[nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights

[Sheila Leigland]

WE HAVE SNOW AGAIN AT LEAST IT IS NOW MIXED WITH RAIN BUT MY DOG IS CRAZY TODAY. I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE SCHOOLS TALK TO EACH OTHER, i HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE.

-----Original Message-----
From: Brittney N. Mejico <brittneymejico at verizon.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 7:48 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,	the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights

weathers great laugh out loud or lole as jaws would say

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 6:09 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights

Well, I might as well come out and confess.  To me, you'll always be
Brittany in Mexico.  How are things down there, anyway.  /lol/  I'm just now
getting to the point where I don't have to double and triple check myself
before I screw it up.  /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Brittney N. Mejico
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 3:23 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights

Hi Tami
Glad I'm not alone lol

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:39 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights

Brittney,

Since JAWS pronounces my name as Tommy, I always have to remember to tell
people what it is to everyone else but JAWS:  Tammy.  I just don't spell it
that way.

So now I answer to Tommy, and I think I once heard myself introducing myself
to someone as Tommy.  /lol/  I have sighted friends who have heard me
proofreading with JAWS when they come over who crack up every time, then
start calling me Tommy.

I've embarrassed myself by getting people and names confused a few times on
e-mail lists because I went with what I heard without checking.  Um...
Apparently, I have special powers of being a complete dolt that way.

You are not alone!  /grin/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lyn Gwizdak
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9:44 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights

Hahahaha!  Yeah, wondered if you caught that female spelling, Marion!  No
offense to you, Brittney, I just had to crack up over it.

While we're on the name thing, I'm Lyn with one n and my name is either male

or female.

Cheers,

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brittney N. Mejico" <brittneymejico at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:40 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights


> hi Marion ,
> I am so sorry.  Next time I will be sure and check spelling
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 5:23 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>
> Brittney,
>    I appreciate your support. I would also appreciate it if you would
> please take note of the spelling of the names of those to whom you write,
> as
> I believe doing so shows respect for the individual. I realize that screen
> reading software may pronounce Mariane and Marion very similarly; however,
> Mariane is always a female name, whereas Marion can be either. In my case,
> it is a male name. FYI, the generally accepted female form of my name is
> Marian, although some females have the same spelling as mine, e.g., Marion
> Ross, who played Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Brittney N. Mejico" <brittneymejico at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 10:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>
>
>> Well Written! Mariane
>>
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: Marion Gwizdala
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 3:57 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>>
>> Brittney,
>>    For much too long, society has seen the blind as wards unable to
>> direct
>> their own lives - children who need the protection of others. All too
>> often,
>> many of the programs - including the guide dog training programs - feel
>> we
>> need them to survive! The truth is that they need us! If it were not for
>> our
>> blindness, those who train guide dogs would not have a job! If it were
>> not
>> for us, the training programs would not be able to raise the funds needed

>> to
>> operate the programs that provide this product for us. Frankly, if it
>> were
>> not for us, the Executive Directors of these programs would not be able
>> to
>> raise the money to pay themselves their 6-figure incomes! This puts us in

>> a
>> powerful position. with power, comes responsibility. It is our
>> responsibility to shape the programs into what we want them to be for us
>> by
>> making consumer choices.
>>    It is ludicrous to receive a guide dog with all of the strings
>> attached
>> that some have. Most programs have the mistaken notion that blind people
>> are
>> more likely to abuse or neglect their dogs, so they impose waiting
>> periods
>> before we can own the dogs. In addition, they require their consumers to
>> report in with them on a regular basis to make sure the blind are doing
>> what
>> the paternalistic programs think we should. Some even impose themselves
>> upon
>> the blind by mandating follow-up visits. Some even do this unannounced!
>> How
>> rude and disrespectful! Then there is Fidelco, which believes only they
>> know
>> what is good for the blind and exercise their sole and absolute
>> discretion
>> over our lives and property.
>>    Now is the time for us to stand up and demand to be treated with the
>> dignity and respect we deserve! our Guide Dog Consumers' Bill of Rights
>> will
>> be a statement of our expectations from the programs. Some will agree to
>> it
>> and some will not. Nonetheless, it will spark some conversations that
>> need
>> to take place and cause one or two of the paternalistic programs to take
>> a
>> closer look at their policies and practices.
>>    We will recognize those that agree to our values and urge those that
>> do
>> not to join us. In any case, we are in the midst of some exciting change
>> in
>> the guide dog movement!
>>
>> fraternally yours,
>> Marion
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Brittney N. Mejico" <brittneymejico at verizon.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 6:28 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>>
>>
>>> hi Mariane and every body else,
>>> Its all so complicated.  As a consumer you want the best dog
>>> possible.and yes I think we should get the best dog possible.
>>> but where do we draw the line between consumer who is asking to much and

>>> we are the consumer we have a right to know. There so many things I
>>> would have loved to know about my guide dog that I had to find out about

>>> later. I am starting to think that I am expecting to much from my
>>> school.  But at the same time I want to give them the benefit of the
>>> dout, sometimes they miss things, things do happen, dogs get sick etc.
>>> Sometimes I think I am complaining and other times I think "hay this is
>>> what you signed up for deal with it."
>>> Take care!
>>> .
>>>
>>> -----Original Message----
>>> From: Marion Gwizdala
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 2:32 AM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>>>
>>> Brittney,
>>>    I object to the characteristic of the guide dog consumer as a
>>> "beggar".
>>> Guide dog training programs raise millions of dollars each year with the
>>> assertion that they are doing something beneficial and enhancing for the
>>> blind. Donors - many of whom are their own consumers - donate these
>>> millions
>>> with the same intent. If it were not for us, those employed by the
>>> training
>>> programs would not be earning their livings.
>>>    The idea that we have no say and must settle for whatever we receive
>>> with no rights to address abuse or maltreatment is archaic. Most
>>> training
>>> programs obviously view their blind consumers as nothing more than wards

>>> who
>>> are unable to govern their own lives, let alone take care of a dog. What
>>> other reason would they have for not transferring ownership upon
>>> completion
>>> of the program? I have heard many justifications and rationalizations
>>> for
>>> this paternalistic practice but none of them are convincing. It is time
>>> for
>>> us to discard the notion that we are beholden to the training programs
>>> and
>>> demand to be treated equitably and with the dignity many of these
>>> programs
>>> mistakenly assert they provide.
>>>
>>> Fraternally yours,
>>> Marion Gwizdala
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Brittney N. Mejico" <brittneymejico at verizon.net>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 7:08 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>> Do we have rights as guide dog users?  Most schools give us our dogs
>>>> for free or they charge a small fee that I think is extremely cheap.
>>>> Beggers can't be choosers  I guess.  I think we should be informed of
>>>> any alergy or behavior problem but sometimes we aren't.  I think the
>>>> schools try there best we can't blame them for things that they may
>>>> have missed.  My guide has alergies, I found this after I brought her
>>>> home. I contacted the school I got her from,  and they helped me find a

>>>> food that didn't cause her problems.  A lot of people I know there
>>>> guide dogs have alergies, I don't know why, I guess things just happen