[nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

Mon Jan 31 17:25:49 UTC 2011

Peter,
Working with a new dog is totally different from a training program like
LCB.  When working a new dog, it is impairitive that an instructor be around
at all times to make sure nothing happens or to alert you to what the dog is
doing if you have not figured it out.  If it is your first dog, it takes
quite a bit of getting used to, and if it is a successor dog, well you might
pick up on things faster, but feedback from an instructor is the only way to
make sure you don't miss things about your dog.
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Peter Donahue
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 9:59 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

Hello Cindy and everyone,

    But there are those who want such an opportunity. Some of us don't 
respond well to too much free time. This has been an issue for me since my 
high school days. The effects of confinement in a dormitory setting are 
still with me to this day. Being able to fill the down-time with 
opportunities to travel unaccompanied is important for some. Once I was able

to travel unaccompanied doing so alleviated many of the issues I had with 
confinement in a dorm and saved my mother from having to take me too and 
from school on weekends.

    The right to do so needs to be protected. If you don't want to travel 
unaccompanied in your spare time fine. Work to protect the rights of those 
who do. you want the truth students in training should be required to travel

with their dogs totally unaccompanied prior to leaving the school to 
demonstrate they can work their dog in unfamiliar settings. Otherwise they 
don't go home with the dog. ----- Our centers require students to complete 
specific travel requirements before they graduate including the execution of

routes in to unfamilliar locations and environments. The same expectations 
should be held for students attending guide dog programs.

Peter Donahue who wouldn't be a very good prison inmate especially in 
solitary confinement.

Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 9:37 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

Well, at TSE you don't leave the campus outside of during the classes, but I

think calling that "lock down" is a bit strong. I've worked in "lock down" 
wards at the V.A. To be honest with you about this, when I am getting a dog,

I don't want to go a bunch of extra places, and I found that I was pretty 
darned busy and ready for time to just chill. You do really have to take the

dogs' needs into consideration some as well. It's not like we are there all 
that long. But I know there are doubtless plenty of opinions on this as 
well.

On Jan 30, 2011, at 9:30 PM, Jordan Gallacher wrote:

> Lock down?  Not at GDB.  We were on a pretty tight schedule when I was
> there, and there was plenty of time to do what you wanted.  Students had 
> the
> opportunity to go into town one weekend if they wanted to.
> 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 9:24 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>
> Hello Steven and everyone,
>
>    This too has been tried. Suzanne Whalen, a past NAGDU President 
> attended
>
> several meetings of the US Council of Guide Dog Schools and raised these
> concerns with them. Little has changed. The schools may have less
> custodial-sounding literature but still keep their students in training in
> lock-down during non-class hours. The things Cindy mentioned that have
> change are steps in the right direction but still fall far short of what I
> expect from a quality guide dog program.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steven Johnson" <blinddog3 at charter.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 6:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>
>
> I think Cindy makes a valid point though, and possibly approaching the
> association of dog guide schools ( name escapes me right now), may be the
> better approach.  However, the greater challenge then lies in getting the
> schools to all agreee, so whatever it would be would have to be generic
> enough for all to agree which is probably going to be a tough sell.
>
> JMO,
> Steve
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Peter Donahue
> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 6:46 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>
> Hello Cindy and everyone,
>
>    This is the same stuff we've said up here time and time again. We talk
> about wanting guide dog programs to change their ways but that's as far as
> it goes. Mean while those of us who want to see real change take place
> become more frustrated, impatient, and these feelings are expressed on 
> here
> in ways they shouldn't be. Others have said that it's time for less talk 
> and
>
> more action. Will 2011 be the year the discussions we've had concerning
> these issues translate in to a course of action? I certainly hope so.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 6:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights
>
>
> Well, I think the gide dog issue is in the scheme of things smaller in 
> scope
>
> and should be handled by way of dealing with the schools and not with the
> Congress. Technology is larger in scope and covers a wider variety of 
> issues
>
> and people IMO.
>
>
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