[nagdu] CA State Board tries to regulate out-of-state schools

Sat Mar 21 15:43:49 UTC 2009

I haven't checked all my emails here yet but I hope Michael Hingson can shed 
some light on all this since he works for GDB.

margoa nd Elmo
----- 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, March 21, 2009 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] CA State Board tries to regulate out-of-state schools

> Tina,
>    In addition to stopping this sort of action, is CAGDU doing anything to 
> pressure the Board to take action against the Eye Dog Foundation? I have 
> spoken with the California AG's office about this, however, since I am not 
> a constituent, I have very little influence over them.
>
> Fraternally,
> Marion
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "tina thomas " <tinadt at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 9:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] CA State Board tries to regulate out-of-state schools
>
>
>> Yes Angie  CAGDU is in the middle of working to stop the actions of the 
>> CA
>> state guide board.
>> Tina
>> CAGDU Secretary
>>
>>
>> "Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own instead 
>> of
>> someone else's."
>> - Billy Wilder
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Angie Matney
>> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 5:22 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [nagdu] CA State Board tries to regulate out-of-state schools
>>
>> Have people seen this letter from the California State Board of Guide 
>> Dogs
>> for the Blind to out-of-state dog-guide programs? The text follows the 
>> link.
>>
>> http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/forms_pubs/outofstateletter.shtml
>>
>> Letter to out-of-state schools
>> Re: Compliance with California State Law Pertaining to Guide Dogs
>>
>> Dear Out-of-State School:
>>
>> On July 8, 1947, Governor Earl Warren signed into law the Guide Dog Act.
>> This act was established to keep out maverick guide dog schools, protect 
>> the
>> visually impaired by setting minimum standards of training, provide
>> oversight for the disposition of donor funds and maintain minimum 
>> competency
>> of training for licensed guide dog instructors.
>>
>> The purpose of this letter is twofold. First, the Board wishes to inform 
>> all
>> out-of-state schools the statutes requiring compliance with licensure
>> requirements for instruction in the state of California. Second, the 
>> Board
>> has a process for compliance - namely the examination for an instructor
>> license. If a candidate for licensure meets the minimum requirements to 
>> sit
>> for the examination, they are eligible for licensure status. The 
>> examination
>> is given twice per year and involves a one-day Written Exam and a one-day
>> Oral/Practical Exam. Fingerprints are also required before taking the
>> examination.
>>
>> First, California law requires a license for the sale or the giving of a
>> guide dog. Business and Professions Code section 7210 requires that:
>>
>> It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, give, hire 
>> or
>> furnish under any other arrangement, any guide dog or seeing-eye dog or 
>> to
>> engage in the business or occupation of training any such dog unless he
>> holds a valid and unimpaired license issued pursuant to the provisions of
>> this chapter.
>>
>> Second, California law requires guide dog instructors to be licensed. An
>> instructor "means a person who instructs blind persons in the use of 
>> guide
>> dogs or who engages in the business of training, selling, hiring, or
>> supplying guide dogs for the blind."
>> California law as set forth in 16 CCR section 2284 requires:
>>
>> Anyone instructing a blind person in the use of a guide dog must be 
>> licensed
>> by the Board, provided, however, that a school may employ apprentices to
>> assist in such instruction. No apprentice shall act as an instructor 
>> except
>> under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed instructor.
>>
>> Last, B&P Code Section 7213 provides that:
>>
>> Violation of any provision of this chapter is a misdemeanor.
>>
>> The process for obtaining an instructor license begins with an 
>> examination.
>> To qualify to take the examination, the individual must have the 
>> following
>> qualifications as set forth in Statute (B&P Code Section 7209) -- which
>> states the following:
>>
>> [P]erson to be eligible for examination as an instructor must (1) have a
>> knowledge of the special problems of the blind and how to teach them, (2) 
>> be
>> able to demonstrate by actual blindfold test under traffic conditions his
>> ability to train guide dogs with whom a blind person would be safe, (3) 
>> be
>> suited temperamentally and otherwise to instruct blind persons in the use 
>> of
>> guide dogs, and, (4) have had at least three years actual experience,
>> comprising such number of hours as the Board may require, as an 
>> instructor,
>> and have handled twenty-two (22) man-dog units; or its equivalent, as
>> determined by the Board, as an apprentice under a licensed instructor or
>> under an instructor in a school satisfactory to the Board.
>>
>> Applicants for the instructor license are required to take both a written
>> and practical/oral examination. Applicants must provide a 15-30 minute 
>> video
>> demonstrating instruction skills. A panel of subject matter experts will
>> review the video and evaluate the candidate's oral defense of said video.
>> The five steps to licensing are available on the Board's Web site.
>> Applicants may also obtain the application for examination at
>> www.guidedogboard.ca.gov
>>
>> The instructor licenses are good for one year and are renewed each year
>> thereafter for a fee of $100. Along with the fee, an instructor must 
>> provide
>> the Board with evidence of continuing education (either 8 hours of
>> course/seminar attendance or 16 hours of attendance at meetings of guide 
>> dog
>> users or organizations of the blind).
>>
>> If you have any questions about the laws cited above, please feel free to
>> contact me at               (916) 574-7825       . Thank you.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Antonette Sorrick
>>
>> ANTONETTE SORRICK
>> Executive Officer, State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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