[nagdu] my evolving feelings on ownership

Sat Nov 2 23:37:01 UTC 2013

Sherry,
	I was a part of the inaugural Graduate Advisory Council for the
training program where I received my first three dogs. One of the first
things I brought up was the institution of an ownership policy. The other 11
members of the council chided me for being a typical NFB radical and not
trusting the administration. I reminded them that the policies we were asked
to shape were more long-term than our service on the council and the current
leadership. I posed the question of what would happen if the Executive
Director died or was fired; what would the new administration be like and
what could happen to our dogs? After more than a year of advocating for this
change, the council agreed on the ownership policy I believe is still in
effect. 

	About four years after my term on the Council ended, the Board fired
the Executive Director. Many consumers objected to this move, asked for a
meeting and were ignored. We organized a rally outside the gates to request
a meeting. They locked the gates and requested law enforcement to arrest
anyone who crossed into the property. They videotaped the rally and I have
it on good authority, created a black list of consumers who would not
receive dogs and were not welcome on campus. I have no doubt that, if we did
not have ownership of our dogs they would have found a way to remove them
from us in retaliation! I say this to demonstrate how quickly things may
change in the world of guide dog training programs and why it is vital to
have a sound ownership agreement. There is an adage that those who do not
learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them. I am working to ensure
we don't repeat them!The Graduate Advisory Council said it could never
happen and they were wrong!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala 
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sherry Gomes
Sent: Saturday, November 02, 2013 3:10 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] my evolving feelings on ownership

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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