[Ct-nfb] We Must Block Senate Bill 234

[Janet Wallans]

Hi Justin, 

 

Do you have a copy of the bill. I tried getting it and wasn't successful in
getting the actual language of the bill. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Janet  

 

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Justin
Salisbury via Ct-nfb
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 10:18 PM
To: 'ct-nfb at nfbnet.org'
Subject: [Ct-nfb] We Must Block Senate Bill 234

 

Fellow Federationists,

 

Right now, guide dogs are funded through charitable donations. No doctor is
required to say I need one, and no unit of government says where I must go
to get a dog. A whole lot of our elected officials in Hartford are trying to
change that, and they think this bill is a slam dunk.

 

They need to hear our voices LOUD AND CLEAR.and NOW!

 

If you haven't yet, you can find your state-legislators at:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp

 

Here is a letter that I have composed, explaining the issue, that you can
send to your state-level legislators. It is attached in Word and Rich Text
Format, as well as pasted below.

 

If you need anything, please let me know!

 

Justin Salisbury

Legislative Coordinator

 

Dear Legislator,

 

I urge you to oppose Senate Bill 234 as written. I am a member of the
National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut, the statewide organization
of blind consumers. We have learned about the detrimental effects that this
bill could have on the guide dog industry. While we appreciate that some
well-meaning people may have authored this language in order to help us, it
has serious potential to do a lot more harm than good. Since we are not
experts on other types of assistance dogs, we will not speak for the
consumers of other types of assistance dogs; by the same logic, we are the
only ones that can speak for ourselves when it comes to guide dogs.

SB 234 will shift the acquisition of guide dogs to being governed by a
medical model. Medical service providers will then be making decisions about
what types of rehabilitation services we need, which they are absolutely not
trained to do. Health insurance and medical personnel need to stay out of a
process that is the domain of education and rehabilitation professionals.

SB 234 requires that guide dogs come from an "accredited, non-profit
organization", but common standards do not yet exist. ADI, (Assistance Dogs
International), attempts to do this, but it falls short, especially in the
areas of consumer participation and consumer advocacy and rights.

SB 234 takes autonomy away from guide dog schools. By telling them that they
must affiliate with other schools, they lose their independence and the
freedom to innovate as they serve their consumers.

SB 234 will take us away from the philanthropic funding model, which is
already working quite well, and stack yet another cost onto health
insurance. The system isn't broken, and I don't want the Connecticut General
Assembly to try to fix it. The cost of obtaining a guide dog is not
obstructive whatsoever for blind people, and some guide dog schools only
suggest a donation. 

Right now, guide dogs are funded through charitable donations. No doctor is
required to say I need one, and no unit of government says where I must go
to get a dog. Please do not let SB 234 change that! Please vote against
Senate Bill 234 until the language about guide dogs has been removed!

I am eager to be of any assistance you need.

Sincerely,

 

Name

Address

Contact Information

 

 

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