[nagdu] once in a lifetime trip to jail

[Margo and Arrow]

marsha, congrats.

I'm glad you went and am so pleased the professor and students were with you 
all the way and understood the accessibility concepts involved.

margoa nd Arrow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Toni Whaley" <blind_treasurer at verizon.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 1:12 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] once in a lifetime trip to jail


> Marsha,
>
> Congratulations.
>
> Toni
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Marsha Drenth
> Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 10:38 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> 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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