[nagdu] once in a lifetime trip to jail

[Eggmann]

Marsha, one more success; good on you.

Just one observation though.  I think your fellow students need a huge 
bouquet for standing solidly behind you.  I've worked with dog guides for 35 
years and I knew I had changed attitudes on several occasions when various 
establishments initially balked at the presence of my well under control 
guide and even strangers stood up in my defense.  In fact, when I worked for 
our federal government, I can recall several occasions when having an office 
party at particular eating establishments when up to 20 of my co-workers 
were quite ready to walk out on a reservation when, un known to me, some 
staff member of a particular establishment indicated resistance to having a 
dog on their premises.  Wow, talk about good feelings!  In fact, that same 
group shut down our office on the last day before I retired my dog Iggy for 
an hour to have a party and give her presents--squeaky toys, a dog bed, and 
lots of hugs and belly rubs--for the dog of course.

Even before my dog days, I was with a group of students visiting our local 
museum.  They lifted a rope so that I could examine a particular piece of 
old farm equipment and the "don't touch that" reaction of a high-ranking 
museum employee damn near got them lynched on the spot.  Yikes, that was 
over 40 years ago when public awareness about disabilities was archaic 
compared to the attitudes of today.

Just 3 days ago, I went for a CT scan (to see if I have a brain) and there 
was honest concern expressed for my dog guide being in the same room and 
exposed to unnecessary radiation.  They also offered a solution which 
involved having her lie down covered with a led apron.  The solution I 
offered was of course much simpler and had the side effect of Miss Payton 
playing therapy dog in the control room next door.

So indeed, things are really improving; I don't recall any outright refusal 
of admittance from any establishment for me and my guide for well over 20 
years.

Doug
There are indeed happy tails out there!

To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 21:37
Subject: [nagdu] once in a lifetime trip to jail


> Hi All,
>
> My trip to Jail happened. It was a once in a life time sort of trip. Emma
> was the most well behaved dog ever, and no one at the prison gave us any
> trouble. My professor was a worry wart about it on the way there, mainly
> that the general message that I was permitted in, had not reached the 
> prison
> it self. We met with 4 inmates, who share their stories with us. We were
> also able to ask questions, as well have a tour of the prison. It was in
> total about a 2 mile walk around. On the way there, my professor and I
> shared the access issue with them all, and every single one of them was
> behind me. And knew that even though, granted a small chance, once we
> arrived, I could still be denied, told me later, that they would have 
> stayed
> behind with me, to protest the injustice. I made some great friends from 
> the
> trip with the students. And of course not only did I learn a lot but they
> did too. I am so happy I got to go, now I know what it was like, I would
> have been missing out on a incredible experience. I not only educated the
> prison system, but the other students, and my professor. I have to write 
> up
> a paper for my political science class, and will use that as a journal
> entry. Once I get that done, if anyone wants to read, I will email it to
> them directly.
>
> Thank you, to all of you for the support. Thank you, to Marion, for 
> working
> hard to help the state change their minds.
>
> If I can stress anything to anyone about this trip. Yes all that was
> involved in me actually being able to go, was stressful. Yes, I had to 
> make
> a big stink about it. Yes I stood up for my rights. But see there in that,
> is what it really means to change what it means to be blind. My professor,
> learned more about me and blindness and generally about guide dogs. The
> college learned, that blind people can visit a prison on a field trip. I
> showed the prison system, about civil rights, and about blindness. I 
> showed
> the students about civil rights, standing up for those rights, and a
> invaluable amount of information about blindness and guide dogs. Before 
> all
> of those people had different ideas of a blind person, about guide dogs, 
> and
> maybe about me. Now they do not, and little old me, has changed those
> thoughts. Wow it is incredible what I have done. Never did I think I was
> ever going to be put into such a position. But as blind people, as guide 
> dog
> users, we have/must/should to fight, stand up for our rights every single
> day. So its just all in a days work LOL
>
> Marsha
>
>
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