[humanser] hospitals & dog guides

[JD TOWNSEND]

Hi List:

I work in a hospital and, in the past, have needed to visit hospitals in the course of my work as a social worker.  I travel with a dog guide or a long white cane, depending on the situation.  Many years ago I went with my dog guide to visit a patient in the psychiatric unit at a local hospital and was denied access to the unit due to the dog guide.  With some local NFB intervention the matter was resolved and I now work at that hospital, although in another unit.  That unit is the child & adolescent psychiatric unit and my dog guide is quite popular with staff and patients alike.

My friend, Marion Gwizdala, the President of the NFB Dog Guide Division, wrote about an upcoming seminar by that division on the rights of dog guide users as patients, but I was wondering from this list if others in the field have had difficulties such as my incident?

Below is a copy of the NAGDU message:
National Association of Guide Dog Users

National Federation of the Blind

 

October 27, 2009

 

Guide Dogs in Hospitals & Other Health Care Facilities

 

            What are your rights as a guide dog user when visiting family or friends in the hospital? As a patient, do you have the right to have your dog in the room with you? Are there places or conditions in which you can be restricted from being accompanied by your guide dog? Can your doctor deny you the right to have your guide dog with you in an examination room? Can an ambulance refuse to transport your guide dog with you? These questions and many more will be answered in an upcoming  special teleseminar.

            The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, will host "Guide Dogs in Hospitals & Other Health Care Facilities" on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. eastern  standard Time (7:00 pm Central; 6:00 pm Mountain; and 5:00 pm Pacific). This teleseminar is absolutely free; however reservations are required. Participation is limited and is on a first come first served basis.

            In order to reserve your space in this teleseminar, please send your name, city & state, and your email address by Friday, November 20, 2009 to

President at NFB-NAGDU.ORG

An email confirmation with the call-in number and access codes will be sent to you. Those without email access or who would like more information may call 813-626-2789.

            The information provided during this teleseminar is intended as informal guidance only and should not be construed as legal advice. The National Association of Guide Dog Users, the National Federation of the Blind, or any of its affiliates, divisions, or chapters will not be responsible for any telephone charges or fees that may be incurred as the result of participation in this seminar. For more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users, the National Federation of the Blind, or to locate a Chapter in your area, you may visit the following websites:

 

National Association of Guide Dog Users

HTTP://NFB-NAGDU.ORG

 

National Federation of the Blind

HTTP://NFB.ORG

 

The National Federation of the Blind is changing what it means to be blind!

JD Townsend, LCSW
Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
Helping the light dependent to see.