[NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement
Michael Hingson
mike at michaelhingson.com
Tue Jan 17 04:27:08 UTC 2017
Hi all,
First Marion, Howard is correct. You DO NOT own the software you receive
with your PC and phone. You do own the phone, but you only receive a license
to use the software. Even so, if software manufacturers wish their products
to sell they do need to be responsive to consumers. Unfortunately, they
often are not as responsive to blind users' needs as we would like.
Second on the other hand, guide dog schools may "grant" ownership or not.
Dogs are not software. While different organizations may have their unique
methodologies for training dogs to be guides, by not agreeing to give up
ownership the schools are, whether they like it or not, demonstrating at
least some lack of trust of their consumers. Schools may indeed only
"license" the use of the harness since said harness has the school's name
usually imprinted or engraved on it. The school has the right to "license"
its brand, but the dog itself is not the brand.
Schools should provide ownership and give up the paternalistic ways they
operate.
Best Regards,
Michael Hingson
The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
"Speaking with Vision"
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
To order Michael Hingson's new book, Running With Roselle, and check on
Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit:
www.michaelhingson.com
To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost
animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Howard J. Levine
via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 7:07 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Howard J. Levine <WB2HWW at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement
Just another thing Mariom, you do not own the operating system on your I
Phone that why you are granted a license to use your phone. Microsoft does
not give ownership of there operating system thay give you a license to use
it. License is not ownership.
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Howard J. Levine
via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 9:48 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Howard J. Levine
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement
Hi Marion, by the way my first name is Howard. I Hold a Bsee in electronic
communications and have worked in this field. You are granted a license to
use software and operating system on your computer or phone. Just read the
fine print they have right to send a kill signal and you give up right to go
to cort. If you think I am wrong just check with a lawyer that works in
field software licenseing. Apple does not need to come and take your device
back or they do is send a kill signal and your phone or computer comes a
brick.
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of NAGDU President
via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 7:45 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: NAGDU President
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement
Mr. Levine,
First of all, I do own the operating system and the software on my
computer. I paid for the Windows OS and for my Microsoft software. As for
the iOS software on my iPhone, what I agree to is that I will not use the
software in an illegal manner and will not corrupt the operating system.
Neither Microsoft nor Apple have the right to take away my phone that I have
paid for nor do they have the right to repossess the software I have bought
without cause nor without due process.
Many guide dog training programs treat adult consumers as if they
were children and many guide dog consumers allow them to do so. Until we
stand up and oppose their paternalistic behavior and expose it for what it
is, they will continue to treat us as they do. Take a look at some of these
programs who say their dogs give blind people dignity then consider the
undignified manner in which they treat them. Guide dog training programs
need to let go of their archaic thinking and start treating us like
responsible adults!
Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU) National Federation of
the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
you back.
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Howard J. Levine
via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2017 8:54 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Howard J. Levine
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement
Just think of am I Phone or computers that so many people own, you don't own
the software or the operating system. You buy the I Phone or a computer then
you don't click agree then you can't use the I Phone or your computer. You
need agree to apples terms and conditions before you can use the device.
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wayne & Harley
via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2017 8:04 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Wayne & Harley
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Southeastern Guide Dogs Ownership Agreement
*Hello Ms. Tara,
On the face of it, the petition is a good idea, however, what if Southeast
Guide Dogs decides to take all the names on the petition and repossess the
guides of the signatories, or refuse them any further service?
CAVEAT: Your Mileage May Vary
Wayne And Harley
*On 1/7/2017 10:21 AM, Tara Wiseman via NAGDU wrote:
> What about writing a petition and creating a Facebook page for all
Southeastern guide dog users and see if you can get a bunch of people to
sign the petition and send it to the school to have them change the
contract. The contract certainly seems wrong to me!
>
> Check out my podcast found at:abilitystories.podbean.com and on iTunes
>
>> On Jan 7, 2017, at 7:05 AM, Erika Wolf via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>
>> I share your same concerns stated regarding this ownership policy
agreement set forth by Southeastern Guide Dogs. What can be done to change
the language of this ownership agreement?
>> Owners of guide dogs absolutely need to be protected upon obtaining
their guide dog without all these preposterous unnecessary restrictions
being placed upon the new handler.
>> Hence, limiting the time a person can actually work his or her guide dog.
This is extremely troubling to me as I read through all that you've
outlined.
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jan 7, 2017, at 5:32 AM, NAGDU President via NAGDU
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear All,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> FYI, I am sharing with you the ownership agreement of
>>> Southeastern Guide Dogs. This agreement was shared with me by a
>>> graduate of the program. I would like to call your attention to
>>> paragraph 3 of the agreement which states in part
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "3. RETIREMENT. It is understood and agreed to that the Dog
>>>
>>> will be retired if, in the sole opinion of any SEGDI staff or
>>> representative, the Dog is not healthy enough to continue as a guide
dog.
>>> It is also understood and agreed to that the Dog MUST be retired on
>>> or before his/her eleventh (11 th) Birthday"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Personally, I have some serious concerns about this paragraph. My
>>> first and obvious concern is that it allows Southeastern to
>>> repossess a dog with the sole discretion of any staff member of
>>> Southeastern should that person determine the dog is not healthy to
>>> continue as a guide dog. It does not require any objective evidence
>>> nor that the person making such a decision be competent to do so.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This paragraph also requires an owner to retire their
>>> dog on or before its 11th birthday. My second guide dog,
>>> incidentally from Southeastern Guide Dogs, worked until he was
>>> nearly 15 years old. Mike Sergeant used to refer to him as
>>> "Superdog"! My third guide dog, also from Southeastern, worked until
>>> she was 13 years old. It is my opinion that, if we own our dogs, no
>>> one has the right to require we retire the dog and the 11-year-old
>>> mark is arbitrary. Many of us have had guide dogs that have worked
>>> well
past the 11 year mark.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Also, please pay attention to paragraph 5 in which
>>> Southeastern has the right to repossess the dog for reasons of
>>> "suspected abuse or negligence". This is troubling because it does
>>> not require any evidence of abuse or neglect, simply a suspicion of
abuse or neglect.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Many other training programs have similar conditions
>>> which I believe are paternalistic and arbitrary. I encourage each of
>>> you to consider what you would do and how you would feel if someone
>>> levied an unfounded, anonymous complaint of abuse or neglect against
>>> you and, based upon this anonymous, unfounded complaint and, inspite
>>> of the assertions of your veterinarian and close family and friends,
>>> there was no evidence of abuse, your dog was repossessed. Lest you
>>> say this would not happen, let me tell you it has and is currently
occurring!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>>>
>>> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
>>>
>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>>
>>> (813) 626-2789
>>>
>>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
>>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
>>> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind
>>> people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is
>>> not what holds you back.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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NAGDU:
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>>> tt.net
>>
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