[nagdu] schools sharing info was Let me make it clear

Cindy Ray cindyray at gmail.com
Mon Jul 20 18:25:34 UTC 2015 

We have a bill of rights that we passed a while back. I wonder, Sandra, have
you read it?
I agree there should be confidentiality. Not sure I am worried about it on
my own behalf though, but many of these are good points.
Cindy


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of S L Johnson via
nagdu
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 12:04 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: S L Johnson
Subject: Re: [nagdu] schools sharing info was Let me make it clear

Hi Tracy:

The trainer who told me this said they all share a lot during conventions
when they spend a lot of social times together.  Obviously we're right there
so if they see something, they are likely to discuss it with other trainers.

I do know admissions offices share information.  I guess we wish it wouldn't
happen but, I guess it is there is a natural inclination to gossip.  I was
also told that all the schools get together to share training and breeding
information.  They also take that opportunity to share informationabout
graduates.  It is good in the case of someone who has abused or neglected
their dog or someone who just isn't safe with a guide dog.  However, I do
worry about them sharing if for some reason they just don't like a person
for some reason.  I thought this last year when I was applying for another
dog.  After GDF said they wouldn't replace my golden Tara, whom I'd worked
for six years.  Tara was being retired due to hip dysplasia she'd had since
age two and cataracts she'd had since age six.  She was eight when she
retired.  I had worked her successfully and even pulled her through a very
serious lack of confidence that almost caused her retirement at age four. 
Obviously I'd shown my total dedication to her and had spent a fortune on
medications and therapeutic laser treatments on her hips.  I felt betrayed 
when they refused to replace her.   I felt a negative attitude from several 
of the other guide dog schools.  Yes, I do have MS and can't walk for long
distances or go very fast and need a dog with a very light pull but, being
matched by Pilot with Eva proves that even with my current limitations, I
can be successful with a dog.  Thank God, Pilot didn't listen to any of the
negative gossip from the other schools who thought I could not be successful
with another dog.  It would have been horrible to be forced back to a cane
after forty wonderful years with a guide dog.  I think the schools need to
be much more open about their confidentiality policies and what they share
with other schools.  A lot of stuff happens with board members, alumni
council members, administrative and admissions staff and trainers at some of
the schools.  I don't think the grad council members should have any
personal information about any of us and they have no right to gossip about
us with guide dog school staff.  There is an awful lot the schools are doing
wrong and we definitely need to enforce a bill of rights that we be treated
with dignity and respect.  We are consumers and without us, they wouldn't
have jobs.

Sandra and Eva

-----Original Message-----
From: Tracy Carcione via nagdu
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 11:17 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Tracy Carcione
Subject: Re: [nagdu] schools sharing info was Let me make it clear

I agree, there should be a box to check.  And there may be on the TSE
application--I forget.
But there's all kinds of sharing.  There's one admission office calling
another school's admission office and asking for someone's records.
And then there's 2 people meeting at the bar during a conference and
gossipping.  Some people gossip, and some don't.  An institution can have a
policy of protecting student confidentiality, and discipline or fire people
who don't adhere to it, if they find out, but do they?  I don't know. I do
know TSE is insistent on confidentiality.  And I also know some trainers
gossip.  Does it affect who gets admitted or not?  I don't know.
Tracy

> Seems like it would be a breech of confidentiality, unless of course 
> it's somewhere in the application that you agree to and sign.
>
> Perhaps I view it like for a job application.  Usually there is a box 
> to check if you give permission for them to contact a previous employer.
> Maybe
> if you don't give permission it counts against you, I don't know, but 
> I appreciate the opportunity to make that decision and to explain why 
> I don't want that employer to be contacted.
>
> Julie
> Sport style guide harnesses available. contact julielj at neb.rr.com with 
> questions or to order Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train 
> her Own Guide Dog is now available! Get the book here:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
> -----Original Message-----
> From: S L Johnson via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 9:28 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: S L Johnson
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] schools sharing info was Let me make it clear
>
> I've been told by many trainers over the years that the schools do 
> share information.  Anyone who thinks they don't, think again.  They 
> all know each other and do not hesitate to share information.
>
> Sandra and Eva
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Julie J. via nagdu
> Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2015 7:14 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Julie J.
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] schools sharing info was Let me make it clear
>
>     I think mostly I'm opposed to school's sharing info.  I think it 
> would be difficult to separate out the gossip and dislike of someone 
> from actual histories of abuse.  If someone switches schools, it is 
> most often done because there was an issue with the last program, they 
> weren't satisfied with the quality of the dogs, they didn't get along 
> with staff, the dog's weren't healthy etc.  Sure sometimes people 
> change schools due to location, a change in program policies or 
> curiosity.  If someone wasn't satisfied with the quality of training 
> and asked for a lot of follow up, which the school was resistant to 
> provide, wouldn't it be easy for the next school to hear about how 
> this blind person constantly complains and can never be satisfied?
>
> Julie
> Sport guide harnesses available. send inquiries to: julielj at neb.rr.com 
> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is 
> now available! Get the book here:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
> -----Original Message-----
> From: larry d keeler via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2015 9:17 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: larry d keeler
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Let me make it clear
>
> Debby, I wonder how that sort of thing can be addressed without 
> infringing on our rights! I personally would love to see schools being 
> able to share sertain things like abuse history or misuse of they're 
> dogs. I've seen many examples where no one such as animal control is 
> willing to step in and stop the abuse of a service animal!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby 
> Phillips via nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2015 8:14 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users; 
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Debby Phillips
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Let me make it clear
>
> Marianne, I truly do not believe that ownership or not makes much 
> difference in whether someone is going to abuse a dog or not.
> What does concern me is this.  I knew of someone who got two dogs from 
> a school (where ownership was not offered).  Both dogs were not 
> treated well.
> Then he got two dogs from Seeing Eye.  I was appalled, and told people 
> at TSE that I was.  My opinion didn't matter, of course.  Even though 
> I lived in the same town and saw the dogs.  I saw a beautiful German 
> Shepherd (ears perked, tail wagging).  Within two months that dog lay 
> growling when you came near it.  I believe it did go to court, and the 
> judge did not allow the dog to be taken.  Then this person went to 
> Pilot.  At this point, I was not in much contact with that dog, but 
> was told by reliable people that that dog didn't fare well, either.  
> The last time I knew of him having a dog, he got one privately 
> trained.  I can't figure out why he got a second chance EVER at having 
> a second dog.  If the schools have confidentiality rules, they should 
> at least be able to share with each other.  If a school knows that a 
> dog was abused, shouldn't there be some kind of policy that they would 
> let the second school know? I don't know, maybe that's asking way too 
> much.  I just know that I really really hate the thought of what 
> happened to those dogs.
> Debby and Nova
>
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