[nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
Julie J
julielj at neb.rr.com
Fri Apr 22 17:10:56 UTC 2011
Sheila,
I'm not sure if I agree that the schools communicating with each other is
always a good thing. Certainly it could be a good thing if it is done
responsibly and with an open mind. However I think there are quite a few
instances where gossip and rumors have been perpetuated and in some cases
expanded this way.
I have no idea what the answer is. A more thorough application process?
Criminal background checks? More references?
I think, as a society, we are always looking for a foolproof way of assuring
security. In regard to the guide dog programs, they want a guarantee that
no dog is ever going to be abused, mistreated or misused. That's a great
thing to want, but there is never a way to ensure it, unless you stop
placing dogs.
I'm just in a pensive mood today!
Julie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sheila Leigland" <sleigland at bresnan.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Lisa and All: Bill of Rights
> 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
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