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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dear Fellow Federationist,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> I would like to share the exchange I have had with Christine Benninger, Chief Executive Officer for Guide Dogs for the Blind. It seems as if GDB has received a number of messages opposing the use of simulation during this event, as they have opted to respond to me and everyone else with the same form letter. Please see below for their canned reply and my response.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Marion Gwizdala <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Chris Benninger [mailto:cbenninger@guidedogs.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 10, 2018 8:34 PM<br><b>To:</b> president@nagdu.org<br><b>Cc:</b> board@nagdu.org; officeofthepresident@nfb.org<br><b>Subject:</b> RE: Concerning Canine Heroes Auction<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>Dear Mr. Gwizdala –<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>Thank you for your thoughts regarding our upcoming gala fundraising event, the Canine Heroes Auction. I do appreciate your perspective on dining in the dark. We are taking this piece of our program very seriously as we want to make sure it is a positive, educational experience for all involved. We absolutely do not want this to be a stunt, which has been an issue with other attempts from various organizations in the past. Our intent with this portion of our program is to give participants a carefully curated opportunity to better understand what it may be like to live with a visual impairment. We want participants to realize that there is nothing to fear, because at the end of the day who you are has nothing to do with what you can, or cannot see. Our hope is that at the end of the sensory journey, the group will not only have a deeper appreciation for their other senses but will also feel more comfortable when interacting with persons with varying degrees of vision loss. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>At GDB we have a long history of using occlusion for educational purposes. In fact, our apprentice instructors spend a great deal of time under sleep-shade while learning the skills they need to be a guide dog instructor. We believe our experience in this area will allow us to successfully execute a respectful and meaningful activity for all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>At the upcoming gala, the very short presentation, a sensory journey, is more of a celebration of all of our senses rather than a deprivation of sight. All guests will be instructed on dining in the dark and the program will include some orientation techniques to help guide them through the first course of dinner. We are designing the experience to be educational, impactful, and memorable. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>Best regards –<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>Christine Benninger<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> president@nagdu.org [mailto:president@nagdu.org] <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 11, 2018 1:04 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'Chris Benninger'<br><b>Cc:</b> board@nagdu.org; officeofthepresident@nfb.org<br><b>Subject:</b> RE: Concerning Canine Heroes Auction<br><b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dear Ms. Benninger,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> I would typically open a response to a message I send by thanking you for your reply; however, It is unfortunate that you have chosen to respond to the concerns of the oldest and largest organization of the blind in the United States with a form letter. We took the time to write a thoughtful letter respectfully asking you to reconsider the value of the blindness simulation exercise knowing that removing it from your fund raising activity would make no difference in the bottom line outcome of the event. The choice to respond to our position with a canned response demonstrates a dismissive, disrespectful attitude discounting our real life experiences and legitimate concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-indent:.5in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>It is obvious you did not take the time to read the information we provided to you. If you would have done so, you might not have stated, “Our hope is that at the end of the sensory journey, the group will not only have a deeper appreciation for their other senses but will also feel more comfortable when interacting with persons with varying degrees of vision loss”, research of simulation exercises reveal that participants felt more confused, embarrassed, helpless, and more anxious than before the simulation exercise. They were also more likely to feel more grateful that they were not disabled, dread the thought of becoming disabled, and report feeling less comfortable with the prospect of interacting with disabled people in the future. The simulations not only made people feel negatively about disability but could also hurt their future interpersonal interactions with a disabled person. (Nario-Redmond, Gospodinov, & Cobb, 2017) <http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rep0000127> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> Your form letter further states, “At GDB we have a long history of using occlusion for educational purposes. In fact, our apprentice instructors spend a great deal of time under sleep-shade while learning the skills they need to be a guide dog instructor.” As I stated in my original message, the National Federation of the Blind affirms the value of using learning shades to teach the skills of blindness to those with residual eyesight in order to master the nonvisual techniques to live a productive independent life. We also know and understand the apprehension some feel donning learning shades for the first time as they begin their training. As they master the techniques of blindness, this apprehension gives way to confidence and a higher sense of self-esteem and the resulting independence the skills are meant to instill. It is not something that happens in a few minutes but over a period of time. I believe you inadvertently validate this point when you state your apprentice instructors spend a great deal of time under learning shades. Expecting your contributors to come away with a positive view of blindness after a few minutes under learning shades is as unrealistic as putting an untrained pilot in a cockpit and expecting a safe flight. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> We want to once again urge you to remove the simulation exercise from your fund raising activity and consider substituting an activity in which independent, competent blind people demonstrate the nonvisual techniques they use, especially how confidently they travel with a well-trained guide dog. We believe this activity would better represent the mission and goals of Guide Dogs for the Blind and demonstrate the message that blindness is not the characteristic that defines us or our future. We understand making this change at such a late time in the planning might create some logistical challenges; however, it would strongly and clearly communicate the integrity of Guide Dogs for the Blind and its desire to do what is right for its consumers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>With kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Marion Gwizdala, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>(813) 626-2789<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>President@NAGDU.ORG<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="http://nagdu.org/">Visit our website</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="http://twitter.com/nagdu">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0 width=459 style='width:344.25pt'><tr style='height:43.5pt'><td width=110 style='width:82.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:43.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><a href="http://www.guidedogs.com/" title=GuideDogs.com><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=109 height=82 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.gif@01D460FB.A2B892D0" alt="Guide Dogs for the Blind"></span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=343 style='width:257.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:43.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Guide Dogs for the Blind </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Christine Benninger </span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> | President & CEO<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:8.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="cbenninger@guidedogs.com ">cbenninger@guidedogs.com </a>| <a href="tel:+4154924188">415.492.4188</a><br>350 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael, CA 94903 <br><a href="http://www.guidedogs.com/" title=GuideDogs.com><span style='color:black'>GuideDogs.com </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>