[nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?

[Marion Gwizdala]

Jessica,
    though there are some states that have laws restricting access only to 
service animals that have been trained by a "recognized" program and 
requiring identification/certification, the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(ADA) specifically states that no such documentation can be required. Since 
the ADA is a Federal law that specifically supercedes (trumps) state laws on 
this issue, those states with such oppressive laws cannot enforce them!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jessica Pitzer" <rolosgirl at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 4:52 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] rejected by teh lions club?


>I live in washington and just looked up the laws and it doesn't say he
> has to be trained by a school. I believe I can do this, and I will do
> this. I have the support of my family and several friends and it seems
> your guys support.
> Jessica
>
> On 5/2/10, Julie J <julielj at windstream.net> wrote:
>> Jessica,
>>
>> Unfortunately you have just experienced lesson 1 in owner training.  It's
>> not called owner training for nothing.
>>
>> This list and a few others that I have found are pretty welcoming and
>> inclusive of owner trainers.  this is not the societal norm though. It's 
>> why
>> I stick around here and then people even thought enough of me to invite 
>> me
>> to be moderator! *smile*
>>
>> It is very hard to develop a support system to be able to owner train
>> successfully.  I rely a lot on other owner trainers for help with working
>> through specific training issues.  If I do get help from a pet dog 
>> trainer,
>> friend or family I have to be very, very specific with what I need.    If 
>> I
>> ask my son and friends to ride their bikes  around the block in a 
>> specific
>> direction and to not move out of the way for me, but to please say hello
>> when they get 20 feet away, I will get cooperation.  If I ask a friend to
>> help me train my guide dog, they will be overwhelmed, stressed and 
>> anxious.
>> Ask very specifically for what you exactly need at that moment.
>>
>> As for the legal issue...there are, at my last knowledge still a few 
>> states
>> that only recognize guide dogs from specific programs.  Tennessee comes 
>> to
>> mind.  However since the Federal ADA supercedes the state laws you are 
>> still
>> entirely legal to work your owner trained guide there.  the laws 
>> regarding
>> dogs in training vary widely from state to state.  What state do you live
>> in, perhaps we can help you locate your particular laws.
>>
>> All that said, part of that email is correct.  Training your own guide is 
>> a
>> lot of work and if done incorrectly can result in injury.  I don't want 
>> to
>> gloss that part over.  It's important to know.
>>
>> I'm sorry you were subjected to the harsh reality of what a lot of people
>> think about blind people training their own guides.  It's very 
>> discouraging.
>> But I suppose it's just like anything else blind people were told we 
>> can't
>> do...teach O&M, be Governor, climb Mt. Everest, be a doctor,...it takes
>> blind people who are willing to deal with the lack of support and still
>> remain confident in their own abilities to change those societal beliefs.
>>
>> You are always welcome to email me privately.  If there's anything I can 
>> do,
>> I'm happy to do so.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
>>
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>
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