[nagdu] my evolving feelings on ownership

[Sherry Gomes]

Once upon a time, I didn't really care one way or the other about ownership.
I had a good rapport with my school and wasn't worried. But then, as the
world of guide dog handlers came onto the internet, as I heard stories of
people I'd never have heard pre internet era, I came to feel differently.
Even though I still had a good rapport with my school, I came to think
ownership was important, if only as a way of protecting the rights of any
guide dog handler. When I received Olga in 2009, I was working in Admissions
at my guide dog school. Just a few months later, I lost my job, for reasons
I won't go into. It was partly my fault, partly the fault of someone else on
staff and partly the fault that my manager didn't like blind people and made
comments about it regularly, telling me she never wanted to hire me. I'd
only had Olga a couple months then, and the ownership policy was that I had
to have my dog for a year before I could get it. I was angry, bitter and
hurt about losing my job and the circumstances that led to it, and I did
really fear for the future of my interactions with the school. literally,
the day the year was up, I emailed my then field manager and told her I
wanted ownership. I would have anyway, but my personal circumstances with
the school made it even more urgent. In the past six months I have been very
vocal about my extreme unhappiness over the changes at the school. I've
written letters, signed petitions posted on the net and email lists. I truly
feared that there could be retribution and was so thankful for that paper
saying Olga is mine! That silly piece of paper I never cared about before.
anything can happen to change our school or our relationship with the
schools. Protecting my rights by owning Olga gives me the comfort I needed,
the confidence that it would be a cold day in you know where before anyone
will take my dog away from me.

Sherry


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of National
Association of Guide Dog Users
Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2013 11:41 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] [NAGDU] ownership RE: Guide Dog Schools

William,
	I appreciate your input on this issue. The challenge is that,
without an ownership agreement, the consumer has no recourse to resolve
issues when they arise. This leaves NAGDU in the position of advocating for
a consumer with no rights. Ownership agreements protect the interest of the
consumer. Without ownership, consumers are at the mercy of the training
programs. Without ownership, the consumer has no rights of due process. 

	I often hear consumers who disagree with our positions say they have
had no problems with the training programs. In my opinion, this minimizes
the experiences of those who have had issues. In light of the concerns and
experiences of others, would you not prefer to have an ownership agreement
that affords you the rights of due process and unwarranted, arbitrary
interference when it occurs? It is like purchasing insurance; you hope you
don't ever need it, but when you do you are glad to have it! 

With kind regards,
Marion Gwizdala 



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of William
Vandervest
Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2013 10:31 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] [NAGDU] ownership RE: Guide Dog Schools

well, i have never had any problem with Leader, and my personal opinion is
thet the mater of ownership is, and should be between the handler and his or
her school, and NAGDU as a group should only get involved  if and or when a
school begins trying to remove dogs without a valid reason


There are none so blind as those who will not see

William and LD Lynard 


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