[nagdu] American Idol contestant gets guide dog

Sherrill O'Brien sherrill.obrien at verizon.net
Wed May 13 15:02:10 UTC 2009


Hello,

Though GDA is trying to explain and apologize for the media's spin on this
incident, surely they should have expected this to happen.  They were
looking for tremendous publicity through this hugely popular show, and they
sure got it.  This sort of nonsense does nothing but continue to perpetuate
the public's stereotyped notions about guide dogs, and their confusion about
the process necessary for obtaining a dog.  If Scott Macintyre wants a dog
some time in the future, he'll do his homework and decide for himself the
school that best meets his needs.  Or he just might decide...for himself is
key...to keep using a cane.  How dull and unglamorous (smile.)  I'll jump
off my soapbox now.

Sherrill
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Jen&Nixon
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:11 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] American Idol contestant gets guide dog


Hi folks:

I was toold via someone through another list, a staff person has made a
correction regarding this particular news article with missing pieces and
misinformed public how they will be educated in how the whole process works
with getting a guide dog, etc. Here's a snippet of the information she sent,
and permission wnas granted to cross post this.

Hi everyone,

I wanted to post on this list (and feel free to cross-post as well for
me) the real story of what happened on Friday at GDA with Paula Abdul and
Scott MacIntyre from American Idol fame.
Your confusion is absolutely granted....the best way I can say about what
happened is that it was a media "spin". Over and over I had prepped Paula to
make sure that she states that the dogs that Scott will be walking with,
neither one of them will be given to him - that these dogs will be "similar
to one that he would get if he chose to come to GDA for the 28-day training
process - AFTER he goes through the whole application process". As you have
seen, the media took a much different spin, as did Paula in her delivery of
the events of the day.
Unfortunatly, when the media and celebrity is concerned, the end result of
the article or TV spot is out of our hands, but the real end result of
how/when someone receives a guide dog still remains in our control.
I spoke with Scott in detail for a long time after the media left to explain
to him that this turned out to be a "media blitz" and that if/when he
decides to get a guide dog, we will talk again at that time.
There is no way we at GDA would EVER "surprise" someone with a guide dog
without going through the whole application process - no matter who they
are, and I'm sorry that the media and Paula presented it in a different
light. At this point, Scott's life is very busy and full, and at this stage
in his life, his career is very important to him. Maybe down the road a
guide dog will be next to him, but I assur you all that he will have to
complete the same process as any other visually impaired person would.

Again, please cross-post. Please note that I do not checkthe list
frequently. So if you would like to contact me, please do so off-list.
All the best,
Lorri and NigelLorri and Nigel
lmbernson at guidedogs <mailto:lmbernson%40guidedogsofamerica.org>
ofamerica.org

Lorri Bernson (and guide dog "Nigel"!)
Guide Dogs of America
13445 Glenoaks Blvd.
Sylmar, CA 91342
Direct Phone/Fax: 818-833-6431
www.guidedogsofamerica.org


Jennifer McEachen and "Nixon"
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
Alumni Association Board of Directors and secretary
jenandnixon at gmail.com / jmceachen at guidedogs.com

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 3:52 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] American Idol contestant gets guide dog

Paula Abdul Surprises Idol's Scott MacIntyre With Guide Dog Direct link to
video

Paula Abdul Surprises Idol's Scott MacIntyre With Guide Dog

by Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna

Today 2:19 PM PDT The night Scott MacIntyre got booted from American Idol
five weeks ago, Paula Abdul took him aside and said, "I have a wonderful
surprise for you in a couple of weeks," he told Access Hollywood. That
surprise came on Friday when the Idol judge presented the visually
challenged singer with a guide dog from Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar,
Calif.

Scott walked-or "test drove" as he joked-two of the organization's Labrador
retrievers on Friday, but he won't get his dog until after the American Idol
tour ends on Sept. 15. At that time, he'll get matched up with the right
pooch for him and go through a 28-day training process. "We have to find a
dog that really likes loud music," joked Paula.

Scott, who was lured to the event under the false pretense that he was there
to sing, was quite surprised to learn the truth...

"Are you serious? Thank you so much," Scott told Paula at the event, which
was in honor of May being National Guide Dog Month and cosponsored by
Natural Balance Pet Foods and Petco.

Scott is the first visually challenged contestant on American Idol. The
Scottsdale, Ariz., singer isn't completely blind; he has a 2 percent field
of vision and gets around with the use of a cane. On the set of Idol, his
fellow contestants would walk him to and from the stage. Now, he'll have a
furry friend to help him out instead.

>From this link:

http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b123256_paula_abdul_surpri
ses_idols_scott.html
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