[nagdu] Resolution Concerning Service Animals

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Well done!  I don't have anything to add, but I think it's a great idea
whose time has come...

We're finally included in federal hate crimes legislation, after all, as of
the last year.  Does this mean we're getting to be people.  /sarcastic grin/

Anyway, good work!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marion Gwizdala
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 5:50 PM
To: NAGDU List; FLAGDU List
Subject: [nagdu] Resolution Concerning Service Animals

Dear All,
    Pasted below and attached to this message is a resolution we will
present at the 2010 annual meeting of the National Association of Guide Dog
Users and to the general assembly. Please take the time to read this
resolution and ask any questions you may have. The membership will be asked
to vote on endorsing this resolution before it is presented to the entire
convention.

fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users
National Federation of the Blind
813-626-2789
Blind411 at Verizon.net



RESOLUTION 2010-XX

Regarding Civil Rights Protection of Blind Persons 

and Their Service Animals in Public Accommodations

Proponent: Marion Gwizdala

 

 

WHEREAS, the purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is "the removal
of the legal, social, and economic barriers faced by the blind" so that we
will achieve "full integration into society on terms of equality"; and 

 

WHEREAS, discrimination by places of public accommodation is one of the
barriers faced by the blind, especially among those who choose to use a
guide dog as their mobility tool; and 

 

WHEREAS, state laws vary in the protection from discrimination that they
offer to their blind citizens; and 

 

WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination
on the basis of disability in public accommodations and offers greater
protection against discrimination than many state laws; and 

 

WHEREAS, many states have laws that contain provisions that are incongruent
with the ADA, such as requirements that service animals must wear specific
gear, provisions for muzzling, requirements for documentation, language
concerning certifications that do not exist, and prohibitions of service
animals in zoos, all of which are considered discriminatory under the ADA;
and 

 

WHEREAS, although the ADA has been in existence for twenty years, many
states have not bothered to change their laws to conform with the ADA; and 

 

WHEREAS, a large majority of states provide criminal penalties for
discrimination on the basis of disability, allowing law enforcement to
intervene, generally resulting in an immediate resolution of such access
issues, while providing appropriate penalties for more serious infractions;
and 

 

WHEREAS, criminal penalties allow for a more expeditious resolution of such
access issues (benefiting the disabled community, in general, and society as
a whole) by addressing discrimination at the local level, while relieving
individuals from the burden of costly litigation and prolonged civil
processes:  Now, therefore, 

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this seventh day of July, 2010, in the city of Dallas, Texas, that
this organization call upon state legislatures to examine their statutes for
parity with the ADA, removing provisions that are not in conformity with
this Federal law; and 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon the remaining states
that do not provide criminal penalties for discrimination against blind
guide dog users to more effectively promote and protect the equal rights of
their blind citizens by creating criminal penalties for acts of
discrimination; and 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge all states to protect the
civil rights of the blind by vigorous enforcement of the law.