[nagdu] Tenant Rights

Tue Mar 10 16:06:57 UTC 2009

Nicole,
    Would the dorm room be a private room or would the person be sharing 
with another? If it is a private room, there should be no need for 
disclosure. If it is shared, perhaps there would be the need to do so for 
the purposes of assigning someone who does not have allergies. Again, 
though, one way to test this is to ask, "If it were a matter of race, would 
I feel the need to disclose?" In other words, would the housing department 
consider hand-picking your room mate based upon your racial or ethnic 
characteristics? In this particular case, since the person will be in 
constant direct contact, an allergy may be a necessary consideration. 
Otherwise, the housing department has no right to treat you differently 
because you use a service animal.

Fraternally,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:40 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tenant Rights


> Okay, may be different situation, but now you have gotten me curious. 
> When
> applying for dorm housing on a college campus, how would you handle the
> situation?
>
> ----- 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: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 4:54 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tenant Rights
>
>
> Nicole,
>    I  can understand that this may be considered the "up-front approach";
> however, by doing so it raises red flags! I am of the opinion that, since
> the presence of a service animal is irrelevant to whether or not access is
> granted, the fact that we will be accompanied by a service animal is
> something we should not divulge in advance. By telling an airline, for
> instance, that we have a guide dog, we are implying that there is 
> something
> they need to do because of this. Not knowing what this might be, they 
> assume
> things based upon the stereotypes and misconceptions about blindness. As 
> the
> result, we actually are complicit in our discrimination!
>
> Fraternally,
> Marion
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 12:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tenant Rights
>
>
>> JMO, I would rather tell the person up front and deal with any problems
>> before getting there rather than showing up with my guide dog and being
>> turned away. Definitely don't let this one go, though. They need to know
>> that this is not acceptable.  Your guide dog is not just some pet; it's a
>> mobility aide.
>> Interesting how sometimes guide dogs attract people while at other times
>> they cause people to turn away. I wonder how the apartment owners would
>> have
>> responded if you had told them that you were blind, but not mentioned the
>> dog.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Julie J." <jlcrane at alltel.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 5:57 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tenant Rights
>>
>>
>> Heather,
>>
>> This is most definitely allowed on this list!  I'm glad you asked for 
>> help
>> with this.  I hope Marion will be able to assist you in getting it
>> straightened out.
>>
>> Have you thought about not mentioning that you have a guide dog in
>> advance?
>> Here, in the U.S., we are not required to notify a business in advance of
>> our disability or guide dog.  It doesn't eliminate problems, but at least
>> I
>> can deal with them in person. *smile*
>>
>> I hope you find the perfect apartment very soon, best of luck!
>> Julie
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Heather Hutchison" <heather at heather-hutchison.com>
>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 5:24 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Tenant Rights
>>
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> My apologies if this isn't allowed because I live in British Columbia,
>>> Canada, but I was wondering if I could get some general input on what 
>>> to
>>> do about being discriminated against due to the presence of my  guide 
>>> dog
>>> in applying for a rental unit.
>>>
>>> An acquaintance of my boyfriend was moving out of her apartment and we
>>> decided it would be a great area and a perfect place for us to live  in,
>>> so we contacted the landlords (a husband and wife) to set up a  viewing
>>> (we've seen the place before, but to do it officially). She  set up a
>>> time
>>> the next morning for us to come and view the suite. My  boyfriend
>>> mentioned the fact that I have a guide dog (not as a  question of if it
>>> would be alright, but simply to state a fact) and  everything changed.
>>> She
>>> said she would have to check with her husband  and quickly hung up. She
>>> called back and left a message specifically  stating that because there
>>> was another dog on the premises (these are  completely separate units
>>> though) that because of my dog, we would not  be considered to rent the
>>> suite. We have kept this message. We called  her to try and explain the
>>> law (the guide animal act of British  Columbia states that it is illegal
>>> to discriminate against a person  with a disability because of their
>>> intent to keep a service animal in  the rental unit unless sleeping,
>>> cooking or bathroom facilities are  shared) but she would not listen. 
>>> She
>>> put her husband on the phone and  he proceeded to be incredibly rude,
>>> screaming that they did not have  to accept a guide dog, essentially 
>>> that
>>> the law was wrong. He said  they weren't even having viewings (which is
>>> incorrect because we had  previously had an appointment for that same 
>>> day
>>> until they found out  about my dog). He then said we could come look at
>>> it
>>> if we really  wanted but that we wouldn't get it anyways. He said they
>>> were being  threatened when we said we would take legal action. One last
>>> time we  tried to read him the act, but he hung up in the middle of it.
>>>
>>> What should I do? I am having a very difficult time finding a place to
>>> live (I've heard every excuse in the book) and I'm tired of people
>>> blatantly ignoring the law. It is very difficult to find pet friendly
>>> suites in Vancouver and they are almost impossible to get into because
>>> they are in such high demand. I filled out a human rights complaint  but
>>> have not sent it yet. Anything else I should do? Should I pursue  this?
>>>
>>> Thank you very much in advance for any input you might have.
>>>
>>> Heather with Bibby
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
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