[nagdu] The membership has spoken, and I am disappointed

[Buddy Brannan]

So the resolution re: guide dog ownership and the NFB's support of advocating for the schools to change of ownership just failed to pass. I'm amazed. I'm disappointed. I'm frankly puzzled. How is it that we believe  policies saying it's OK for guide dog schools to retain ownership, and this apparently does not connote low expectations for blind people, when such a position in any other context would never stand? 

One thing that the folks who spoke in favor failed to mention, though I guess it wouldn't have helped, was this. Even if schools aren't routinely in the business of repossessing dogs without due process, the point is that they shouldn't have the ability to do so. It's great that it's never happened to most of us. It's fantastic that you feel as though you own your dog in every way that matters. But some day, the way things are now, this may not be the case, and we want to protect against that. After all, yes, we are essentially being given an expensive gift. Let's just for the sake of argument say that this is the case, though I know that there would be argument on that point. The point is, if the schools deem a student worthy of this gift, they should feel confident enough in this decision to give it without such reservations. If they do not, maybe they need better screening processes. 

I'm just flabbergasted. 


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Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: buddy at brannan.name