[nagdu] FW: Re: visit to a prison

Tue Feb 9 20:11:15 UTC 2010

Now I feel dumb, I hadn't seen this and was thinking the male prisoners
were allowed to write to people that Noah's Assistance Dogs had matched
and all I could think was "scam alert!". 
Julie, thank you for trying to answer my questions.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Julie J
Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 7:35 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] FW: Re: visit to a prison

Here in Nebraska the puppy raisers in prison are called "Pen Pals".
They 
raise puppies for Noah's Assistance Dogs.

Julie

----- 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: Saturday, February 06, 2010 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] FW: Re: visit to a prison

> You are correct, the program for inmates raising guides is called
puppies
> behind bars if I am not mistaken.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> 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."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of Susan Jones
> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 8:05 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] FW: Re: visit to a prison
>
> Going into a prison is serious business, no matter who you are, or
what 
> you
> bring.
> I think Albert said it was really a county jail anyway?
> Anything could happen, of course, but I think they are about as likely
to
> hold a guide dog hostage as a visitor.
> Some service dogs are even raised by people serving time in prison.
> Regards,
> Susan & Rhoda
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of Stepper
> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 2:29 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] FW: Re: visit to a prison
>
> Hello Albert
> This may surprise you, however I disagree with the prison allowing.
you to
> have your dog in the prison.
> Here's why.
> First of all I for many years have gone to several prisons and jails
all
> over the northwest, for 30 years now.
> The problem with you having your dog is that your dog could be hurt or
> injured or even held as a hostage by a detained prisoner to achieve
> attention, or worse.
> Can you imagine the bind the prison would be in if that happened.
> Please don't think it isn't possible. Just by the nature of the
population
> the main job of the staff is to control the uncontrollable, and
prevent 
> the
> unexpected, and bazaar.
> Remember, it doesn't have to make sense to us, only them.
> Could you see this on the nightly news one night.
> Guide dog held hostage, and threatened with injury if prisoner demands
not
> met.
> Especially if you were in a common visiting room where prisoners and 
> family
> and friends can move about freely.
> I think your imply threat to go to the political is what spooked them
in 
> to
> allowing your visit that time.
> Also a long white cane, or folding cane or collapsing cane can be a
weapon
> in a moment.
> I believe your friend very well had something to worry about after he
left
> the visiting area.
> The staff may knuckle under at times, but most times the person
visited 
> gets
> it taken out on them in one way or another.
> Please I don't say this to criticize you, I am voicing my opinion and
> experience because I think sometimes we get caught up with fighting
for 
> our
> rights, and at times there can be other problems and dangers created
we 
> may
> not be aware of at the time.
> When I visited prisons or jails, I never took my dogs in, because of
the
> above possible problems. But they were explained to me ahead of time,
so I
> had a clear understanding.
> The same was true with my canes.
> I turned my canes, shoestrings, belt, lighters, combs,and anything
else 
> that
> could be used as a weapon  against me or others.
>  I than went sighted guide to visit, or to carry on a meeting, or
teach a
> class Most times these issues are addressed before you can enter the
first
> gate.
> Its clear you caught these officers by surprise, as they admitted.
> I would never want to be the one that gave a prisoner anything they
could
> use to harm me, mine, or others.
>
> Stepper
>
>
> ----- 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: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:02 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] FW: Re: visit to a prison
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> 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."
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook
>>
>
<http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=pp#/pages/My-Blind-Spot/1937406
8832
>> 8?ref=nf>   <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/albert-j-rizzi/13/142/0> 
>> LinkedIn
>>
>>
>>
>>  _____
>>
>> From: Albert J Rizzi [mailto:albert at myblindspot.org]
>> Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:39 AM
>> To: 'nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] visit to a prison
>>
>>
>>
>> I had what could have been a very frustrating experience, but with
cooler
>> heads prevailing, I was afforded access.
>>
>>
>>
>> Yesterday I went to visit a young man in my community who fell on the
>> wrong
>> side of trouble and is doing a short stint in the local jail. I had
heard
>> tell of instances where people with walkers and canes were asked, or
>> should
>> I say ordered to check their canes and walkers at the door before 
>> entering
>> for a visit. I find this to be ridiculous but can appreciate the 
>> reasoning
>> behind security and other concerns present with what could quickly
turn 
>> to
>
>> a
>> volatile  situation at any moment. that thought being given I decided
to
>> take my guide dog instead of my cane.
>>
>> After waiting on line, checking in and having been there for over
half an
>> hour, we were called to the desk, but I had already overheard a call
that
>> had been made inquiring into the procedures to follow with a guide
dog 
>> and
>> his visitor. At first I was told it would complicate the drug dogs
and
>> their
>> ability to do their job. I quipped  they are both service animals
with
>> specific trainings  which each handler should in any instance be able
to
>> control their animal and keep them on task and under control. I let
desk
>> clerk know I felt my rights as a citizen were being violated and I
was
>> being
>> wrongly discriminated upon due to lack of knowledge of legislation in
>> place
>> to ensure my equal access. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was
told
>> he
>> was transferred and there was no immediate supervisor present. I
>> questioned
>> that immediately and then asked in his or her absence to speak to
their
>> supervisor, or better yet, could they get the warden on the phone? I
was
>> told he was a busy man and that the clerk did not have his number. So
I
>> suggested that the clerk call the same person he did when I was
sitting
>> some
>> 40 feet away who gave him the misinformation so that I might speak
with
>> him
>> directly. They then suggested that we all meet, myself, my dog and
the
>> young
>> man I was visiting meet in a contained area with a glass wall between
>> ourselves. I felt that was unacceptable as no one else present was
being
>> asked to do that same thing during their visit. I insisted that the 
>> mother
>> of the young man I was to visit go ahead while I waited to talk to 
>> someone
>> in authority other then a clerk.  I advised the clerk that he was in
>> violation of the ADA, hoping he was to tell you the truth, and that
if I
>> were denied equal access then I would be forced to take the matter up

>> with
>> my senator and assemblymen. I also let him know that the types of
>> intimidation tactics used to maintain  order were lost on me as I
come
>> from
>> a long line of law enforcement officials and am immune to such
things.
>> Eventually, lutenent  Destefano asked me to step aside and discuss
the
>> matter in quiet. He understood my position and admitted that they had
>> never
>> had a guide dog come to prison before and were completely taken off
guard
>> on
>> proper protocol. I thanked him for his honesty and let him know that
this
>> was my first time to a prison, and it was my first time as a blind
man. 
>> we
>> immediately fell into a dialogue which led to a simple request. That
if
>> and
>> when I were to come again, would I give them a heads up so they could

>> make
>> arrangements  much as they do for others visiting with children. We
would
>> have been afforded access in a manner that would not have to
complicate
>> the
>> delicate balance within the prison. His concerns were not lost on me
when
>> after having only been sitting with my friend and her son, without a
wall
>> dividing us, a man was handcuffed and led away as he was attempting
to
>> pass
>> contraband into the prison illegally. I left feeling I had struck a
blow
>> for
>> our community and will be writing a letter to the warden, copy the 
>> senator
>> and thank the warden and lute ant Estefan for treating me with
respect 
>> and
>> in a proper fashion befitting any American. I will say that when I
got to
>> my
>> intended visit, the young man was fearful of retribution toward him
once 
>> I
>> left. I hope not, but will report back if and when I hear anything. I
>> would
>> welcome opinions on how I handled myself as I take very seriously the
>> responsibility of representing the blind in an empowered manner while
>> educating others along the way. All in all it was a good experience.
I
>> even
>> got a pat on the back from two people sitting in the lobby who
>> complimented
>> me on how I handled myself in a powerful way and how impressed they
were
>> that I did not bend to intimidation..
>>
>>
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> <http://www.myblindspot.org> 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."
>>
>> Visit us on
>>
>
<http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=pp#/pages/My-Blind-Spot/1937406
8832
>> 8?ref=nf> Facebook
<http://www.linkedin.com/pub/albert-j-rizzi/13/142/0>
>> LinkedIn
>>
>>
>>
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