[nagdu] once in a lifetime trip to jail

[Passle Helminski]

>Marsha,
>
>I am behind in my mail.  I play in a flute choir that goes to the 
>Albion, PA prison each Christmas.  We have been doing this for 
>years.  As long as my background ckeck clears and my dog guide, 
>smile, we always had no access problems.   The prison wants to make 
>sure that you are not related to anyone in that prison. Some of the 
>in mates train service puppies and half way through our concert the 
>conductor introduces me and my dog.  Then she asks me to walk around 
>so the pups and see what they will go up to be.   Afterwards the 
>prision  puppy raisers come up and talk to me.

Getting ready for our next PA  prison concert with my new guide.


Passle from Erie, PA
>
>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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