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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dear Fellow Federationists, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> I want to share comments I made to the subscribers of the NFB of Florida list. These comments are in response to messages concerning a woman who was harassed by several security officers at the Museum of Florida History in our Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida. Many subscribers commented that the best way to handle such discrimination is through the provision of more training. Please take a moment to read my response about this.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Marion Gwizdala<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> There have been some comments that the answer to the issue of discrimination because of the use of a guide dog is more training. Though I agree that training should be an essential element, such training should be done before law enforcement and security have direct citizen contact, not as the resolution of discrimination! When such discrimination occurs, though, disciplinary action must include a binding agreement that includes additional training and specific injunctions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I want to remind you that this discrimination was not, contrary to the minimizations of the Secretary of State’s office, the result of the actions of one security officer. It was not even the result of the actions of two or three security officers. It was perpetrated by six officers, one of whom admitted he was the supervisor who had ordered the actions of the others. When I spoke with Darren Fancher who told me he oversees the security contractors for the Florida Department of management Services DMS), he first said he was unaware of the incident; then he said he might have heard something about it; and then he advised me he had ordered a full investigation! All I can say is that he did a lot of work in the three minutes he was on the telephone with me!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> During our demonstration on Friday, at least five members of the general public stopped to ask about the purpose of our demonstration. When we told them of the discrimination levied by the security officers they were astonished that such discrimination is still occurring. Now, if members of the general public are aware of the laws that provide our rights of access, how can we excuse the actions of those who have a greater responsibility to the public on matters of law? Some of you may not be aware that the state of Florida passed the first legislation concerning the right of access for a blind person to public places with a guide dog in 1949, 65 years ago! The Americans with disabilities Act has been in effect since 1990, 24 years! The laws of the state of Florida are in every library and MyFlorida.com and implementing regulations of the ADA are published in the Federal Register and are readily available on the Department of Justice website, as well as on the NAGDU website and a number of other sites. Oh, and did I mention there’s now an app for that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>During the period of July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014, the NAGDU Information and advocacy Hotline receive 1,063 calls from individuals seeking information about the rights and responsibilities of service dog users or seeking assistance because of discrimination. While on my way to Tallahassee, I took a call to the hotline from an individual in Kissimmee who is being told he cannot ride in a taxicab with his dog. This list has seen news reports about hotels, restaurants, hospitals, convenience stores, doctor’s offices, and theaters denying access to service dog users. When are we going to say we will no longer tolerate discrimination? When are we going to demand that law enforcement and security officers licensed by the state receive effective training so that, when we do call them for assistance because of discrimination we are not dismissed with the same old excuse that this is a civil matter when we know it is criminal? When are we going to call the State’s Attorneys to task for sweeping the law under the rug and sending the message that they are not interested in securing our civil rights by failing to prosecute offenders? When will we demand that the state of Florida demonstrate the right way to handle discrimination is to take swift, decisive, and effective measures to punish those who violate the law and our civil rights? Well, the national Federation of the Blind and the National Association of guide dog Users made that decision some time ago! Now, it is up to the grassroots members – you and me – to see it to the end! The National Federation of the Blind 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 barriers that stand between us and our dreams. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'> This issue is not about one person being harassed because of her guide dog! It is about the state of Florida dismissing us until we asked the media to tell the story of state-sponsored discrimination against us! If we had not pressed the issue, it would have been ignored! Every citizen of the state and of the nation should be concerned about this because this sort of discrimination erodes the very fabric of freedom on which our society is built. Until everyone who reads this message gets out from behind their computers and stands on the barriers with us, we will continue to face discrimination and low expectations. We are a powerful organization only when we stand together against injustice. I encourage you to join me as we work together to remove the barriers that stand between blind people and our dreams!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'>Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Marion Gwizdala, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>(813) 626-2789<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>(888) 624-3841 (Hotline)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="mailto:President@nagdu.org">President@nagdu.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.nagdu.org">http://www.nagdu.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>High expectations create unlimited potential for the blind!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>