[nagdu] Informational email

[Debby Phillips]

I am hoping that perhaps others would be interested in helping to 
write a resolution regarding the California Guide Dogs Board.  My 
personal epinion about this board is that it is custodial, out of 
step with what is rey going on in the world of dog guides, and 
should cease to exist.  We don't have the power to make this 
board go away, but I do believe we should put pressure on this 
Board to accept the accreditation of the International Guide Dog 
Federation.     Debby and Nova
 ---- Original Message ------
From: blhuffman at sbcglobal.net
Subject: Informational Email
Date sent: Sat, 9 May 2015 12:17:46 -0500

Hello fellow Seeing Eye Graduates,



This message is coming to you from Betty Huffman's email address 
for
logistical purposes, but is from The former members of the Seeing 
Eye
Graduate Work Group.



When we terminated our activities with the Seeing Eye Graduate 
Work Group
and the Seeing Eye Graduate Network, we agreed to circulate 
information of
importance that came to our attention.  To this end, there is a 
matter you
should be aware of regarding the California Guide Dog Board and 
its' policy
with respect to instructors from non-California based schools 
providing
follow-up to graduates who live in California.



In 2013, a Seeing Eye instructor provided follow-up services to a 
Seeing Eye
graduate who lived in California.  This graduate blogged about 
the experience
thus making it public information.  A member of the California 
Guide Dog
Board found evidence of this on the internet.  The California 
Guide Dog Board
did not contact the blogger to verify whether the information was 
true
before penalizing The Seeing Eye.  This year, the instructor was 
fined $2,500
and The seeing Eye was ordered to seas and desist from providing 
follow-up
services because their instructors are not licensed in 
California.  The
Seeing Eye paid the fine but they are appealing the seas and 
desist order.
They have not heard back at this time.



IN addition, the California Guide Dog board is requiring all 
California
schools to turn over contact information from individuals who 
acquire dogs
from them to the board.  The Seeing Eye is refusing to give 
confidential
information (contact information) to the board.



At the January 2015 meeting of the California Guide Dog Board, a 
two year
old resolution from the California Council of the Blind and Guide 
Dog Users
of California was addressed on the Board's agenda to allow out of 
state
instructors to come in to CA for up to two weeks to provide 
maintenance
services.  The Board voted it down by a vote of for in favor of 
not allowing
and one abstention.





There will be a California Guide Dog Board confernce call on 
Monday May 1,
at 1 Pacific, 2 Mountain, 3 Central and  4 Eastern time.  You can 
dial in to
the call toll free at: 1-866-692-3158

Participant Code: 99686



If you have trouble getting in you can call Margie Donavan at 916 
293 9505,
or email her at margie.donovan1 at gmail.com.



Thanks to Margie for alerting us to this issue!



Below is a resolution from The California Council for the Blind 
pertaining
to this issue.





Resolution 2013 B-1 State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind



Whereas, in or about 1948, prominent members and leaders of the 
California
Council of the Blind (CCB), legislation was enacted creating the 
California
State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind (the board), pursuant to 
Section
7200.5 of the Business and Professions Code; and



Whereas, the board rapidly developed procedures governing 
fundraising the
start-up of guide dogs schools, and the licensing of such schools 
and their
instructors; and



Whereas, thanks to the board's efforts, California is the first 
and only
state to mandate the quality of guide dog training programs and 
the
competency of instructors through a comprehensive examination and 
licensing
procedure for California schools and their instructors; and

Whereas, in recent years the board has implemented procedures 
less favorable
to blind persons who have chosen to use guide dogs and frequently 
without
the knowledge of and input from guide dog handlers themselves; 
and



Whereas, examples of such procedures include requiring an 
instructor
employed by a school located outside California to be licensed by 
the board,
requiring apprentice trainers seeking licensure as instructors to 
provide
the board with the personal contact information of handlers who 
have
received training from the perspective licensee, and requiring 
apprentice
trainers seeking licensure as instructors to provide videos of 
apprentices
instructing guide dog teams, the latter two requirements without 
first
obtaining signed authorization for the use of students' personal 
contact
information and/or image; and



Whereas, CCB has a longstanding mutually beneficial history of 
partnering
with the board, but has grown increasingly concerned with the 
direction
taken by the board in recent years; and



Whereas, earlier this year the board, in consultation with 
members of CCB,
agreed to require that the three guide dog schools licensed in 
California
obtain written authorization from students prior to the release 
of students'
personal contact information and/or images; and



Whereas, CCB views this as a positive sign that the board now 
understands
and recognizes the importance of consumer participation and input 
into the
process of developing cutting-edge standards, now, therefore, be 
it



Resolved, by the California Council of the Blind, in convention 
assembled
this 20th day of October, at the San Diego Del Mar Hotel, in the 
city of San
Diego, California, that this organization commend the State Board 
of Guide
Dogs for the Blind for its 65 year history of ensuring the 
highest quality
of instruction by the three guide dog schools in California and 
for its
recent decision to amend its regulations to require schools to 
obtain
written authorization prior to the release of personal contact 
information
/or the image of students in training or videos submitted to the 
board, and
be it further



Resolved, that CCB urge the board to further amend its 
regulations and/or
seek legislation to do both of the following; 1.  Permit the 
provision of
follow-up services by instructors for periods of no more than two 
weeks at a
time to guide dog handlers who receive training from schools 
outside the
state which have current certification by the International Guide 
Dog
Federation, 2.  Require the production, and dissemination through 
the three
guide dog schools in California and on the board's website, of a 
factsheet
describing the board's arbitration authority, its role in 
assisting handlers
who are victims of alleged guide dog discrimination, and the 
purpose for the
board itself, and 3.  Require that a fixed percentage (at least 
1/3) of the
members of the board be current guide dog handlers, and be it 
further



Resolved, that, if the board appears to be unwilling to support 
the above
recommendations, CCB give serious consideration to withdrawing 
its
longstanding support for the board when it is next considered for
legislative sun setting in 2017.