[nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

[Nicole B. Torcolini at Home]

Ownership is definitely an interesting and, at times, frustrating topic. One 
thing to consider is the exact meaning of ownership. Yes, I own Lexia, but 
transition of ownership to me did not really change anything that I had 
signed in the contract. Just food for thought.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jennifer Piening" <pienings at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights


> Hi!  When I was a student at BLIND, Inc., we could go anywhere we wanted 
> to go.  If I had wanted to take a tour of the city of Minneapolis upon my 
> arrival, I wouldn't have had to ask for permission; I would have just left 
> and did what I wanted to do.
>      I am not sure of the specific policy at GDB, but i know two people in 
> my class went out with their families and friends who lived in the area. 
> I was so tired at the end of the day that I really didn't want to go on 
> any nightly excursions.
>      I've also been at events at the National Center, and even though 
> people could go and do things at night, most people just stayed around the 
> center and hung out after an emotionally and intellectually stimulating 
> day.  Were we on lock down?  Of course not.  I think that maybe the same 
> could be said about schools.  They don't plan a whole lot of unstructured 
> off time activities, but i think that people could leave if they wanted 
> to.
>      I would like there to be a bill of rights, but how can we even 
> formulate a bill of rights, when we don't even agree on which rights we 
> should and shouldn't have?
>      I personally would like to have total and complete ownership of my 
> dog.  I never really thought of it till I got my second dog.  However, I'm 
> wondering if we might have more success if we compromised a little. Maybe 
> if the school could retain ownership for a year if they felt they needed 
> to retain some kind of ownership.  Then after the year, if everything was 
> going according to  the terms of a  signed contract with clearly written 
> terms and no ambiguity, then the person could own the dog.
>      It's unfortunate to have to give a little on an issue about which 
> people feel so strongly  but this is what collective bargaining is all 
> aboutt.
>      I think it is important to try our best to remain unified, so that we 
> can collectively work toward change.  If we fight among ourselves about 
> who is and who isn't a "good" guide dog handler, then we will never get 
> anything accomplished.
>      Jennifer
>
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