[nagdu] Informational email

Tue May 19 16:13:30 UTC 2015

Okay. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 18, 2015, at 2:28 PM, Michael Hingson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> CAGDU and NAGDU are aware and actively dealing with the situation. Please
> stand by. 
> 
> 
> Best,
> 
> 
> Michael Hingson
> Vice President, NAGDU
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Becky
> Frankeberger via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 10:38 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Becky Frankeberger
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Informational email
> 
> Debby you need to contact Tina the head of NAGDU in California a TSE grad. I
> will bet she has one to present to the entire NFB Convention. She is also on
> the Board of NAGDU.
> 
> Becky and Jake
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
> via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 10:22 AM
> To: wasagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Debby Phillips
> Subject: [nagdu] Informational email
> 
> 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.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
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