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

Sherry Gomes sherriola at gmail.com
Fri Jan 26 19:45:47 UTC 2018


I really appreciated the statement from The Seeing Eye, and that they filed a complaint. As a GDB grad, I'm frustrated that they haven't made any kind of statement yet, except an email to grads telling them something would be coming. I emailed the CEO about it yesterday, asking when GDB would say something publicly. Unless they have and I missed it, of course.

Sherry
Sherry.gomes at outlook.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of margo Downey via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2018 12:05 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: margo Downey <margo.downey at roadrunner.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Disappointed in Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Response

the Seeing Eye's statement was a lot stronger and included items of explanation.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2018 1:40 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Jenine Stanley
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Disappointed in Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Response

Sorry, I wouldn’t be throwing around statements like GEB is behind this policy so quickly. 

This has been in the works I’d guess since the ESA bit someone this summer. It has very little to do with the guide dog schools. 

The guiding eyes CEO made one small statement during the interview and the press release had one unfortunate statement about ID cards and proof of training letters. I’m not ready to vilify them over these things. I think the statement was metaphorical, poorly chosen, but not literal in any way. 

As much as we do not want to be forced or coerced into using school ID, there are some people who have such difficulty with conflict, especially around travel where there are a lot of other triggers for various disabling conditions, that showing an ID is a coping strategy. No, it’s not what I’d do but who am I to judge someone in that position. 

The training component for airlines involves the fact that the ID is not magic.
> On Jan 26, 2018, at 1:10 PM, Star Gazer via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 			I'm not convinced GEB isn't behind this whole thing. 
> Remember the guy mentioned flying Delta and then Delta implements this policy. 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wayne And 
> Harley D via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 5:59 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Wayne And Harley D <k9dad at k9di.org>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Disappointed in Guiding Eyes for the Blind's 
> Response
> 
>   What I read in GEB's statement boils down to "We've got ours, to heck with the rest of you!!".
> 
> Wayne And Harley D
> k9dad at k9di.org
> -------- Original message --------From: d m gina via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> Date: 1/25/18  13:43  (GMT-06:00) To: nagdu at nfbnet.org Cc: d m gina <dmgina at mysero.net> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Disappointed in Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Response 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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