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

Sat Mar 21 18:20:01 UTC 2009

Tina,
    The first thing that comes to my mind is, as others have already stated, 
do they intend to regulate guide dog schools that are not headquartered in 
California? What about those schools that are not in California who do home 
placements? What about follow-up with students from these schools who live 
in California?
    I would also like to ask CAGDU to address the question of the Eye Dog 
Foundation. Though they are located in Arizona, their incorporation is under 
the California Department of State. Benefactors have made sizable donations 
to train guide dogs for blind people, yet they have not trained a single 
guide dog in the past two years. They do not have a trainer qualified under 
California statute. I think the issue of where the school is located is only 
a cover. Would California consider dissolving the corporation or freezing 
their assets because they are violating the public trust?
    If you would like to chat more about this, please feel free to give me a 
call. My contact information is below my signature.

Fraternally,
Marion Gwizdala
813-626-2789
president at nfb-nagdu.org


----- 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: Saturday, March 21, 2009 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] CA State Board tries to regulate out-of-state schools


> Hi Marion- The Eye dog Foundation actually trains in Arizona, however, 
> they
> have an office in California. So I don't know what could be done. However
> the CA state board is meeting on March 25 at GDA and I plan to be there to
> find out more details about why the board is trying to regulate out of 
> state
> schools. Do you have any suggestions on what kinds of steps CAGDU should
> take while dealing with this issue?
> Thanks
> Tina
>
>
> "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 Marion & Martin
> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 5:58 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> 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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