[nagdu] Resolution Concerning Service Animals

[Margo and Arrow]

Marion, I like the resolution and will vote for it.

I have a procedural question, however. Does this resolution have to come 
before the Resolutions committee on sunday?  I assume it does.  Should some 
of us attend that meeting to speak to it?  also, how do we know when it'll 
come before the general convention body?  I'm leaving a day early and hope 
it gets presented before I have to leave.

Margo and Arrow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "FLAGDU List" <FLAGDU at NFBNET.ORG>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 8:49 PM
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.
>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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