[nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

Sat Oct 31 06:54:22 UTC 2009

Yikes!  Just when you think you had it all figured out...

Good information there; I'll try it again when I'm actually awake. /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Steve Johnson
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 4:46 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

    Hi Linda,

You are correct, but this is strictly architectural in terms of physical 
access.  The provision surrounding new construction also applies to 
religious organizations
as such an entity is not exempted from state building codes.  I am gussing 
that you might be going toward the idea of programmatic access to goods and 
services as defined
under title II or 3 which of course, if the religious entity were subject to

the
requirements of the ADA would then meet the physical accessibility component

only as the other would not apply.  It is way too confusing, and the best 
advice I think any of us would give is to just work with that entity as my 
guess is that they would be very open minded about allowing access to 
someone using a service animal and more specifically, a dog guide as in our 
cases.

Tell them you will work with them to start a blessing of the animals day, as

we do here in our community with a couple of our area churches each fall. 
Lord knows my guide needs that blessing on occasion, and probably me too! 
LOL

I am going to guess that some of you will probably inquire as to what goods
and services are in a religious entity, and I am definitely staying away
from that one!  Smile!

So Linda, the whole ADA things is tricky.  Too bad it doesn't fall udnder
the Fair Housing Amendments act as it is a "house of worship".  Okay, bad
humor and it probably should be one of those things in the NFB News
Releases, huh?

Steve & Misha

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness

> Hi,
> I think churches ARE subject to the ADA when they make structural changes
> to
> their phsyical properties.
>
> My church was built in the early 1930s and, in many ways, it is impossible
> to make our church and parish house completely accessible to wheelchair
> users.  To do so would mean a cost so high that the church would be
> bancrupt.
>
> We have, however, made the changes we could to be as accessible as
> possible.
> There's a ramp to the sanctuary as well as a clear spot in the pews for
> people in wheelchairs.  The parish house is a different story because
> there
> are stairs leading upstairs to the main room.  We have one of those chair
> lifts that go up a rail on the stairs.  Our only accessible bathroom is in
> there.
>
> We do feel bad we can't do more, but we do as much as we can.
> Fortunately,
> our members who use wheelchairs can get out and walk a but with
> assistance.
> We do have Braille and large print bulletins and worship Orders of
> Service.
> The hymns are printed out in these bulletins for us.
>
> But, back to ADA, churches are just as subject to it as any other
> building.
> I know this for sure because the issue came up while I was still on our
> Church Council.  BTW, when our church redid its landscaping, they made a
> nice relief area for our guide dogs!  The pastor even e-mailed us guide
> dog
> users to tell us about it!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Linda and Landon
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness
>
>
>> been there and did that. Am not happy with the answer though.  All of the
>> houses of worship I have been to make every accommodation for access,
>> wheel
>> chair ramps, even Braille hymnals or at least ask if I would prefer such
>> never has my guide dog been an issue either. So by default, and most
>> probably due in part to what churches and synagogues offer, they always
>> welcome me and doxy.
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> www.myblindspot.org
>> PH: 917-553-0347
>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
>> is
>> doing it."
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Marion & Martin
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:38 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness
>>
>> Albert,
>>    Please see my reply to Jenine's message. religious organizations are
>> exempted from the provisions of the ADA.
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> marion Gwizdala
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:25 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness
>>
>>
>>> Very correct on that one.
>>>
>>> Albert J. Rizzi
>>> CEO/Founder
>>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>>> New York, New York  10004
>>> www.myblindspot.org
>>> PH: 917-553-0347
>>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
>>> is
>>> doing it."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> Of Jenine Stanley
>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:13 AM
>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Requirement of a Harness
>>>
>>> Technically, I believe churches do need to comply with the ADA in the
>>> spaces
>>> open to the general public. I could be wrong on that one, but I'm pretty
>>> sure it is correct.
>>>
>>> Jenine Stanley
>>> jeninems at wowway.com
>>>
>>>
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>
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>
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