing me to be pregnant and therefore I had to deal with that issue and the aftermath of it all which means I had to learn how to defend myself and so when it came to the interview process it all went downhill after my mom had said that I was taking self-defense course back in 2006 because the lady who probably no longer works there, Linda Torres who interviewed me, kept saying that there will be men everywhere I go which is true and I’m OK with that but if I should feel the need to protect myself I will and she talked me when we were on our mobility trip from home to CVS pharmacy what was then logs drugstore, and she talk to me a lot for pressing the light button and I didn’t clearly know what a juno walk was. I then received a letter saying I didn't pass the home interview for those reasons alone including not having strong authority at that time. it was always a dream of mine when I was a girl and read about Greff and Peter who both graduated from GDB, to have a guide dog of my own someday, well, I'm having second thoughts now, because of two reasons, one, what if I were to fail the interview again, and two I'm kind of burnt out from all the family pets we have owned in the past and still own now, but am kind of open to possibly having one once I get my own place, maybe eventually. so I feel your pain. For now I’m OK with being a cane user. That is all I know how to be, a cane user. But I do have to keep in mind it’s not for everybody. So I’ve been told.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 8, 2021, at 7:22 AM, Peter Donahue via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good morning Marion and everyone,
> 
>    When will this organization get a life and take aggressive action to stop these practices by most of our guide dog schools. What is not mentioned is that this behavior by Southeastern and other guide dog programs has prevented some blind people from benefiting from guide dogs and caused others not to seek replacement dogs for fear of this over reaching behavior from these programs.
> 
>    The NFB has been on record as opposing this practice ever since the mid 1970s. It's now 2021 in the 21st Century and the practice of ownership retention of guide dogs by schools like Southeastern is still going on. When will it stop! Will we still be discussing this issue and hearing such horror stories in 2060? People enough is enough! I wonder how Southeastern would like it if the NFB picketed them in protest of their actions?
> 
>    Since the NFB has shown that it can apply its philosophy and know-how to many types of blindness training it has yet to do the same with guide dog programs. By now it's obvious that the only way to beat them is to join them. The NFB has successfully conducted fundraising efforts to fund the construction and operation of the Jernigan Institute and other programs. Given the reports of recent abuses by guide dog programs towards their blind graduates and the lack of innovation in the training of guide dogs it's time to think seriously about establishing an NFB-run guide dog program.
> 
>    We need a guide dog program that will operate according to the standards spelled out in the Guide Dog Handler's Bill Of Rights a document I helped Marion and others to craft, one that believes in due process when it comes to alleged abuse of guide dogs, A program that aggressively seeks to employ blind persons in all areas of its operation including fully certified and in the case of California licensed blind guide dog instructors. This is last is another goal the federation supports with the passage of resolution 86:30 and something that will only succeed if the blind community recognizes that charity begins at home and learns to trust the abilities of blind guide dog trainers to be successful. It is dead wrong to demand that the rest of society give us equal opportunity but be unwilling to do the same with respect to the abilities of other blind people to be successful in many careers including that of guide dog instructor. ON this point we had better clean our own house before we clean the rest of society's houses with respect to its attitude towards blindness and the blind.
> 
>    This is a very sad state of affairs and one that the organized blind movement is responsible for allowing it to continue going unchecked by its lack of aggressive action to stop it. I hope this incident will be a call to action and we will see exciting changes occur in how guide dog programs treat their blind students and alumni and the rize of new guide dog programs to increase training and procurement opportunities for blind persons wishing to use a guide dog. All the best.
> 
> Peter Donahue
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala, via BlindTlk
> Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 8:44 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Marion Gwizdala, <blind411 at verizon.net>
> Subject: [BlindTlk] a Message from a Sighted Federationist was Southeastern at it Again!
> 
> Dear All,
> 
> 
> 
>                Before forwarding the below message, I asked the writer for her permission to do so. Her reply and the original message follows.
> 
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> This situation is deplorable.   Please feel free to use 
> 
> anything I write. 
> 
> 
> 
> Warm regards to you and Merry 
> 
> Arlene M. Naulty 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> While this is an example of over reach, it also exposes the
> 
> person with no vision or low vision to danger and emotional
> 
> damage.   Pulling a guide dog without notice or preparation
> 
> is beyond the pale.  It is inhumane and damaging for all 
> 
> parties involved.  This is clearly a matter for the Affiliate 
> 
> and/or our National Office.   Has that been done? 
> 
> Our membership should be informed....so they understand
> 
> and can share this information.
> 
> 
> 
> It looks like Southeastern has a contractual clause that they
> 
> never release ownership.   If that is the case, it leaves the 
> 
> door open for the guide dog to be pulled from the "owner"
> 
> Obviously, there are other guide dog folks with Southeastern
> 
> guide dogs.  This is an incredible exposure for "repeat
> 
> performances"  A protection plan needs implementation.  
> 
> 
> 
> Notwithstanding the emotional trauma for the blind or low
> 
> vision citizen and the guide dog....this requires immediate 
> 
> attention and involvement.
> 
> 
> 
> Joe and I received the initial detailed report from Marion which
> 
> was forwarded to us by Camille just 36 hours ago.   The matter
> 
> requires meaningful action.    Where does the Affiliate and the 
> 
> Chapter stand on this?  It sets forth an immediate need to warn
> 
> those involved so they can protect their guide dogs and 
> 
> themselves.    The confiscated guide dogs must be returned 
> 
> without delay.
> 
> 
> 
> How awful ! ! !
> 
> 
> 
> Arlene Naulty
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joyce Taylor <dr.joycetaylor56 at gmail.com <mailto:dr.joycetaylor56 at gmail.com> >
> To: amnaulty at aol.com <mailto:amnaulty at aol.com> ; Joe Naulty <jnaulty at cfl.rr.com <mailto:jnaulty at cfl.rr.com> >
> Sent: Sun, Mar 7, 2021 11:23 am
> Subject: FW: [NFBF-Leaders] Southeastern at it Again!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: NFBF-Leaders <nfbf-leaders-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-leaders-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala via NFBF-Leaders
> Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2021 7:57 PM
> To: NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org> >; NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> >; nfbf-leaders at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-leaders at nfbnet.org> ; flagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:flagdu at nfbnet.org> 
> Cc: Marion Gwizdala <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net <mailto:marion.gwizdala at verizon.net> >
> Subject: [NFBF-Leaders] Southeastern at it Again!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                On Thursday, march 4, Deanna Miller, one of Southeastern Guide Dogs Field Representatives made an unannounced visit to the home of Rev. Susan Blake, an Episcopal priest for the diocese of Orlando, Florida. They demanded to see her dog. When Rev. Blake let her in, the representative stated her guide dog “looked about four pounds overweight” and they were removing it. Southeastern’s contract allows them to repossess a dog for abuse, defined by this contract as being overweight. They also told her they had contacted her veterinarian and was told they had not seen the dog since 2018. The representative also stated that this vet said she was behind on her rabies vaccination. Rev. Blake attempted to explain that she had changed vets and her dog was seen by her current vet about one month earlier for a physical and vaccinations. Rev. Blake also attempted to explain that when she saw her current vet, he did not want to give her a vaccination because the dog had an ear infection. Once the infection was cleared, the dog would be vaccinated. Ms. Miller would hear none of it, obviously intent on the repossession. Ms. Miller pulled the leash from Rev. Blake’s hands, loaded her dog into the vehicle, took the leash off of the dog, and handed it back to her, driving off with her guide dog. Rev.Blake was left in her driveway with an empty leash in her hand!
> 
> 
> 
>                In less than one year this is the second instance I know about in which Southeastern has removed a dog because they believed it was overweight, without objective evidence, without warning, and without due process. This sort of abuse of guide dog consumers must stop and the National Federation of the Blind needs to step up and do something about this!
> 
> 
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> 
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> (813) 626-2789
> 
> Blind411 at verizon.net <mailto:Blind411 at verizon.net> 
> 
> 
> 
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