[NFBN-Lincoln] FW: Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating against the blind

[Cheryl Livingston]

Thank you for this information Mark. Has anything further developed because
of this report?
On Sun, Apr 19, 2026 at 8:00 PM Coleman Mark via NFBN-Lincoln <
nfbn-lincoln at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Cheryl,
>
> These are the earliest emails regarding the Animal Control incident.
> Because I am sending them in reverse order as I scroll through my sent mail
> box, this should be the last one I will be sending for now. Thanks.
>
>
>
> *From:* markmurraycoleman at gmail.com <markmurraycoleman at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 12, 2025 7:48 PM
> *To:* 'Denise S. Bollwitt' <dbollwitt at lincoln.ne.gov>
> *Subject:* RE: Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating
> against the blind
>
>
>
> Hello Ms. Bollwitt,
>
>
>
> I received verification from Brent Heyen, the individual who was denied
> service on account of his blindness, that he is comfortable with me sharing
> his name and contact information. His address is 3001 R St and his phone
> number is 4029425167 . The event occurred on the night of September 4.
> Brent said that he also has video evidence of the bat.
>
>
>
> Thank  you,
>
> Mark Coleman
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Denise S. Bollwitt <dbollwitt at lincoln.ne.gov>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 12, 2025 6:02 AM
> *To:* markmurraycoleman at gmail.com; Mayor <mayor at lincoln.ne.gov>; Lincoln
> Commission on Human Rights <LCHR at lincoln.ne.gov>
> *Cc:* Kerry L. Kernen <KKernen at lincoln.ne.gov>
> *Subject:* RE: Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating
> against the blind
>
>
>
> Mr. Coleman,
>
>
>
> Thank you for the email.  I sincerely apologize for any issues this may
> have caused.  This is not our policy and I would like further information
> if you have it.  If you do, would you have the date, phone number, address
> or person’s name so that I may listen to our voice recording?  I would like
> to start an investigation into this matter.
>
>
>
>
>
> [image: Animal Control Shield]
>
> *Denise Bollwitt*
> Animal Control Manager
> Lincoln-Lancaster County
> Health Department | Animal Control
>
> Office: 402-441-8080
>
> Fax: 402-441-8626
>
> 3131 O St.
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3131+O+St.++Lincoln,+NE+68510?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Lincoln, NE 68510
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3131+O+St.++Lincoln,+NE+68510?entry=gmail&source=g>
> lincoln.ne.gov/AnimalControl
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* markmurraycoleman at gmail.com <markmurraycoleman at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 11, 2025 4:21:10 PM
> *To:* Health Animal Control <Animal at lincoln.ne.gov>
> *Cc:* Mayor <mayor at lincoln.ne.gov>; Lincoln Commission on Human Rights <
> LCHR at lincoln.ne.gov>
> *Subject:* Concerning report that Animal Control is discriminating
> against the blind
>
>
>
> Hello,
>
>
>
> My name is Mark Coleman. I am the Lincoln Chapter President of the
> National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska. I am writing in regards to a
> concerning first hand report which I received alleging that a blind Lincoln
> man was denied services from Animal Control on account of his blindness.
>
>
>
> It was brought to my attention that within the last couple of months a
> blind Lincoln resident telephoned Animal Control seeking assistance with a
> bat that was loose in his house. Animal Control reportedly told the caller
> that they would be able to send somebody out to assist, but informed the
> man that he needed to keep an eye on the bat until Animal Control arrived.
> When the man explained that he was blind, he reports that Animal Control
> told him that they could not send assistance unless there was a sighted
> person present to visually track the bat until Animal Control arrived.
> Ultimately Animal Control refused to send assistance and denied the man the
> services he otherwise would have received had he not been blind according
> to the report. The man in question is a person I know to be of high
> integrity and to be an accomplished community member.
>
>
>
> Can you confirm whether Animal Control has a policy or practice of
> requiring residents to keep an eye on a bat as a requirement for receiving
> assistance from Animal Control? If so, is there an exception in policy or
> practice to ensure that blind people and other people with disabilities not
> able to meet this requirement are still able to receive the same services
> as non-disabled Lincolnites from Animal Control as required by Title II of
> the Americans with Disabilities Act? Is Animal Control willing and able to
> take corrective action when it falls short of meeting its legal obligations
> to people with disabilities?
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind is committed to the proposition that
> nobody should be denied services on account of being blind or having vision
> loss. As President of the Lincoln Chapter of the National Federation of the
> Blind Nebraska Affiliate I am willing to work with agencies that are
> sincerely interested in doing right by meeting their statutory obligation
> to respect the civil rights and the provision of equal access to services
> for disabled people in accordance to federal, state, and local law. I
> respectfully request your assistance in resolving any doubts about Animal
> Control’s commitment to civil rights and legal compliance that have
> resulted from a reported service denial to a Lincoln taxpayer and citizen
> based on his blindness. A prompt response to this request for information
> would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Mark Coleman
>
> Lincoln Chapter President, National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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