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

Mon Mar 8 19:58:32 UTC 2021

Lauren,

	The first call I made after Rev. Blake contqacted me was to Raul
Gallegos, the current NAGDU president. His first reaction was "I need to
talk to Southeastern." He has Rev. Blake's contact information and has not
contacted her as of this writing. The NAGDU board was fully aware of the
incident last April which occurred during my presidency. And refused to get
involved. If they would have done something then, we would not be here
today. It seems as if the NFB does not consider guide dog consumers worthy
of their help!

Marion Gwizdala

Marion Gwizdala
(813) 626-2789
Blind411 at verizon.net

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Lauren Merryfield
via BlindTlk
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 2:26 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lauren Merryfield <lauren7877 at outlook.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] a Message from a Sighted Federationist was
Southeastern at it Again!

Has anyone contacted Nagdu?
Thanks,
Lauren Merryfield

"What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living
powers. Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart
that is cold.Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the
sorrowful. In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than
the power of love." Abdu'l-Baha

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Peter Donahue via
BlindTlk
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 7:21 AM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List' <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: pmdonahue2 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] a Message from a Sighted Federationist was
Southeastern at it Again!

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.rrcom <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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