[nagdu] Guide Dogs at School

Wed Dec 7 13:26:33 UTC 2011

Mark,
    Sometime doing something in the interest of harmony creates bigger 
issues in the long run. For instance, If we present documentation to a 
restaurant manager who requests it from us, what would happen if someone 
else, either not possessing the documentation or unwilling to compromise 
their civil rights, refuses to do so? The end result would be 
discrimination, so harmony has not been created. I believe the best option 
is to educate them on the law, not placate their violation of our civil 
rights. JMHO!

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs at School


> So far, I am not having any problems.
>
>
>
> I provided them with the documentation requested in the interest of 
> harmony and good working relations. Even though we all know, including the 
> office, that it is not worth the paper it is printed on.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 9:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs at School
>
>
>> Mark,
>>    There are parts of this policy that seem to be noncompliant with the 
>> ADA, such as the requirement to present documentation and notify the 
>> police department. We are working with a DOJ attorney in the Office of 
>> Civil Rights Education Sector to get better guidance on this issue. It 
>> seems as if there has been some misinformation disseminated to some 
>> educational institutions that is causing some challenges here.
>>    As for housing, the Fair Housing Act is the law in effect for campus 
>> housing. If you have any challenges, please feel free to get in touch 
>> with me.
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 8:36 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide Dogs at School
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Due to the recent discussion about reasonable accommodations I thought I 
>>> would ask the list's thoughts on a recent discussion I have just had 
>>> with my schools ODS office.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Although I haven't posted on this list in a long time, as many of you 
>>> may know, I was considering getting a guyed dog. Well, I have finely 
>>> been accepted, and I will be receiving a dog from Fidelco on January 3. 
>>> Because I live in the dorms on campus, I informed the Suffolk ODS office 
>>> about my getting a guide dog. And, hear is a few excerpts from there 
>>> service dog policy. For the entire policy you can visit 
>>> http://www.suffolk.edu/studenthandbooks/47571.html.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Requirements of Service Animals and Their Partners
>>>
>>> Training: To be present on campus, a service animal must be specifically 
>>> trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual 
>>> with a disability.(no problem so far) Evidence of successful completion 
>>> of a recognized licensing or certification program for service animals, 
>>> or a letter documenting the training, is required. (What does that 
>>> mean?) A copy of the proof of certification should be filed with the 
>>> Disability Services Office (for CAS and SBS students), the Dean of 
>>> Students Office (for Law Students) or Human Resources Office (for 
>>> faculty/staff/administrators). Visitors or guests may be required to 
>>> provide documentation to the Suffolk University Police Department.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am not a lawyer, but does that line up with the ADA?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Note - Suffolk University will consider, on a case-by-case basis, 
>>> requests by students who reside in residence halls for a service animal, 
>>> including a dog or other animal, to reside in the residence hall. Please 
>>> direct such requests to the Office of Disability Services at least 30 
>>> days prior to the date the animal is expected to be in residence.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This sounds like they want the authority to refuse acksess to some 
>>> service animals that don't meet with the ODS stamp of approval.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On a different note, is on campus housing at a college covered under the 
>>> ADA, or the fare housing acksess act, or some other law I don't know 
>>> about?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mark J. Cadigan
>>> Electrical Engineering Department
>>> Suffolk University
>>> kramc11 at gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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