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

d m gina dmgina at mysero.net
Thu Jan 25 19:43:29 UTC 2018


I think I am missing a step here.
The school is willing to give out the cards, what I am hearing you say 
is we don't show the cards?
The school feels if you show the card this would help?
Is this what I am understanding?
Then if you keep up with the certificate of all shots, this would be fine?
I am not sure what else I would need to bring?
Thanks,

Original message:
> I’d like to share the link to the guiding eyes page on which the 
> statement is posted.
> Here’s the link:

> https://www.guidingeyes.org/33497/access-hotline-for-our-graduates/

> Here’s the text:
> “[...]

> On January 19, 2018, Delta Airlines announced the requirement of a 
> health certificate for service animals on all domestic flights. Guiding 
> Eyes is communicating with Delta to understand how to help our 
> graduates navigate these new procedures.

> Guiding Eyes currently provides health certificates to all graduates 
> that are valid up to one year (depending on date of vaccinations.) 
> After the initial certificate expires, we can provide an updated health 
> certificate to graduates who bring their guides to the Guiding Eyes 
> Training Center in Yorktown Heights, NY, for a check-up by a staff 
> veterinarian.

> We continue to issue I.D. cards and letters to all graduates certifying 
> that each Guiding Eyes guide dog has been formally trained as a service 
> dog and has been taught to be well behaved in public. While not 
> required by law, these can be helpful in resolving access challenges.

> The entire Guiding Eyes community works hard to make sure our dogs are 
> bred, socialized and trained to be well behaved in public. Guiding Eyes 
> remains committed to assisting our graduates and are pleased to add 
> this enhancement to our comprehensive follow up services. If you have 
> any questions about this announcement please contact me directly.

> Sincerely,

> Ben Cawley
> Director of Admissions
> Guiding Eyes for the Blind
> 914-243-2227<tel:914-243-2227>
> 800-942-0149<tel:800-942-0149>
> bcawley at guidingeyes.org<mailto:bcawley at guidingeyes.org>”

> Check us out
> @chief - a service dog
> on Facebook

> On Jan 24, 2018, at 10:16 PM, Milissa Garside via NAGDU 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org<mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

> 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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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.



> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org<mailto:NAGDU at nfbnet.org>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sohldag%40hotmail.com

> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org<mailto:NAGDU at nfbnet.org>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/mgarside2%40gmail.com

> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org<mailto:NAGDU at nfbnet.org>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sohldag%40hotmail.com
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dmgina%40mysero.net

-- 
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future


More information about the NAGDU mailing list