[NAGDU] Disappointed in Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Response

Tracy Carcione carcione at access.net
Thu Jan 25 12:47:01 UTC 2018 

I agree that the GEB response is disappointing, and I hope their graduates
will tell them so, and perhaps spur them to greater action.
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Milissa Garside
via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 1:15 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Milissa Garside
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Disappointed in Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Response

Wow, I just saw the statement on the guiding eyes website that this response
refers to. Pretty darn disappointing. 

Milissa

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 25, 2018, at 12:12 AM, Sonja O via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Very disappointing, indeed.
> Thanks for sharing.
> Best wishes to you, sonja
> 
> Check us out
> @chief - a service dog
> on Facebook
> 
>> On Jan 24, 2018, at 8:59 PM, NAGDU President via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>> 
>> Dear NAGDU Members & Supporters,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I am writing to share with you my comments to Guiding Eyes for the 
>> Blind regarding their comments on Delta's proposed service animal policy.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Fraternally yours,
>> 
>> Marion Gwizdala their statement
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> January 24, 2018
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Dear Mr. Cawley,
>> 
>> Via Email: bcawley at guidingeyes.org
>> 
>>               I want to express my extreme disappointment with the 
>> response by Guiding eyes for the Blind to the issue we are facing 
>> with delta Airlines. The National Association of Guide Dog Users, a 
>> strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind,  
>> is committed to advocating for all guide dog users, whether they 
>> receive their guide dogs from a formal training program or choose to 
>> owner-train their dogs. We are also aware that, when we advocate for 
>> policies that affect us as guide dog users, we have a more global 
>> responsibility to the entire service dog industry. We take this 
>> responsibility seriously and reject any attempt to weaken our civil 
>> rights. This being said, we oppose any measures that have the effect 
>> of discriminating against disabled individuals who use service dogs, 
>> including the imposition of an unequal benefit, something Guiding Eyes
for the Blind seems to condone in their recent statement.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Though it is true that consumers of Guiding Eyes for the Blind and 
>> other guide dog training programs are issued identification cards, 
>> these cards are not and should not be required as a precondition for 
>> access under the Air Carrier Access Act or a covered entity under the 
>> Americans with Disabilities Act. Though it is equally true that all 
>> responsible animal owners, including guide and service dog users, 
>> must accept the responsibility of maintaining the health of their 
>> dogs, it is paternalistic to require us to demonstrate that we are 
>> doing so just because we are blind or otherwise disabled and use a 
>> service dog! The requirement to present a health record as a 
>> precondition to travel is discriminatory and imposes an undue burden 
>> for those of us who use service dogs. Likewise, the inability to book 
>> on-demand travel and check-in online, curbside, or by means of a kiosk is
a discriminatory unequal benefit.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>               By issuing their statement, Guiding Eyes for the Blind 
>> has done a disservice to their consumers and the entire service dog 
>> using public. Such an ill-informed position compromises the progress 
>> made by the National Federation of the Blind and the National 
>> Association of Guide Dog Users to ensure that service dog users have 
>> the right to full participation in society on terms of full equality 
>> and to travel freely without harassment or the imposition of unnecessary,
burdensome requirements.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>               The National Association of Guide Dog Users strongly 
>> urges Guiding Eyes for the Blind to rescind their statement and take 
>> a stand with us to demand that those of us who choose to use service 
>> dogs have the ability to travel freely and on equal terms with our 
>> nondisabled peers. We further urge
>> 
>> all guide and service dog training programs to stand with the 
>> National Federation of the blind and its National Association of 
>> Guide Dog Users to ensure that their consumers are well-informed 
>> about their civil rights under the law and take an active role in
advocating for those rights.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>               For more information about the National Association of 
>> Guide Dog Users, please visit our website
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> http://nagdu.org
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Follow us on Twitter - @nagdu
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Join the discussion on our Facebook page by searching for NAGDU.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Live the life you want; nobody can stop you!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Respectfully 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.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
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