[NAGDU] [BlindTlk] Resolution 2015-25

Sun Mar 28 13:45:42 UTC 2021

As I said on the BlindTlk list, I don’t think there could have been a real ownership resolution in 1976. Why would there have been another? But if that is true and one passed, why in 2015 would another one fail?
Cindy
cindyray at gmail.com <mailto:cindyray at gmail.com>

> On Mar 28, 2021, at 8:10 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Golly, 1976.  And here we still are, with only a few programs giving
> ownership.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Hyde, David W.
> (ESC) via NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2021 12:47 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of
> Guide Dog Users; flagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Hyde, David W. (ESC)
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] [BlindTlk] Resolution 2015-25
> 
> I remember a resolution requiring ownership of guide dogs by handlers we
> passed in the 1976 convention in Los Angeles. This was my first convention,
> and that was the first time I spoke from the floor. After forty-five years,
> I don't remember the number.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala,
> via BlindTlk
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2021 11:41 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; blindtlk at nfbnet.org; flagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Marion Gwizdala, <blind411 at verizon.net>
> Subject: [BlindTlk] Resolution 2015-25
> 
> CAUTION: This email is from an EXTERNAL contact. Please do not open
> attachments, or click on links from unknown or suspicious senders.
> 
> 
> Dear All,
> 
> 
> 
>                I know that throughout my administration many members seemed
> to grow tired of my questioning of guide dog training programs about their
> ownership policies. I hope everyone now sees my concerns were legitimate.
> One of the ways I attempted to make a change in ownership policies was to
> introduce a resolution concerning this, thus asking our membership to weigh
> in on the issue. To my surprise, the motion obviously failed on a floor vote
> but I took the chance our leadership would see it differently; however,, the
> resolution failed on a roll call vote. I thought it might be edifying to see
> what was written six years ago and what the membership and the national
> leadership voted against. Below is the text of resolution 2015-25 concerning
> unconditional ownership of our guide dogs upon completion of training.
> Please note there is information that is not current: Guide dogs of America
> (GDA) no longer provides ownership upon completion of training while Guide
> Dogs of Texas does.
> 
> 
> 
> Resolution 2015-25
> 
> Concerning unconditional Ownership of Guide Dogs Upon completion of Training
> 
> Proponents: Marion Gwizdala & Michael Hingson
> 
> WHEREAS, In 2011 the national Association of Guide dog Users (NAGDU)
> published (The Braille Monitor 54:6) and unanimously passed the Guide Dog
> Consumers' bill of Rights during their annual meeting; and
> 
> WHEREAS, Section 5(a) of the Guide Dog consumers' bill of Rights states,
> "The Consumer shall be given legal title, ownership, and possession of the
> dog upon completion of the training program. Such title, ownership, or
> possession shall not be revoked, suspended, or otherwise interfered with
> without due process and in accordance with other provisions of this
> document"; and
> 
> WHEREAS, Four guide dog training programs in the United States - Freedom
> Guide dogs for the Blind, Guide Dogs of America, the Guide dog Foundation,
> and The Seeing Eye - currently transfer unconditional ownership to the guide
> dog user upon completion of training; and
> 
> WHEREAS, All other guide dog training programs either place conditions upon
> the transfer of ownership, such as mandatory retirement ages, the right to
> repossess the dog without due process, annual reporting requirements, and
> other conditions incongruent with unconditional ownership or impose
> probationary periods during which a consumer is required to demonstrate
> their suitability for ownership; and
> 
> WHEREAS, There have been several instances in which guide dog training
> programs that do not provide unconditional ownership upon completion of
> training have threatened consumers with removal of their dogs or have
> actually repossessed dogs without cause and without due process; and
> 
> WHEREAS, Unconditional ownership prevents such arbitrary, capricious, and
> subjective  interference, intervention, intrusion, coercion, threats,
> duress, and intimidation, and
> 
> WHEREAS,, It has been demonstrated by those guide dog training programs that
> transfer unconditional ownership upon completion of training that granting
> such unconditional ownership has a positive effect upon the success of a
> guide dog team, its safety, and the long-term health of the guide dog;and
> 
> WHEREAS, Anecdotal information from guide dog users demonstrates that
> consumers are more likely to seek assistance for training , safety,
> behavioral, or health issues when they feel confident their possession of
> the guide dog will not be compromised; and
> 
> WHEREAS, Policies other than unconditional ownership upon completion of
> training are paternalistic, archaic , and, as such, are incongruent with the
> philosophy and policies of the National Federation of the Blind: Now,
> therefore,
> 
> BE IT RESOLVED By the National Federation of the Blind in convention
> assembled this # day of July, 2015 in Orlando, Florida, that this
> organization demand that all guide dog training programs develop policies
> and practices to transfer unconditional ownership of guide dogs to their
> consumers upon completion of training; and
> 
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That these policies include an unwillingness to
> accept anonymous complaints and due processes as outlined by the National
> Association of Guide Dog Users Guide Dog consumers' bill of Rights.
> 
> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization commend Freedom guide dogs for
> the Blind, Guide Dogs of America, The Guide Dog Foundation, and The Seeing
> Eye for their recognition of the capacity of the blind as demonstrated by
> their policies of unconditional ownership upon completion of training.
> 
> now do.
> 
> 
> 
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> (813) 626-2789
> 
> Blind411 at verizon.net
> 
> 
> 
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