[nagdu] Ann Edie - Day to day on NPR

[Ann Edie]

Hi, Marion and Everyone,

Marion, I think, if you read the NY Times Magazine article upon which the 
NPR interview was based, you will find mention of the fact that the parrot 
was trained (at least in some way) to speak to the man when he is becoming 
agitated.  And I believe there was also mention of the monkey having been 
trained as a service animal.  However, I have no personal acquaintance with 
either of these people, so I don't know any more than is in the story.

But I think Rebecca Skloot did present the issues of service animals/comfort 
animals/pets pretty well in the full NY Times Magazine article.

Best,
Ann

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 7:58 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Ann Edie - Day to day on NPR


Dear All,
    I think this is an issue we all need to be aware of and well-educated
on. Though I am supportive of ann's right to use Panda, the other "service
animals" mentioned in this article are not currently protected by the
Americans with disabilities Act. The crucial part of the ADA's definition of
a service animal is one that is "individually trained". The parrot and the
monkey, though they may have an effect on the individual, have not been
trained to perform that function; rather, what they do is an innate ability.
It is a function of their presence, not a task for which they have been
trained. I would like to hear other's comments.

Fraternally,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ginger Kutsch" <gingerkutsch at yahoo.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 10:41 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Ann Edie - Day to day on NPR


Helper Parrots, Guide Horses Face Legal Challenges
NPR Listen Now [7 min 20 sec] add to playlist
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98958273

Photos:
Jim Eggers carries his parrot Sadie around with him in this cage converted
into a backpack.

Richard, a bonnet macaque monkey, helps Debby Rose get through the day
without debilitating panic attacks. Read more about him on our blog.

Ann Edie, who is blind, relies on Panda to guide her through her daily
activities

Day to Day, January 2, 2009 · Chances are you've seen a blind person
accompanied by a guide dog. But what about a guide horse, a service parrot
or a monkey trained to help an agoraphobic?

These are just a few of the nontraditional service animals that are used
across the country to help people with disabilities and psychological
disorders. As their uses are expanding, however, the government is
considering a proposal that would limit the definition of "service animal"
to "a dog or other common domestic animal."

In an article in the upcoming New York Times Magazine, Rebecca Skloot
outlines why many people are upset about the pending law. Sometimes less
familiar animals make better helpers, she tells Alex Cohen.

Miniature horses, for example, live much longer than dogs, which means that
their owners don't have to readjust to a new guide as often.

"Horses tend to live and work into their 30s, whereas a guide dog will work
six to eight years total," she explains.

And while guide horses may prompt more questions when entering a store or
restaurant than guide dogs, their strengths can make it worth it, she
explains. In addition to having amazing vision, they instinctually work in
synchronicity with their owner.

"They are herd animals, so they naturally work really well with other
people," she says, adding that "they are aware of their surroundings in a
way dogs aren't because they are prey animals as opposed to predators."

Skloot spent many hours observing how a miniature horse named Panda helped a
blind woman named Ann Edie. Even after all her preparatory research, Skloot
was blown away.

"I could sort of envision how a horse could guide a person. But the level at
which Panda guides her is amazing. In just a few blocks, I saw her maneuver
around things that I, as a person that's sighted, wouldn't have thought of."

As Panda walks, her hooves make a distinctive sound on the ground, sort of
like a person walking in clogs. The pitch changes on wood, leaves, cement
and metal, offering important clues for Edie about her surroundings. Panda
can also use her hooves to tell Edie to step up or touch the crosswalk
button - something a dog couldn't do.

"This is a perk we didn't expect," Skloot says that Panda's trainer told
her.

A Calming Parrot

The surprises don't end with horses. Jim Eggers, who suffers from bipolar
disorder, accidentally discovered that his parrot can help him calm down and
avoid destructive behavior.

Sensing that her owner is on the verge of a psychotic episode, Sadie talks
him down with, "It's OK, Jim. Calm down, Jim. You're all right, Jim. I'm
here, Jim."

He carries her around at all times in a backpack carefully fitted to hold
her cage. It's not an arrangement that people are accustomed to and people
are often skeptical.

"The reaction from a lot of business owners and the general public is often
one of suspicion, that you're making it up," Skloot says.

Eggers has been told, for example, that his parrot isn't allowed on the bus
with him.

This is why the "service animal" definition is crucial to people such as
Eggers and Edie. According to the American with Disabilities Act, service
animals are allowed to go anywhere with their owners. Confusion stemming
from the current law prompted a move for a more careful definition. But the
proposed change would exclude birds and horses, among other animals not
technically considered "common."

This means people like Eggers and Edie will risk breaking the law if they
keep their helpers.

Your can read more about the proposed legislation in Skloot's article in The
New York Times Magazine and see additional photos on her blog.

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