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

Fri Aug 13 20:02:23 UTC 2010

After spending most of day researching both schools that offer dog training, i've decided to go with the first school because i believe it offers more thanmost.  

However, this is the school that denied me due to blindness.  I've decided to contact thenational headquarters of the NFB for further steps  i can take to ensure my entrance into the school, as well as guide dogs for the Blind to see how their trainers, assuming they are blind, to see what their techniques are so that i may apply them to the course.

I will keep you all updated on the progress.

I do have one final question: who would i need to speak to at the national headquarters, or what department?

Thank you all for your support and advice.
On Aug 13, 2010, at 1:27 PM, Kerri Kosten wrote:

> Hi:
> 
> I have to agree with what everyone has said.
> Definitely fight this no matter what...if you do, you'll make it
> better for the next blind person who wants to become a trainer with
> this school!
> 
> I would not however contact the ACB. Like someone else said, the NFB
> is dedicated to fighting discrimination. We are much bigger, and in my
> opinion much much better than the ACB is! I hope I don't get into any
> trouble for saying this, but honestly to me...all the ACB does is sit
> around, and talk about what needs to be done and doesn't take much
> action when it comes down to it!
> I would try contacting the NFB national office. You can call them at
> 410-659-9315. Also, I would contact the President of the NFB's Dog
> Guide Division. It's called NAGDU, the National Association Dog Guide
> Users!
> 
> Good luck, and keep up the good fight!
> 
> Kerri
> 
> On 8/13/10, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have a blind O and M instructor here at CCB, and she's the best.
>> This goes to show that blind O and M instructors don't have to see.  I
>> have to do things differently with this lady, but she's really cool.
>> I like her a lot.
>> Beth
>> 
>> On 8/13/10, Jewel S. <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 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
>>> 
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>> 
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