[nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

[Peter Donahue]

Hello Jordan and everyone,

    We're trying to rid ourselves of such custodial policies not create more 
of them. The suggested "Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights" would do exactly 
that. Problems with ownership retention policies by guide dog programs go 
back to the 1970s. Perhaps it's time to shake the very foundations of these 
guide dog school policies just as we did concerning the public's perceptions 
of the possibilities for blind people in Daytona yesterday.

Peter Donahue
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jordan Gallacher" <jgallacher1987 at gmail.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:35 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights


Peter,
Good ideas.  My last post has a different view on ownership since some
people get a dog and never use it for its intended purpose.  The school
having ownership for 1 year or less would allow the school to reposess the
animal if it can be proven that the dog is not being used, mishandled, or
mistreated.  Then the school can make the decision about what should be done
with the animal.  What I don't agree with are the schools that have 2 or
more years that they retain ownership.
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Peter Donahue
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 1:48 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights


Hello everyone,

    The situation Marion posted about concerning Fidelco's removal of dogs
from graduates without detailed bonified reasons for doing so along with
other issues concerning the treatment of students in training and gradutes
of guide dog programs is leading me to believe that perhaps the best way to
address them is through legislation I'll refer to as a "Guide Dog Handler's
Bill of Rights." Such legislation would require guide dog programs among
other things to give valid reasons for the removal of someone's dog and an
appeals  procedure to be put in place should a guide dog handler feel he/she

has been wrongly accused of mistreatment of the dog. Yes it's true there are

irresponsible guide dog handlers among us just as there are irresponsible
individuals in our society. This is no reason to treat the blind like
children.

The failure of Fidelco to give the graduate in question valid reasons for
the removal of the dog is a situation we should not tolerate and need to put

a stop to. Leader Dogs has also behaved in a similar way towards its
graduates. If memory serves me correctly a Leader Dog Graduate's dog was
removed from them during a recent national convention. And as I recall there

was insufficient reasons for the removal of that dog from its handler.

    A Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights could require all guide dog programs
to give their graduates full ownership of their dogs upon successful
completion of their programs. I emphasize the word "Successful."

        Another issue the legislation could address is communication between

guide dog handlers and puppy raisers. In most cases this isn't an issue.
Sadly there is at least one U.S. guide dog organization that refuzes to
offer their graduates and puppy raisers the opportunity to communicate
directly with each other. The Seeing Eye only permits communication between
the two parties through the school. It removes all contact information from
correspondence from notes passed between the two parties. Such a custodial
practice also subjects both parties to censorship of such correspondence by
the school. Has this organization and others that may have similar practices

forgotten that they're dealing with adults who must learn to manage their
life's affairs including how communication between themselves and their
dog's puppy raiser will occur if it does at all. This decision should rest
with the parties in question and not the dictates of a guide dog program
that thinks it is doing the right thing when in reallity it is doing more
harm than good.

    A guide dog handler's Bill of Rights would require guide dog programs to

establish procedures for facilitating direct communication between its
graduates and puppy raisers and would prohibit the removal of contact
information it may pass between them.

    A number of Seeing Eye graduates have discussed this matter with the
school only to receive one excuse after another. And oh yes. As was told to
Marion by Fidelco concerning the graduate who's dog was wrongly removed the
same old fashion voodoo about confidentiality and privacy are touted
concerning direct communication between puppy handlers and guide dog school
graduates. Programs like the Seeing Eye and others with similar practices
would do well to enter the new Milennium on this matter or face the
possibility of a legislative mandate to do so. Guide dog handlers have a
right to learn about their dog's up-bringing. Who best to provide that
information than the dog's puppy raiser.

    One Seeing Eye Instructor told me that when one adopts a child contact
information for the child's former parents is withheld. The same should be
done in the case of guide dog puppy raisers and SE'S graduates. I wouldn't
be pressed to want such information from an adoption agency in the first
place. As the child becomes a part of the family and begins to share his/her

background I'd have a way to get the information I need to be a more
effective parent. A dog is unable to communicate such information to its
owner. I have had guide dogs from several guide dog schools and had no
issues with communication between myself and the dog's raiser. I have very
specific requirements any future guide dog program would need to me if I'm
to seek training from them. Because all guide dog programs have one less
then desireable practice or another switching schools to address the puppy
raiser communication issue is not an option. No self-respecting blind
individual should be put in such a predicament. Let's make sure graduates of

all guide dog programs have the opportunity to communicate directly with
their dog's puppy family if they choose to do so.

    These are just two issues a "Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights" could
address. I'm sure folks on these lists can think of more. It's an idea worth

considering to help put an end to practices many of us find demeaning and
offensive. Thanks for reading.

Peter Donahue




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