[Flagdu] Is Training the Answer?

Jorge Paez jorgeapaez1994 at gmail.com
Sat Oct 11 18:44:16 UTC 2014 

Is training part of it?
Yes.
But those involved in this incident should be disciplined, and
training would definitely be part of the whole but not the whole.

On 10/11/14, Jody Ianuzzi via Flagdu <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Was a formal complaint made with law enforcement in this case?
>
> Jody
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Oct 11, 2014, at 12:01 PM, Marion Gwizdala via Flagdu
>> <flagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>>
>>
>>                There have been some comments that the answer to the issue
>> of discrimination because of the use of a guide dog is more training.
>> Though
>> I agree that training should be an essential element, such training
>> should
>> be done before law enforcement and security have direct citizen contact,
>> not
>> as the resolution of discrimination! When such discrimination occurs,
>> though, disciplinary action must include a binding agreement that
>> includes
>> additional training and specific injunctions.
>>
>>
>>
>>                I want to remind you that this discrimination was not,
>> contrary to the minimizations of the Secretary of State's office, the
>> result
>> of the actions of one security officer. It was not even the result of the
>> actions of two or three security officers. It was perpetrated by six
>> officers, one of whom admitted he was the supervisor who had ordered the
>> actions of the others. When I spoke with Darren Fancher who told me he
>> oversees the security contractors for the Florida Department of
>> management
>> Services DMS), he first said he was unaware of the incident; then he said
>> he
>> might have heard something about it; and then he advised me he had ordered
>> a
>> full investigation! All I can say is that he did a lot of work in the
>> three
>> minutes he was on the telephone with me!
>>
>>
>>
>>                During our demonstration on Friday, at least five members
>> of
>> the general public stopped to ask about the purpose of our demonstration.
>> When we told them of the discrimination levied by the security officers
>> they
>> were astonished that such discrimination is still occurring. Now, if
>> members
>> of the general public are aware of the laws that provide our rights of
>> access, how can we excuse the actions of those who have a greater
>> responsibility to the public on matters of law? Some of you may not be
>> aware
>> that the state of Florida passed the first legislation concerning the
>> right
>> of access for a blind person to public places with a guide dog in 1949,
>> 65
>> years ago! The Americans with disabilities Act has been in effect since
>> 1990, 24 years! The laws of the state of Florida are in every library and
>> MyFlorida.com and implementing regulations of the ADA are published in
>> the
>> Federal Register and are readily available on the Department of Justice
>> website, as well as on the NAGDU website and a number of other sites. Oh,
>> and did I mention there's now an app for that?
>>
>>
>>
>> During the period of July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014, the NAGDU Information
>> and
>> advocacy Hotline receive 1,063 calls from individuals seeking information
>> about the rights and responsibilities of service dog users or seeking
>> assistance because of discrimination. While on my way to Tallahassee, I
>> took
>> a call to the hotline from an individual in Kissimmee who is being told
>> he
>> cannot ride in a taxicab with his dog. This list has seen news reports
>> about
>> hotels, restaurants, hospitals, convenience stores, doctor's offices, and
>> theaters denying access to service dog users. When are we going to say we
>> will no longer tolerate discrimination? When are we going to demand that
>> law
>> enforcement and security officers licensed by the state receive effective
>> training so that, when we do call them for assistance because of
>> discrimination we are not dismissed with the same old excuse that this is
>> a
>> civil matter when we know it is criminal? When are we going to call the
>> State's Attorneys to task for sweeping the law under the rug and sending
>> the
>> message that they are not interested in securing our civil rights by
>> failing
>> to prosecute offenders? When will we demand that the state of Florida
>> demonstrate the right way to handle discrimination is to take swift,
>> decisive, and effective measures to punish those who violate the law and
>> our
>> civil rights? Well, the national Federation of the Blind and the National
>> Association of guide dog Users made that decision some time ago! Now, it
>> is
>> up to the grassroots members - you and me - to see it to the end! The
>> National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
>> expectations of blind people because low expectations are the barriers
>> that
>> stand between us and our dreams.
>>
>>
>>
>>                This issue is not about one person being harassed because
>> of
>> her guide dog! It is about the state of Florida dismissing us until we
>> asked
>> the media to tell the story of state-sponsored discrimination against us!
>> If
>> we had not pressed the issue, it would have been ignored! Every citizen
>> of
>> the state and of the nation should be concerned about this because this
>> sort
>> of discrimination erodes the very fabric of freedom on which our society
>> is
>> built. Until everyone who reads this message gets out from behind their
>> computers and stands on the barriers with us, we will continue to face
>> discrimination and low expectations. We are a powerful organization only
>> when we stand together against injustice. I encourage you to join me as
>> we
>> work together to remove the barriers that stand between blind people and
>> our
>> dreams!
>>
>>
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>>
>>
>>
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc.
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind
>>
>> (813) 626-2789
>>
>> (888) 624-3841 (Hotline)
>>
>> President at nagdu.org
>>
>> http://www.nagdu.org
>>
>>
>>
>> High expectations create unlimited potential for the blind!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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-- 
Yours in Christ,


Jorge

God blesses those people
    who depend only on him.
They belong to the kingdom
    of heaven! (Mathew 5:3, CEV)

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is focused on You,
Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV)

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