[nagdu] Compare and contrast

[Angie Matney]

OK. Got my mail reader working and was able to read this whole message. (I
sometimes think my computer has it in for me.)

My personal issue was that I felt a school should not hold up the processing
of my application when I indicated the type of coverage I had but was
temporarily unable to locate the policy number. I would also have issues
with a school *requiring* that I purchase *some* sort of medical insurance
to attend class. I don't have a problem with allowing people to make copies
of it.

I think we should also try to compare this situation with something that
doesn't involve disability in any way. 

I also happen to think that the word "paternalistic" gets used too often to
describe too many situations. Schools (and other blindness and non-blindness
organizations) can take all sorts of actions out of concerns for "liability"
that have nothing to do with paternalism.

JMO.



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 1:54 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] Compare and contrast

OK, not to disparage either organization, but I do have a question about how
insurance and other personal info is handled at the NFb centers. Like
residential guide dog class, these centers have you as their guest and
student for periods of time.

How is the issue of providing and keeping personal information such as
insurance coverage handled at the centers? Do you have to provide this info
upon applying or during your initial process of wishing to attend one of the
centers or is providing say your insurance card and/or info for copying,
done upon your arrival at the center as part of your intake there? 

As we've seen, there are a number of different ways the guide dog schools
seem to gather this info. The over all purpose for it, as I understand and
have experienced it from both sides of the desk, is to provide quick access
to your health care info in case of emergency or if you are incapacitated. 

I'd wager that the NFB Centers also need such info. If we are going to
compare policies, let's do so across the board with any residential
training, including non-NFb centers. Then we can really judge whether
certain policies are worth disregarding a program for our own needs and
standards. 

Please understand that I'm not saying any given policy is right, wrong,
paternalistic or not. I know what I personally would rather not do on an
initial application but that's not the point here. We all have our own
thresholds for such things. If giving out your insurance policy number is
really bothering you then don't attend that program, whatever it is, or try
to change the application policy to exclude this info, at least initially.

 Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com


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