[nagdu] New Law Targets Service animal Impostors

Marion Gwizdala blind411 at verizon.net
Thu Jul 2 17:53:13 UTC 2015


Bridget,

	Thank you for the message. Since you will not be at the NAGDU
meetings this year, please join us on our live stream beginning about 6:45
p.m. EDT on Sunday and Tuesday. Simply visit

http://www.nagdu.org

and click on the "Listen to the Live Stream" Link from the homepage.

Marion Gwizdala




-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridget Walker
via nagdu
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2015 1:21 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Bridget Walker
Subject: Re: [nagdu] New Law Targets Service animal Impostors

Florida is headed in the right direction! Good work! I hope more states
follow in your footsteps. I'm sure there are details to work through but,
Florida has the right kind of legislation and mind set for the fake service
handler representation. 
I will not be at the national this year but, my hope is this topic will be
discussed as possible legislation for other states. 
 
Bridget 

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 1, 27 Heisei, at 4:25 PM, Marion Gwizdala via nagdu
<nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> NEWS RELEASE
> 
> For Immediate Use
> 
> FROM: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users
> 
> DATE: June 30, 2015
> 
> TO: All media
> 
> RE: New Criminal Law Effective July 1, 2015
> 
> CONTACT: Sherrill O'Brien, President
> 
>     (813) 935-0474
> 
>                     Sherrill.obrien at verizon.net
> 
> 
> 
> NEW LAW TARGETS SERVICE ANIMAL IMPOSTORS
> 
> 
> 
>     On July 1, a new law providing criminal penalties for those who 
> pass their pets off as service animals took effect. This law, 
> sponsored by Representative Jimmy Smith (R-Inverness) makes it a 
> second degree misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and willfully 
> misrepresent herself or himself as using a service animal and being 
> qualified to use a service animal or as a trainer of a service animal 
> in order to take advantage of the civil rights protections afforded to 
> disabled people with legitimate trained service animals. Those 
> convicted of a violation of this statute would face a fine of $500 and 
> be required to perform 30 hours of community service. The entire text of
this law is attached to this message.
> 
> 
> 
> "The goal of this law is two-fold," says Representative Smith. "Its 
> intent is to enhance the quality of life for those disabled 
> individuals with a legitimate need for a service dog and to make the 
> public aware of the serious detrimental effects caused by their fraudulent
actions."
> 
> 
> 
> Sherrill O'Brien, president of the Florida Association of Guide dog 
> Users (FLAGDU), a division of the National Federation of the Blind, 
> supports the new law and believes it will be a deterrent to those who
abuse the system.
> 
> 
> 
> "I especially like the idea of requiring impersonators to perform 
> community service," says O'Brien. "It helps to offset the community 
> disservice they have committed!"
> 
> # # #
> 
> 
> About the National Association of Guide dog Users
> 
>                The Florida Association of Guide Dog Users is an 
> affiliate division of the National Association of Guide dog Users, the 
> nation's leading membership organization for blind people who use 
> guide dogs.  NAGDU is a strong and proud division of the National 
> Federation of the Blind. We conduct public awareness campaigns on 
> issues of guide dog use, provide advocacy support for guide dog 
> handlers who face discrimination, support sound policy and effective 
> legislation to protect the rights of guide dog users, offer 
> educational programs to school and civic organizations, and function 
> as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind. For more 
> information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users and to 
> support our work, you can visit our website at <HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG
<http://www.nagdu.org/> > or send an email to <Info at NAGDU.ORG>.
> 
> 
> 
> About the NAGDU Guide & Service animal Mobile App
> 
> The National Association of Guide dog Users sponsors the NAGDU Service 
> Animal Information & Advocacy Mobile app! This innovative app provides 
> general information about the state and federal laws that protect the 
> civil rights of disabled individuals who use service dogs. The app 
> contains the full texts of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 
> and each of the state statutes that affirm the rights of those who use 
> service dogs, as well as general guidance concerning access to 
> specific types of establishments, such as hotels, restaurants, 
> taxicabs, health care facilities and more. In addition, this app 
> provides the ability to directly connect with a live advocate who has 
> been specially trained to resolve access issues as they occur and send 
> an email for more specific guidance. This app is provided by the 
> National Association of Guide dog Users at no charge as a public 
> service. To download the app, simply type the term "NAGDU" into the app
store's search field.
> 
> 
> 
> About the National Federation of the Blind
> 
>            The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and 
> largest organization of the blind in the United States. The NFB knows 
> that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your 
> future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people because 
> low expectations are the obstacles between blind people and our 
> dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds 
> you back. The Federation provides scholarships to blind students; 
> support for those who are blind or losing their eyesight; advocacy for 
> the blind facing discrimination; and educational programs for the 
> general public on topics of blindness. The NFB is not an organization 
> that speaks on behalf of the blind; we are the blind speaking for
ourselves.
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/bridgetawalker13%40
> aol.com

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.net





More information about the NAGDU mailing list