[nagdu] American Idol contestant gets guide dog

Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS) REBECCA.PICKRELL at ngc.com
Thu May 14 13:46:50 UTC 2009


Anybody know if Scott will do a news story saying that a dog isn't right
for him at this time? 
Sounds like a good human interest story that could be done with taste if
the right reporter got involved. 
Maybe Elizabeth could do it? 

-----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_su
rpri
ses_idols_scott.html
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