[nagdu] National Toll-Free Education & Advocacy Hotline

Wayne Merritt wcmerritt at gmail.com
Wed Sep 23 02:24:17 UTC 2009


Marian: this is great news indeed. One question that immediately comes
to mind after reading this, especially the timeline you have, is this:
will the hotline be only during business hours, or will it have an
extended time frame? If it starts out in business hours, will it
expand to be perhaps during the day to sometime at night? As I'm sure
you and others know, a denial of access can happen at any time.

Again though, great news. I look forward to supporting and promoting
it among those guide dog users I know.

Wayne

On 9/22/09, Marion & Martin <swampfox1833 at verizon.net> wrote:
> Dear All,
>     Jenine has asked an important question and, as I stated in an earlier
> message, my mind is not quite as sharp as it once was! (smile) One fact that
> I failed to share is that NAGDU has been engaged in research & development
> of a National Toll-Free Education & Advocacy Hotline to provide information
> about service animals to the public. This hotline will offer general
> information about state & Federal laws protecting the rights of service
> animal users, as well as industry specific guidance regarding service animal
> access. This system will include information to assist such public
> accommodations as restaurants, lodging, taxicabs, health care facilities,
> and airlines. In addition, callers will have the option of speaking directly
> with a trained advocate for direct personal assistance. Furthermore, we are
> developing brochures and other collateral materials to provide this
> information, as well as to market the hotline.
>     NAGDU has applied for a grant from the NFB's Imagination Fund for
> start-up costs and is seeking ongoing funding through foundations whose
> mission is to promote independence among the disabled, animal welfare, legal
> assistance, and any other category we can think of to fund this project. We
> are planning to beta test the system during the first quarter of 2010 and to
> have the system completely functional by Spring.
>     Once we begin the beta testing phase, we will also begin the recruitment
> and training of the volunteers to staff the hotline. It is an ambitious
> undertaking and I am grateful to the NAGDU Board, especially to Vice
> President Mike Hingson, for their hard work and support of this initiative.
> I hope our members will embrace this project and pitch in to make it a
> success!
>
> fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/wcmerritt%40gmail.com
>


-- 
My blog:
http://wayneism.blogspot.com
My websites:
www.wayneism.com
www.whitecaneday.org




More information about the NAGDU mailing list