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Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate.<br>
<br>
Dear Friends & Colleagues,<br>
<br>
Sometimes making small changes in the treatment of the blind seems to
take years; at other times, the changes we promote are so blatantly
discriminatory, the public pressure so strong, and the behavior so
egregious, the change literally occurs overnight.<br>
<br>
Through the strong advocacy of the National Federation of the Blind and
the National Association of Guide dog Users, Southeastern guide Dogs has
modified its application form automatically disqualifying individuals
with certain mental health conditions from applying for a guide dog.
Southeastern guide dogs application page now states, “* If applicant is
currently being treated by a mental health professional, we may require
additional contact information for that doctor.” [sic] This revised
statement seems to indicate Southeastern no longer automatically
disqualifies an applicant based upon a previous diagnosis of a Mental
Health condition but will now conduct an individualized Assessment as
required by law. Questions still remain about how this obviously hastily
prepared policy will be implemented. Will Southeastern reach out to those
they previously automatically disqualified to admit their mistake and
offer them an opportunity to apply? How will southeastern ask about
mental health histories? What and how much personal information will
Southeastern collect about applicants? How will Southeastern’s previous
automatic disqualification policy and the bias it exposes affect the
integrity of the application process for those disclosing a mental health
condition? <br>
<br>
There are questions to be answered and the organized blind will stay
vigilant because the stakes are too high! A majority of guide dog
training centers have some very paternalistic policies. Some of these
policies actually compromise the mission of the program. Guide dog
training programs would be well-served by consulting with the National
Association of guide Dog Users. Within our ranks we have the talent and
expertise to help implement policies that respect the dignity of the
blind individual while protecting the interests of the program.
<br>
<br>
During our meeting on June 22, Susan Wilburn, Southeastern’s Director of
Graduate Admission and Consumer Services, asked how Southeastern could
repair the bridge between us. The bridge connecting any relationship is
built upon mutual trust, respect, openness, transparency, and fairness.
We have that sort of relationship with (in alphabetical order) Freedom
guide dogs, Guide Dog foundation, and the Seeing Eye. Their policies and
practices illustrate why. We also appreciate Guide Dogs of America and
guide Dogs of Texas for reaching out to us. Extending a welcome hand
across the divide is what starts the bridge-building process. <br>
<br>
In 2011, the National Association of Guide dog Users created the Guide
Dog consumers’ Bill of Rights. This document was enthusiastically and
unanimously endorsed by our membership at our 2011 annual meeting. This
document sets forth how blind people believe we should be treated by
guide dog training programs. We asked training programs to join us by
endorsing this Bill of Rights and no program has chosen to do so. Some
programs stated they agreed philosophically with the Bill of rights but
would not endorse it. Fidelco guide Dogs was the most shocking in their
rejection when Julie Unwinn claimed guide dog users have no input in
their policies because we do not pay for their dogs! <br>
I encourage you to read this document and measure how the training
program from which you received your guide dog adds up. I have a lot more
to say on this topic and Gary Wunder is looking for some Braille Monitor
articles from us on this. If you are concerned, get involved! Your voice
will be amplified through our united action! Here is the link to the
Braille Monitor article, “A Guide Dog Consumers’ bill of Rights: Shifting
paradigms in the guide dog movement”: <br>
<br>
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm11/bm1106/bm110609.htm">
https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm11/bm1106/bm110609.htm</a>
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<br>
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If this link gets broken through margin or other limitations, you can
search under the title at <nfb.org>. Come join our forward
movement!<br>
<br>
National Association of Guide Dog Users’ Annual Seminar – July 14; 2:00 –
5:00 p.m.<br>
National Association of guide Dog Users Annual Meeting – July 16; 3:00 –
5:00 p.m.<br>
<br>
<br>
Fraternally yours,<br>
Marion Gwizdala, President<br>
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(202) 573-8582<br>
President@NAGDU.ORG<br>
<a href="http://nagdu.org/">Visit our website</a><br>
<a href="http://twitter.com/nagdu">Follow us on Twitter</a><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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