[nagdu] rejected by the lions club?

[Albert J Rizzi]

Well, first we have someone who understands some of what goes into some
people's choices  in their options for mobility. We also have another
misinformed individual who knows nothing of the handlers who prefer to owner
train their dogs. We also have a person who has a strong affiliation with a
school that the Lion's Club committed raises funds for. So, perhaps there is
an opportunity to educate miss rosemary on the fact that some people are
very adept at training their dogs and that as a president of a chapter she
needs to be better informed before she offers advice or as I have
interpreted the tone, condemnation for those who choose to owner train. I
would be happy to suggest forwarding this email to our lion's list serve and
ask them their opinion, and I would even offer to write her, for I myself am
a lion and would welcome the opportunity of opening her eyes to the truths
about guides and options with everything that is Lionism. She is just
unaware and ignorant of what is possible in this regard, and may obviously
be getting her skewed  opinion  from the organization  which she and her
club give so much money to and get so much publicity from for doing so. 

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."


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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jessica Pitzer
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 3:53 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

Hi all,
following is an email I received in response to an email I sent to my
local lions club about asking for help with some of the costs of owner
training. I'm.. not quite sure how to feel right now except baffled as
we have some many owner trainers and I just embarked on this journey
myself.
Thoughts?
On 5/2/10, Rosemary Richert <rosemary at richertnet.com> wrote:
> Hi Bert,
>
> It is highly unusual, and questionably irresponsible, for someone to train
> their own guide dog.  The state only recognizes service animals which have
> been professionally trained.  Any other such dogs may be banned from
places
> which would otherwise allow access to service animals.  Necessary training
> of the dog is very comprehensive and time consuming.  And, subsequently,
> training of the blind person with the dog is, also, very comprehensive and
> time consuming.  For the person's training, alone, three weeks of on-site
> training with the animal determined best suited to their needs is
required.
> The blind person needs to prove their orientation and mobility skills
before
> even being accepted into a training program.  Without proof of the
adequacy
> of those skills, they will not be accepted.
>
> I served on the Board of Directors of Leader Dogs for the Blind for four
> years, and am the person who convinced the facility to become trainers for
> the blind/deaf community...to the best of my knowledge, it remains the
only
> facility with qualified instructors of deaf/blind individuals.  I tell you
> this, so that you may understand that I have a credible background in
these
> matters, and know whereof I speak.  I would strongly caution your Lions
> club, or any other Lions club, about considering involvement with a person
> who thinks they can train a guide dog for the blind on their own.
> Involvement under such circumstances could come back to haunt an otherwise
> well-meaning club.  It would make much more sense for this person to be
> screened as to qualifications; and, if qualified, be sponsored to a
> recognized service do training program.
>
> Thank you for your kind consideration.
>
>
>
> God bless.
>
>
>
> With Lionism at Heart, C
>
>
>
> PDG Rosemary

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