[NAGDU] American Airlines and My Blind Spot join forces....

[NAGDU President]

David,

	I appreciate your reasoned response and support. All too often
individuals with their own agenda and personal perspective attempt to assert
their individual opinions as speaking for a group when no group has given
them authority to do so and they have no accountability to any group. Mr.
Rizzi will never lose his position with Blind Spot because he has appointed
himself the CEO. Though Mr. Rizzi, like so many others who disagree with our
collective, coordinated, effective methods for change questions what NAGDU
and the NFB are doing, asserting we are not doing anything or enough. This
arbitrary inference is disputed by the fact that we have been advocating for
the blind to the airline industry to treat us with dignity and respect since
the 1970s. Most recently we have been actively sitting at the table of the
process of negotiated regulations with the DOT, the airline industry, and
other disabled stakeholders. I have personally discussed proposed policies
with United, Southwest, Alaska, and, of course, Delta Airlines. On May 7,
the National Federation of the Blind met with the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs to offer input and suggestions on the interim regulations
concerning service animals and emotional support animals that will be
released soon. 

	Mr. Rizzi's assertion that the NFB and NAGDU are not at the table
are arbitrary inferences; they have no foundation in fact but only serve to
enhance his importance by attempting to diminish another's. Mr. Rizzi may
say that it is only a matter of semantics. This sort of minimization is the
type of irrational thinking that compromises our work to raise the
expectations of blind people and the community. Mr. Rizzi asks, "have you
succeeded at correcting these misperceptions and antiquated perspectives on
our ability?" My answer is that we have come a long way in doing so. At the
same time, though, we bump up against those who would play upon those low
expectations by stating we are dependent upon our guide dogs and then, when
we object to this assertion,  state it is only a matter of semantics. Mr.
Rizzi is absolutely wrong! Semantics refers to the meaning of a word and
dependency does not describe the healthy relationship most of us have with
our guide dogs. 

	Mr. Rizzi will criticize the NFB and NAGDU and feels so comfortable
using our resources to do so. Mr. Rizzi can say what he wants about us but
we know who we are and his opinion will not change that! The National
Federation of the blind is the leader in the affairs of the blind in the
United States and the National Association of Guide Dog Users is the leader
in issues of guide and service animal advocacy and policy.

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
Visit our website
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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 David via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 11:06 AM
To: Albert Rizzi via NAGDU
Cc: David
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] American Airlines and My Blind Spot join forces....

Well, Albert, the clip clearly states at the beginning that the series 
is being done for American Airlines team members.  If they use it for 
other purposes, so much the worse.  It is a very confusing mishmash of 
information that, in my opinion, does not further the message you claim 
it does.

I agree with Marion that it is not helpful to claim to speak for 
communities to which you are not held to account, except by being a 
peripheral member. As individual members of these communities, we have 
every right to express out opinions, and many of us do, without claiming 
to represent them.

The USDOT is responsible in large part for the lack of clarity in the 
ESA/Service Animal issue.  Their materials identify ESAs as service 
animals (albeit a different kind of service animal) in their 
informational tri-fold and on their site.  In my opinion, only 
representative organizations can effectively confront government and 
large corporations.

I take exception to those respond to these important issues with vitriol 
and their own personal agendas.

'Nuff said.

*David in Clearwater, FL*
*david at bakerinet.com

*
On 5/16/2018 9:12 AM, Albert Rizzi via NAGDU wrote:
> I get my emails in digest form so going to respond en-masse to come of the
feedback my post generated:
>
>
>    1.  David, this is not a training video, it is an announcement about
why American is doing something about the abuses perpetrated by people
trying to pass off their pets as service animals.

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