[nabs-l] update on dog training career. need help!

[Jewel S.]

I actually don't think you should cut your losses on this school. To
do so would mean that they win and that blind people will continue to
be left out of their program and they will continue to have
discriminatory practices.

Federal law trumps California law any day. The ADA tells us that
discrimination cannot be made based on a disability. Visual impairment
is, of course, a disability in today's society, so this is
discrimination based on disability. I would highly suggest contacting
NFB corporate headquarters for advice on how to go about suing this
school, because I think you should. If you don't, they will continue
to exclude people who have a visual impairment. The NFB is dedicated
to making schools, companies, and programs accessible to the blind and
have helped other students (such as the suing of Arizona State for
using an inaccessible e-text device, the Amazon Kindle). They should
be able to help or point you in the right direction at least.

I would not give up on this! As others said, this is just like the
argument against blind O&M instructors not being able to see
obstacles, traffic, and the student. It is discrimintation and
misconceptions of the worst kind.

~Jewel

On 8/13/10, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
> Have you contacted someone at the Guide Dogs for the Blind?  I thought they
> were among one of the first schools to experiment with blind instructors on
> their campus, but I could be wrong.  For this issue, I think going with the
> ACB's guide dog division would be a good idea.  I don't like directly
> pitting one group over the other, but I've seen some good things come out of
> that organization.
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Valerie Gibson
> Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 1:17 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: [nabs-l] update on dog training career. need help!
>
> If anyone hasnt' followed up on what i'm trying to do, i'll
> start by giving a brief intro.
>
> I'm tryingto get into a program that would allow me to become a
> dog trainer The school is based on California, but students can
> work from home with the aid of a teacher and people in the
> area.  I guess it's like a distance learning program.  I would
> not know however as they will not send me imformation or allow
> me to enroll inthe program as they said i do not meet their
> physical requirements.  That is, i do not have a vusual equity
> of 150 feet.
>
> I was suggested to email back and ask in what way this
> requirement would be needed.  Here's the email i got:
> Valerie,
> Unfortunately, ABC is unable to make exceptions to the physical
> requirements necessary to enter the program. They have been set
> by the state of California to keep you safe while you are in
> the program. You would be training dogs in group sessions or in
> a clients home and it would be imperative that you be able to
> see dogs approaching you that may be aggressive or confrontational.
> Regards,
> Deborah
>
> If anyone has any imformation on how i could fight this, or if
> i should just call it a loss, please let me know.
>
> Thank you so much for your responces to my last email.
> Look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Val
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com