[nagdu] Question about taking off work to go get a guide dog

[Michael Hingson]

Hi Tonia,

You raise an interesting question many of us have faced.  I worked at Guide
Dogs for the Blind for more than six years and even there we were presented
with this issue.  When an employee needed to get a new guide the first
inclination of HR was to charge leave.  After some discussion HR decided to
require the use of vacation time.  Most of the blind employees felt that
since using a guide dog was necessary and invaluable for travel that we
pushed back and said that getting a guide dog was like any other education
or training that an employee needed for their job.  Of course, the education
was emphasized at GDB due to the fact that the particular employee and all
of us worked there.

After further research the HR department acquiesced and in fact agreed that
obtaining a guide dog was relevant and a reasonable accommodation for its
blind employees and thus not only did not charge leave but paid regular
wages while the employee was getting a new guide dog.  The employee, for
their part, did some work during off hours.

I have heard of other employers taking this same position.  There is not, to
my knowledge, any specific law president which makes the GDB approach a
certainty, but I suggest marshaling your thoughts and forces and take the
position that this particular training and education is good for your job.
Since you are in a rehabilitation arena I would think you could make a good
case.


Mike Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
 “Speaking with Vision”
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tonia Gatton
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 6:03 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] Question about taking off work to go get a guide dog

Hi all!  My name is Tonia and I am a long time federationist.  After 
procrastinating for many years, I recently applied to get a guide dog from 
the Seeing Eye.  I actually had my home visit this afternoon and I'm hoping 
to go for training this spring or summer.  I'm so excited!
Anyway, my question for you guys is how you handled taking nearly 4 weeks 
off work.  I work full time as a rehab teacher with a state agency; so my 
employer is familiar with the process.  What I don't have a clear 
understanding of though is whether or not I'll have to use my own leave for 
the time I'm away at training; or, if they are required to give me some sort

of medical leave with pay.  Due to various personal health issues as well as

having to care for family members with chronic illnesses and cancer in 
recent years,  I currently do not have much accumulated sick or annual 
leave.  Therefore, if I had to use my own leave to go for training, I'd have

to put it off for several months in order to build up my leave balance; 
especially since like most, I can not afford to take 4 weeks off without 
pay.

I've heard a lot of different prospectives on the leave situation.  I'd just

like to find out from you all as to if there are any ADA guidelines 
regarding this matter; and how your employer's dealt with your needing to 
take time off for guide dog training.

Thanks so much!

Tonia

 


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