[nagdu] Shoppers with guide dogs being denied access atgoodwill industries

Tue Jul 17 17:34:42 UTC 2012

So, here's a bit of irony:

From http://www.goodwill.org/news-updates/goodwill-trains-service-dogs-to-support-people-with-disabilities/

Goodwill® Trains Service Dogs to Support People with Disabilities

November 5, 2011

Many people with disabilities could benefit from having an assistance dog to aid them in a variety of ways, including opening and closing doors, pulling wheelchairs, summoning help and providing companionship. However, so few trained assistance dogs are available that only one percent of Americans who need an assistancedog currently have them.

To address this need, Chattanooga Goodwill Industries created the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy to train and to provide assistance dogs free of charge to Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia residents who have physical disabilities.

Currently, the Goodwill has three service dogs in training – Eddie, Brandy and Hamilton. During their two-year training, each dog will learn over 90 commands and perform skills such as opening and closing doors, turning on and off lights, retrieving dropped or needed items and pulling wheelchairs.

It costs approximately $25,000 per recipient to train an assistance dog. If you’d like to lend a helping paw, the Goodwill offers several ways to sponsor one of its service dogs:

	• $10 buys your service puppy a bone or a toy
	• $25 buys your service puppy one month of dog food
	• $50 buys your service puppy his/her working vest
	• $100 buys a six-month supply of Sentinel
	• $200 buys one week of assistance dog training and includes 24/7 housing and care
Visit the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy’s Facebook Causes page to learn more and show your support!

2 Comments

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--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY

On Jul 17, 2012, at 11:56 AM, Margo and Arrow <margo.downey at verizon.net> wrote:

> I think that's a valid spin on things, Buddy.
> 
> Margo and arrow
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Buddy Brannan" <buddy at brannan.name>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 11:49 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fw: Shoppers with guide dogs being denied access atgoodwill industries
> 
> 
>> So, they probably figure that since we make less than minimum wage anyway, it's all we're worth after all, we can't even afford to shop at their stores, so why are we there. Right? LOL
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Jul 17, 2012, at 9:05 AM, "Margo and Arrow" <margo.downey at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: cheryl echevarria
>>> To: David R. Stayer ; Anil Lewis ; Margo Downey ; john pare jr. ; carl jacobsen NFB of NY President
>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 8:52 AM
>>> Subject: Shoppers with guide dogs being denied access at goodwill industries
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I thought I would share this.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> It was posted by my guide dog school, the guide dog foundation for the blind in Smithtown, NY.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> My own comments, on this, really is Goodwill crazy or what, sorry very unprofessional of me, but really.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Cheryl
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> 
>>> This notice is not specific to Tennessee. If you have had access issues with any Goodwill facility, please contact the law firm below.
>>> 
>>> Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee, a non-profit legal center advocating
>>> for the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities, together with the national civil
>>> rights law firm Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian are investigating
>>> complaints of discrimination against shoppers with service animals at Goodwill stores
>>> across the United States. In particular, we are investigating complaints that shoppers
>>> have been asked to provide "credentials" or documentation for their service animals;
>>> have been barred from entering or have been thrown out of Goodwill stores because
>>> they do not have documentation for their service animals; or have been asked questions
>>> about their service animals even when the handler's disability or the service provided
>>> by the animal is obvious.
>>> If you have been denied access to Goodwill stores or have been asked inappropriate
>>> questions by Goodwill employees because you use a service animal, we want to hear
>>> from you.
>>> To share your stories, please call Scott Grimes at Goldstein, Demchak's toll free
>>> number: 1-800-822-5000, or email
>>> sgrimes at gdblegal.com
>>> , or Sheila Odusote at
>>> sheilao at dlactn.org
>>> . All communications will be kept confidential.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Cheryl Echevarria, Owner
>>> http://www.echevarriatravel.com
>>> 631-456-5394
>>> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>>> http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> President
>>> Travel and Tourism Division
>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>> 631-236-5138
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
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