[NAGDU] Resolutions

Sun Jul 11 16:41:33 UTC 2021

You are so right on, Tracy. Respect and dignity are the bottom line. Any
school that won't work with us as equal adults will shape up if they find
we dont support them by us choosing to go there. I saw the resolution that
passed as a "sit up and pay attention" to the schools as to who their
customers are.

I think Seeing Eye is a school whose founders believed in the dignity of
their customers from the school's birth and continues to this day. Most of
the other schools havent been run by blind folks from their births. So they
still have a legacy of having the typical attitudes towards blindness. We
can help some of these schools in changing those negative attitudes.

Personally, I have attended several schools in my long time as a guide dog
user. I have experienced paternalism at one of them. I have been treated
with respect and dignity at Seeing Eye. They have been excellent in
respecting my gender change and my pronouns even though some longtime staff
knew me before my transition.

Lyn (he, him, his) and Aristotle

On Sun, Jul 11, 2021, 8:01 AM Debbie Malone via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> I agree that we should have good relationships with guide dog
> training programs, but not at the expense of our dignity. As advocates we
> must be willing to right wrongs no matter the cost. Any practices that are
> unjust, demeaning, unfair, or just plain wrong must be addressed. If it
> can't be done amicably, then we need to do what it takes. After all it is
> not just about us, but about those who come after us.
>
> Remember something. We are the training schools' customers. Without us they
> don't exist. We must demand respect and fairness in all phases of the
> process, from choosing the best program to the application process to
> receiving our dogs to any followup. Never should we be mistreated or not
> part of the process.
>
> I am grateful that the due process resolution passed but am
> also disappointed that it was only by a narrow margin. Why are guide dog
> issues less important than other issues?
>
> Let's keep our independence, confidence, dignity, and our rights to choose
> to use a guide dog. Thank you to those willing to stand for what is right.
>
> On Sun, Jul 11, 2021 at 10:26 AM Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <
> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> > I agree it's best not to be adversarial, if possible, but I insist on
> > respect.  A good relationship is a 2-way street.  I'm not sure some
> > schools, or perhaps some school leadership, respect us.
> > Tracy
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via
> > NAGDU
> > Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2021 10:01 AM
> > To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > Cc: Cindy Ray
> > Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Resolutions
> >
> > I think that the resolution withdrawn had some inaccuracies in it that
> > would not have been well to pursue, and it is my understanding that the
> > resolutions committee may have asked some questions that made it harder
> to
> > support. That’s not to say it couldn’t come up again next year.
> > I think the other resolution’s passage was a good thing, but I would like
> > to speak to the relationship with the schools. I think we have to be firm
> > in our beliefs about what the schools should and should not do. However,
> we
> > really may stand a better chance of getting what we want from them if we
> > can develop a working relationship with them. If our relationship with
> them
> > is adversarial, they won’t listen to us at all. The Board had voted in
> > favor of sending that resolution forward, and I am still glad we did. I
> > think it does let them know we are watchful, and I think it does open the
> > door to our dialoging with them when we see problems. I don’t think that
> is
> > the same as kneeling before the school with our had in our hand, our head
> > bowed, and saying that whatever they do is fine.
> > Cindy
> >
> >
> > > On Jul 11, 2021, at 7:31 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <
> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > We of NAGDU had what I thought were 3 good resolutions this year.  1
> was
> > > withdrawn because, in the end, leadership didn't support it.
> Leadership
> > > wants to "build good relationships with schools".  Well, OK...
> > >
> > > Another, demanding a real due process when a dog is taken away, and
> > > demanding that schools provide all materials in accessible formats, was
> > by
> > > far the most controversial of all the resolutions presented to the
> > > convention.  I was shocked and dismayed.  One person who spoke in
> > opposition
> > > said again that we want to build good relations with the schools.
> > > Seriously?  Are we to come, with bowed head and hat in hand, saying
> > Please
> > > sirs, our members would like to tell their side of the story should
> their
> > > dog be taken away?  Really?
> > >
> > > I still remember, from many years ago, my first impressions of the
> Seeing
> > > Eye graduates at convention.  They were not afraid to speak their minds
> > when
> > > they thought their school had made a faux pas.  I was shocked, and
> > > impressed.  They clearly expected to be treated as intelligent adults
> > with a
> > > place at the table.  They were courteous, but firm in their opinions.
> > After
> > > all, adults can have differences of opinion, and discuss them as
> equals.
> > >
> > > I'm not sure all guide dog users feel like that.  I guess there was a
> > time
> > > when I did not, when I was a young newby.  I can understand
> > owner-trainers'
> > > perspective even better than I already did.  I would not wish to hand
> > power
> > > over me to someone who does not respect my abilities.
> > >
> > > I sometimes think guide dog users are the most timid of all
> > Federationists,
> > > when it comes to speaking truth to power.  I understand why some would
> > be,
> > > but it's not my idea of what it means to be a Federationist.
> > >
> > > Tracy
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > 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/cindyray%40gmail.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/carcione%40access.net
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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/dmalone510%40gmail.com
> >
>
>
> --
> *Debbie Malone*
> *InclusionEducation.com *
> Amazon Author Page <https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/gwizdaklyn%40gmail.com
>