[nagdu] guide dog consumers bill of rights

[Sherrill O'Brien]

Hello to all,

Here's the Bill of Rights.

Sherrill O'Brien
Secretary, nagdu

A Guide Dog Consumers’ Bill of Rights:
1. General
	a. The guide dog training program shall seek input from the consumer ??
concerning the type of dog requested throughout the matching process.
	b. Consumers shall expect that every effort will be made to provide dogs in
excellent health and with appropriate temperament. Prior to placement the
training program shall fully disclose to the consumer in writing and in the
accessible format of the consumer’s choice all known issues concerning the
dog’s health, temperament, behavior, and training.
	c. The consumer shall expect a high level of competence from the training
staff to develop sound skills of working a guide dog.
	d. The guide dog training program shall correspond with individual
consumers in the accessible format of their choice, i. e., large print,
Braille, audio recording, or electronic text.
	e. Guide dog training programs shall maintain their Websites and online
media, including newsletters, press releases, and other collateral
materials, in a format accessible to the blind.
2. Equitable Treatment
	a. The consumer’s freedom of independent travel with a white cane shall not
be restricted by the training program, unless doing so would interfere with
the training process or adversely affect other consumers.
	b. Consumers shall be free to monitor and manage their personal health,
independently including, but not limited to blood pressure monitoring, blood
glucose testing, insulin injections, pain-management regimens, and all other
health maintenance routines. Assistance may be offered; however, the
consumer has the right to refuse such assistance.
	c. The consumer shall have the right to discontinue training at any time
with the full cooperation of the training program.
	d. Consumers shall be afforded opportunities to travel off campus
independently accompanied by their guide dogs prior to completion of
training, at the discression of the training program.
	e. With the permission of the puppy raiser, consumers shall be given the
option of contacting their dog’s puppy raisers near or after the completion
of training. Further contact, such as meetings, phone calls, etc., is at the
sole discretion of the consumer and will not be required, expected, or
discouraged by the training program.
3. Informed Choice/Due Process
	a. All binding contracts, agreements, and other documents shall be
available for review in the accessible format of the consumer’s choice
before making a commitment for services.
	b. Before consumers make a commitment to receive services, they shall be
provided in the accessible format of their choice all policies, practices,
and procedures governing their behavior while participating in services,
e.g., engaging in professional endeavors; use of cell phones, computers, or
other technology; and furloughs.
	c. Consumers shall have the right to use the services of an advocate of
their choice. The designation of a consumer advocate shall be made in
writing to the guide dog training program.
	d. Specific written due process procedures, including mediation options,
shall be developed covering all decisions and actions of the training
program that affect its relationships with consumers, individually or
collectively. Due process may be initiated by a consumer or his or her
designated advocate.
	e. All decisions and actions of the training program, such as denial or
discontinuation of services, removal of a dog, or repossession of a harness,
shall be made in writing in the accessible format of the consumer’s choice
with a detailed explanation of the decision made or the action taken.
	f. The removal or repossession of a guide dog for reasons of safety shall
include an assessment of the working team through direct personal
observation by an individual competent to make such an assessment. The
specific safety concerns that serve as grounds for the removal or
repossession shall be provided in writing to the consumer in the accessible
format of his or her choice prior to the removal or repossession, and/or to
an advocate acting on behalf of the consumer.
4. Confidentiality
	a. All personal information about a consumer, whether oral or in writing,
shall be kept confidential. This confidentiality policy extends to all staff
and volunteers of the guide dog training program.
	b. A consumer’s refusal to allow other training programs to share
information during the application process shall not be used as the sole
grounds for denial of services.
	c. A consumer’s personal information and records shall not be shared with
anyone without the expressed written permission of the consumer to authorize
the training program to release information. Only the information that is
authorized for release may be shared.
	d. No personal information shall be shared with any other person or
organization without the expressed written and signed consent of the
consumer. In such cases only the information authorized for release may be
shared.
	e. Individual consumers shall have the right to access any and all of the
information gathered or collected about them by the guide dog training
program and contained in their files.
5. Ownership and Disposition
	a. The consumer shall be given legal title, ownership, and possession of
the dog upon completion of the training program. Such title, ownership, or
possession shall not be revoked, suspended, or otherwise interfered with
without due process and in accordance with other provisions of this
document.
	b. Follow-up services shall be optional. Invitations for follow-up services
may be made when a representative will be in the area with the understanding
that the consumer may decline the offer without consequences.
	c. The retirement and disposition of the guide dog shall be at the
discretion of the consumer. Training programs may offer advice and guidance
but may not impose mandatory retirement, unless doing so is necessary to
protect the dog from abuse, maltreatment, or neglect or for reasons of
safety as provided for in this document.

6. Abuse, Maltreatment, or Neglect
	a. Consumers shall have the right to know the identity of those who file
allegations of abuse, maltreatment, or neglect and shall be given the
opportunity to answer such allegations before the training program commences
any action. Anonymous complaints shall not be accepted.
	b. The removal or repossession of a guide dog based upon allegations of
abuse, maltreatment, or neglect shall be done only after a thorough
investigation by an objective third party of competent jurisdiction over the
consumer and the dog. A detailed explanation of the decision to remove or
repossess a guide dog shall be given to the consumer or a designated
consumer advocate in writing, in the accessible format of the consumer’s
choice.