[nagdu] My Thoughts and Perspective on the Resolution concerning Ownership

[Michael Forzano]

It's really difficult for me to believe that a school would take a dog
without cause. In my experience, the trainers are genuinely nice
people who want what is best for both the dog and the handler. If the
schools are actually doing this I think it needs to be brought out in
the open as much as possible.

Mike

On 7/13/15, Steven Johnson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> We are not asking you to disclose information about the situations, but at
> least back it up with some qualitative evidence as arbitrary as it is.
>
> Thank you,
> Steve Johnson
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
> via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 5:09 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'; 'New
> York Association of Guide Dog Users'; New Jersey Association of Guide Dog
> Users; coagdu at nfbnet.org; 'Florida Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Marion Gwizdala
> Subject: [nagdu] My Thoughts and Perspective on the Resolution concerning
> Ownership
>
> Dear all,
>
>
>
>                 Since I disabled mail delivery while I was at convention, I
> have not read all the messages concerning the resolution for which I was a
> proponent. I have, however, received a number of telephone calls both in
> favor and opposition of the resolution. I would like to offer my
> perspective
> on this issue.
>
>
>
>                 As most of you know, I am in favor of training programs
> transferring unconditional ownership to the consumer upon completion of
> training. As the NAGDU president, I have fielded a number of calls from
> guide dog users who have either been threatened with or have had their dogs
> removed without cause and without due process. The unfortunate response I
> have for them is that there is nothing that can be done to protect their
> rights if they do not own their dogs. I realize that most of you will say
> your training program would never do such a thing without just cause;
> however, the fact is that it happens and you will likely never hear about
> it. It is not up to me to tell you about these cases, as it is protected by
> my ethical code of confidentiality. It is also sadly true that the people
> to
> whom this happens will likely never tell the list either, because they fear
> retaliation in the form of a negative report that could impact their
> application to another program.
>
>
>
>                 The one thing I regret during the consideration of this
> resolution is that I failed to ask for the whole resolution to be read. For
> those who did not attend the convention, with twenty-nine resolutions being
> considered, the chair chose to only read the resolved section of the
> resolution to save time unless someone asked for a reading of the whole
> resolution. I don't know if the results would have been any different but
> there may have at least been a little more awareness of the purpose of the
> resolution. After all, this was my primary purpose in introducing this
> measure.
>
>
>
>                 Though I am disappointed the convention chose to not pass
> this resolution, the other purpose for introducing it was to hear from the
> membership in a democratic forum. As president of this Association, I serve
> at the pleasure of the membership and am charged with representing their
> interests. This is true of each member of the Board of Directors, as well.
> My personal belief is that ownership affords certain protections and will
> always express this opinion; however, my personal agenda is not that of the
> membership. My duty is to express the will of the membership and to be
> their
> voice.
>
>
>
> As for this resolution being introduced again, it may very well be. At this
> time, though, I have no plan to do so. We have a great deal of work to do
> and I am dedicated to the work, not my agenda. There is much more that
> unites us than divides us. We may not agree on the issue of ownership but
> we
> agree we must have the right to full and equal access to those places the
> public is invited and we are creating collaborative relationships with the
> restaurant, lodging, health care, taxicab, and zoo industries to remove the
> barriers we face. I trust you will stand with us as we open the doors to
> full participation in society on terms of equality. In the words of Dr.
> Kenneth Jernigan, "come! Join me on the barricades and we will make it all
> come true!"
>
>
>
> Fraternally yours,
>
>
>
> Marion Gwizdala, President
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc.
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> (813) 626-2789
>
> (888) 624-3841 (Hotline)
>
> President at nagdu.org
>
> http://www.nagdu.org
>
>
>
> High expectations create unlimited potential for the blind!
>
>
>
>
>
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