[Njagdu] NEW LAW TARGETS SERVICE ANIMAL IMPOSTORS
Patricia Ebel
patriciaebel0302 at comcast.net
Thu Jul 2 09:41:56 UTC 2015
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
FROM: Florida Association of Guide Dog Users
DATE: June 30, 2015
TO: All media
RE: New Criminal Law Effective July 1, 2015
CONTACT: Sherrill O'Brien, President
(813) 935-0474
Sherrill.obrien at verizon.net
NEW LAW TARGETS SERVICE ANIMAL IMPOSTORS
On July 1, a new law providing criminal penalties for those who pass
their pets off as service animals took effect. This law, sponsored by
Representative Jimmy Smith (R-Inverness) makes it a second degree
misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and willfully misrepresent herself
or himself as using a service animal and being qualified to use a service
animal or as a trainer of a service animal in order to take advantage of the
civil rights protections afforded to disabled people with legitimate trained
service animals. Those convicted of a violation of this statute would face a
fine of $500 and be required to perform 30 hours of community service. The
entire text of this law is attached to this message.
"The goal of this law is two-fold," says Representative Smith. "Its intent
is to enhance the quality of life for those disabled individuals with a
legitimate need for a service dog and to make the public aware of the
serious detrimental effects caused by their fraudulent actions."
Sherrill O'Brien, president of the Florida Association of Guide dog Users
(FLAGDU), a division of the National Federation of the Blind, supports the
new law and believes it will be a deterrent to those who abuse the system.
"I especially like the idea of requiring impersonators to perform community
service," says O'Brien. "It helps to offset the community disservice they
have committed!"
# # #
About the National Association of Guide dog Users
The Florida Association of Guide Dog Users is an affiliate
division of the National Association of Guide dog Users, the nation's
leading membership organization for blind people who use guide dogs. NAGDU
is a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind. We
conduct public awareness campaigns on issues of guide dog use, provide
advocacy support for guide dog handlers who face discrimination, support
sound policy and effective legislation to protect the rights of guide dog
users, offer educational programs to school and civic organizations, and
function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind. For
more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users and to
support our work, you can visit our website at <HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG
<http://www.nagdu.org/> > or send an email to <Info at NAGDU.ORG>.
About the NAGDU Guide & Service animal Mobile App
The National Association of Guide dog Users sponsors the NAGDU Service
Animal Information & Advocacy Mobile app! This innovative app provides
general information about the state and federal laws that protect the civil
rights of disabled individuals who use service dogs. The app contains the
full texts of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and each of the
state statutes that affirm the rights of those who use service dogs, as well
as general guidance concerning access to specific types of establishments,
such as hotels, restaurants, taxicabs, health care facilities and more. In
addition, this app provides the ability to directly connect with a live
advocate who has been specially trained to resolve access issues as they
occur and send an email for more specific guidance. This app is provided by
the National Association of Guide dog Users at no charge as a public
service. To download the app, simply type the term "NAGDU" into the app
store's search field.
About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest
organization of the blind in the United States. The NFB knows that blindness
is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we
raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations are the
obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you
want! Blindness is not what holds you back. The Federation provides
scholarships to blind students; support for those who are blind or losing
their eyesight; advocacy for the blind facing discrimination; and
educational programs for the general public on topics of blindness. The NFB
is not an organization that speaks on behalf of the blind; we are the blind
speaking for ourselves.
From: Patricia Ebel [mailto:patriciaebel0302 at comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 6:46 AM
To: Joseph Braz (jbraz7 at gmail.com); Lester Cameron (underdogmj at comcast.net);
Tara M. Carty (sugarfreet at gmail.com); stever1215 at gmail.com;
msc732 at optonline.net; Vincent Chaney Jr. (vgc732 at optonline.net);
danfb at verizon.net; annades at optonline.net; Charles McKenna
(cpatmckenna at gmail.com); Alice Eaddy (cherio_alice at icloud.com)
Cc: Classemt at aol.com; Rick Fox (Membership) (richardfox1 at comcast.net);
lydiakeller at comcast.net; jdhiggins3 at verizon.net; Ginger Kutsch
(Ginger at ky2d.com); Lynn Reynolds (Legislation) (lhr1827 at optonline.net);
suetillett at verizon.net; jtruehaft at verizon.net; joe ruffalo
(nfbnj1 at verizon.net); Ryan Stevens (RYSteve at comcast.net); Jo Luland
(joluland at verizon.net); jluland at verizon.net; Jonathan Goodman
(j.goodman82 at comcast.net); michael hamm (mbhrr15 at gmail.com); New Jersey
Association of Guide Dog Users (njagdu at nfbnet.org); Brino Christina
(princessregal at optonline.net)
Subject: Spaghetti and meatballs anyone?
Hello to all NJAGDU members and participants!
During the past few calls we have spoken about fundraising: Jerilyn Higgins
has told us how profitable a spaghetti and meatball dinner can be and I am
hoping to accomplish this sometime in September or October. I have
inquired in my town about having a fundraiser to raise funds and promote
awareness but unfortunately the center that would best fit our needs is not
available in either September or October due to renovations.
I am hoping that one of you can research a facility in your area for us to
conduct a fundraising dinner.
Typically a recreation center with a kitchen is a great place to check but
please feel free to look into other places you may find fit.
I will be more than happy to do the cooking (one of the best things about
cooking is tasting and making sure everything is perfect, lol) for this fun
filled evening! If possible please check into this if you can and let me
know by next Friday, 7/3 if you have come up with any places.
I truly appreciate all of you and all that you contribute to this
division!!!
Cordially,
Trisha Ebel
From: Patricia Ebel [mailto:patriciaebel0302 at comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 10:27 PM
To: Joseph Braz (jbraz7 at gmail.com); Lester Cameron (underdogmj at comcast.net);
Tara M. Carty (sugarfreet at gmail.com); stever1215 at gmail.com;
msc732 at optonline.net; Vincent Chaney Jr. (vgc732 at optonline.net);
danfb at verizon.net; annades at optonline.net; Charles McKenna
(cpatmckenna at gmail.com); Alice Eaddy (cherio_alice at icloud.com); vickie
Curley (njtribefan at yahoo.com)
Cc: Classemt at aol.com; Rick Fox (Membership) (richardfox1 at comcast.net);
lydiakeller at comcast.net; jdhiggins3 at verizon.net; Ginger Kutsch
(Ginger at ky2d.com); Lynn Reynolds (Legislation) (lhr1827 at optonline.net);
suetillett at verizon.net; jtruehaft at verizon.net; joe ruffalo
(nfbnj1 at verizon.net); Ryan Stevens (RYSteve at comcast.net); Jo Luland
(joluland at verizon.net); jluland at verizon.net; Jonathan Goodman
(j.goodman82 at comcast.net); michael hamm (mbhrr15 at gmail.com); New Jersey
Association of Guide Dog Users (njagdu at nfbnet.org); hillside518 at gmail.com;
Toula McEllen (twmat at verizon.net); Brino Christina
(princessregal at optonline.net)
Subject: Reminder, call in 2 days NJAGDU June 18, meeting... Minutes and
Agenda below
Hello to All NJAGDU members, participants and new participants: I have
added a few of my friends to our list for this month with hopes they will
join us on our call.
On Thursday, June 18th at 7 pm we will be having our monthly meeting.
Below you will find the minutes from our May 26th call: please take a few
minutes out to read over them. After that you will find our agenda which is
not to long and even shorter now. I just postponed our guest speaker for
next month where we will have much more time to ask questions and get some
great information. We do have a few fun items on the agenda to quickly go
over: we have 45 minutes for this call on Thursday.
The call in number is (712) 432-0180 and the code is: 460994 pound.
Please respond to this email with your availability by Wednesday, June 17th,
if you have not already. Is greatly appreciated.
***
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
May 26, 2015
1. Roll Call
Trish Ebel. NFBNJ NJAGDU President
Alice Eaddy, Secretary
Anna DeSantis, Board member
John Luland,
Jerilyn Higgins
Les Cameron
Lynn Reynolds
Joe Braz
Pat McKenna
Jack Truehaft
2. Call to order the meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. Trisha
3. The minutes were sent out by Alice: John moved to accept the
minutes as read Jerilyn seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
4. Lyn provided the treasures report: the ending balance as of April
30 $635there was no new activity. Alice moved to accept and I, Joe Braz
seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
5. Pat McKenna is now EDGE Program manager, he stated that at present
they are focusing on getting the program up and running with an official
birth in September. The program is for visually impaired youth 14 to 21
offing them the tools to get, maintain and seek out employment.
6. Alice discussed the TRIAD event followed by Les about his table at
the New Jersey Vision Walk in Clark She gave the flyers specifically to all
sheriff personnel present at the event. He said that three families with
blind children approached him and he provided information regarding the
POBC. The Contact list was quickly taken by attendees. Trisha these types of
events give you a good feeling about what you accomplished although you are
quite tired from the effort. She also acknowledged that Ginger and Alix
Garzero generated and sent Dusty's Law flyers to Jack, Les and Alice. Please
call Trisha should you need printed copies. Jack put his out at Toms River
and they went fast. Trish spoke of the Disability Awareness Day in Carteret.
Les described a pleasurable encounter with employees at Home depot in his
area. Trisha offered that often people are uneducated regarding guide dogs
and guide dog teams and their interactions with dog handlers come across as
being mean spirited but that the more we are out there the better. Regarding
any activities related to PETCO we need a lot of documentation yet to even
begin to make an application to fund-raise there. Les will checkout PetSmart
and what they need in order to apply for permission to fund-raise or hand
out flyers and the like and will get back to her with that information. A
question was asked regarding help with dog food expenses particularly if
your animal is on a special diet? Trisha will look into it and report her
findings.
7. Lynn explained the BELL Program: Braille Enrichment Learning for
Literacy for kids aged 4 to 12 they have one Deaf-Blind participant. Les
motioned that we donate $100 to the BELL Program and Jerilyn seconded the
motion carried.
8. New Business
New Jersey Contact list format was explained: a cover page which defined
NFBNJ, 2nd page listed who, what, when and where for chapters, 3rd page
listed same information but concentrated on divisions instead. When the
contact list is used by any division that uses the last page with be each
ones respective web site summary blurb as posted on the state affiliate web
site. These lists can then be given out to the general public. Trisha said
that if anyone is planning a community event and would consequently need
this list to disseminate please contact herself or Alice and we will send it
to you via email. Trisha further stated that the Summary blurb could be
updated as we have more events. To all National Convention attendees please
try to have taken action shots or you and your guide dog team on escalators,
stairs, or walking to various venues etc. We have seven Division members
going to National Convention. Jerilyn the National NAGDU hotline needs
volunteers and that there will be a training later this evening at 8 pm. Les
expressed an interest and would be sent the phone number to be on that
training call. There was a Q&A regarding the Hotline. Alice provided
information from the last NAGDU Board call. Trisha restated that for anyone
interested in the listserv were to contact her in order to be signed up.
9. around the phone
Trisha thanked the membership for distributing the Dusty's Law flyers and
said that after National Convention accessibility issues and our
constitution will be the primary focus .Alice asked about ways to deal with
our partners' stomach and bowel issues while traveling with our guide dogs.
There is cooked rice from uncle bens that is portable and microwaveable also
ask the veterinarian about over the counter medications that human's use
that could also be used with our dogs. Another question came up about how to
give a pill to our dogs-Trisha instructed tilt his/her head back. Put the
pill in one hand; open the lower jaw with your thumb on the roof of the
mouth with the other. Now with the pill pushed to the back of their throat
as far as possible and shut the dogs' mouth. Hold the dogs mouth closed and
blow on his nose, when you see the tongue come out that means he swolled the
pill.
The next meeting is June 18th and hopefully we can have a guest speaker.
10. Adjournment Alice made a motion, Les seconded and all were in favor
at 7:58 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Eaddy, Secretary
AGENDA
1. Roll Call-Alice
2. Call to order- Trisha
3. Minutes-Trisha
4. Treasury report- Lynn
5. Guest speaker postponed until July meeting.
6. Financial Assistance with Dog food- Trisha
7. Petsmart Fundraiser-Lester
8. National convention-Trisha a. Dog food at convention
9. Useful tips for our dogs-Trisha
10. New Business A. Your dogs Check ups at your
Vet's office B. Pet Meds-Trisha
C. Puppy raisers, Trisha
Old Business A. Dusty's flyers-Trisha
11. Around the room
12. Adjournment
Respectfully submitted by Trisha Ebel
Hello to All NJAGDU members and participants,
On Thursday, June 18th at 7 pm we will be having our monthly meeting.
Below you will find the minutes from our May 26th call: please take a few
minutes out to read over them. After that you will find our agenda which is
not to long but we do have a few surprises on it.
The call in number is (712) 432-0180 and the code is: 460994 pound.
Please respond to this email with your availability by Wednesday, June 17th,
it is greatly appreciated.
***
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
May 26, 2015
1. Roll Call
Trish Ebel. NFBNJ NJAGDU President
Alice Eaddy, Secretary
Anna DeSantis, Board member
John Luland, President
Jerilyn Higgins
Les Cameron
Lynn Reynolds
Joe Braz
Pat McKenna
Jack Truehaft
2. Call to order the meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. Trisha
3. The minutes were sent out by Alice: John moved to accept the
minutes as read Jerilyn seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
4. Lyn provided the treasures report: the ending balance as of April
30 $635there was no new activity. Alice moved to accept and I, Joe Braz
seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
5. Pat McKenna is now EDGE Program manager, he stated that at present
they are focusing on getting the program up and running with an official
birth in September. The program is for visually impaired youth 14 to 21
offing them the tools to get, maintain and seek out employment.
6. Alice discussed the TRIAD event followed by Les about his table at
the New Jersey Vision Walk in Clark She gave the flyers specifically to all
sheriff personnel present at the event. He said that three families with
blind children approached him and he provided information regarding the
POBC. The Contact list was quickly taken by attendees. Trisha these types of
events give you a good feeling about what you accomplished although you are
quite tired from the effort. She also acknowledged that Ginger and Alix
Garzero generated and sent Dusty's Law flyers to Jack, Les and Alice. Please
call Trisha should you need printed copies. Jack put his out at Toms River
and they went fast. Trish spoke of the Disability Awareness Day in Carteret.
Les described a pleasurable encounter with employees at Home depot in his
area. Trisha offered that often people are uneducated regarding guide dogs
and guide dog teams and their interactions with dog handlers come across as
being mean spirited but that the more we are out there the better. Regarding
any activities related to PETCO we need a lot of documentation yet to even
begin to make an application to fund-raise there. Les will checkout PetSmart
and what they need in order to apply for permission to fund-raise or hand
out flyers and the like and will get back to her with that information. A
question was asked regarding help with dog food expenses particularly if
your animal is on a special diet? Trisha will look into it and report her
findings.
7. Lynn explained the BELL Program: Braille Enrichment Learning for
Literacy for kids aged 4 to 12 they have one Deaf-Blind participant. Les
motioned that we donate $100 to the BELL Program and Jerilyn seconded the
motion carried.
8. New Business
New Jersey Contact list format was explained: a cover page which defined
NFBNJ, 2nd page listed who, what, when and where for chapters, 3rd page
listed same information but concentrated on divisions instead. When the
contact list is used by any division that uses the last page with be each
ones respective web site summary blurb as posted on the state affiliate web
site. These lists can then be given out to the general public. Trisha said
that if anyone is planning a community event and would consequently need
this list to disseminate please contact herself or Alice and we will send it
to you via email. Trisha further stated that the Summary blurb could be
updated as we have more events. To all National Convention attendees please
try to have taken action shots or you and your guide dog team on escalators,
stairs, or walking to various venues etc. We have seven Division members
going to National Convention. Jerilyn the National NAGDU hotline needs
volunteers and that there will be a training later this evening at 8 pm. Les
expressed an interest and would be sent the phone number to be on that
training call. There was a Q&A regarding the Hotline. Alice provided
information from the last NAGDU Board call. Trisha restated that for anyone
interested in the listserv were to contact her in order to be signed up.
9. around the phone
Trisha thanked the membership for distributing the Dusty's Law flyers and
said that after National Convention accessibility issues and our
constitution will be the primary focus .Alice asked about ways to deal with
our partners' stomach and bowel issues while traveling with our guide dogs.
There is cooked rice from uncle bens that is portable and microwaveable also
ask the veterinarian about over the counter medications that human's use
that could also be used with our dogs. Another question came up about how to
give a pill to our dogs-Trisha instructed tilt his/her head back. Put the
pill in one hand; open the lower jaw with your thumb on the roof of the
mouth with the other. Now with the pill pushed to the back of their throat
as far as possible and shut the dogs' mouth. Hold the dogs mouth closed and
blow on his nose, when you see the tongue come out that means he swolled the
pill.
The next meeting is June 18th and hopefully we can have a guest speaker.
10. Adjournment Alice made a motion, Les seconded and all were in favor
at 7:58 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Eaddy, Secretary
AGENDA
13. Roll Call-Alice
14. Call to order- Trisha
15. Minutes-Trisha
16. Treasury report- Lynn
17. Guest speaker-TBA
18. Financial Assistance with Dog food- Trisha
19. Petsmart Fundraiser-Lester
20. National convention-Trisha
21. Useful tips for our dogs-Trisha
22. New Business A. Your dogs Check ups at your
Vet's office B. Pet Meds-Trisha
23. Old Business A. Dusty's flyers-Trisha
24. Around the room
25. Adjournment
Respectfully submitted by Trisha Ebel
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