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

Christopher O'meally chris.omeally at gmail.com
Thu Jan 25 19:59:41 UTC 2018 

basicly people don't want to be bothered to show paperwork, but they
expect to just be let through like everyone else but the fakes can't.
it doesn't work that way.

On 1/25/18, Scott Berry via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Stacy and all,
>
> If people are that concerned then why not put a chip in the ear with all
> that info and just scan the chip let’s make it real simple.  Not to be a
> smart aleck but you know the way it’s going we’ll probably have chips some
> day as well. We’ll be similar to a robot I think it may be quite some time
> but I see it coming.
>
>
>
>> On Jan 25, 2018, at 12:49 PM, Stacie Hardy - NFBHOU via NAGDU
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hello Julie and all,
>>
>> Julie, those were my thoughts exactly with regards to our dogs wearing
>> rabies tags. If you think about it, we are already he’s traveling with the
>> necessary documentation. Rabies is the most important of any concern as it
>> is a disease that is easily transmitted between human and animal. With the
>> exception of our recent cruise, I typically don’t travel with my dogs vet
>> records. However, I do have in my contacts my vets contact information and
>> can easily provide that to any vet where ever I am traveling. I’m
>> wondering when it will be, requirement for parents to travel with
>> immunization records for their children :-)?
>>
>>
>> --
>> Stacie Hardy <shardy at nfbtx.org>
>> President: NFB of Texas Houston Chapter
>> Voice and Text: (346) 704-0190 or (832) 779-7477
>>
>> "A question never asked is an answer never known"
>> "Live the life you want!"
>>
>>
>>> On Jan 25, 2018, at 1:43 PM, d m gina via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>> --
>>> --Dar
>>> skype: dmgina23
>>> FB: dmgina
>>> www.twitter.com/dmgina
>>> every saint has a past
>>> every sinner has a future
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-- 
Very Respectfully,

Christopher O’Meally.

NVB of Virginia 2016 leadership fellow.

Lead instructor and CEO of Access Tech Media INC.

Contract Closeout Specialist, Defense Contract Management Agency.

Chris.omeally at gmail.com

(804)658-6668

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