[Nyagdu] Leading Guide Dog Users' Advocacy Organization Releases New Version of Mobile App

Wed Sep 13 17:51:34 UTC 2017

Dear NAGDU Members,

                I wanted to share this exciting information with our NAGDU
membership before it went to the NFBNET subscribers' list. Please join me in
celebrating the fantastic achievements of the National Association of Guide
Dog Users, a strong & proud division of the National Federation of the
Blind! Our achievements are made possible because of dedicated members like
you! We are definitely removing the obstacles that stand between blind
people and our dreams so we can live the lives we want!

Fraternally yours,

Marion 

Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate.

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

FROM: National Association of Guide Dog Users, National Federation of the
Blind

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2017

TO: All Media

CONTACT: Marion Gwizdala, President

                     President at nagdu.org

                     (813) 626-2789

Leading Guide Dog Users' Membership & Advocacy Organization Releases New
Mobile App

                When the National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a
strong & proud division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB),
launched the NAGDU Guide & Service Animal Advocacy & Information mobile app
in September 2014, it was hailed as an innovative ambitious project. This
mobile app was the first to compile all the relevant state and federal
service animal laws in the United States, along with associated guidance
articles to help service animal users and businesses alike understand their
rights and responsibilities. Over the past three years, this mobile app has
been downloaded by nearly 5,000 iOS users and has been helpful in resolving
numerous access issues across the country! 

Now, with the advent of iOS 11 and with the input from hundreds of users,
the National Association of Guide Dog Users is excited to announce the
release of version 2.0 of the NAGDU Guide & Service Dog advocacy &
Information mobile app for iOS and, by the end of September, its Android
version. Here is what you will find in version 2.0:

.         Updated information on each state statute

.         The laws for each of the Canadian provinces 

.         The ability to download the app from the Canadian app store

.         The complete regulations concerning service animals from the U.S.
Department of Justice 

.         Specific guidance for industries of concern to service dog users 

.         Frequently Asked Questions to help these industries understand
their rights & responsibilities

.         A direct email button to get more specific guidance & offer
suggestions

.         A direct telephone connection to speak with a trained advocate

.         A more dynamic app with frequent updates

.         An Android version by September 30

"Those of us who use service dogs experience discrimination more frequently
than most are aware," says Marion Gwizdala, a guide dog user who serves as
the NAGDU president. "We believe this new app will help guide & other
service dog users better advocate for themselves, while providing accurate
information to the general public and places of public accommodation so that
instances of discrimination are resolved quickly and amicably!"

This incredible app is provided absolutely free as a public service by the
National Association of Guide Dog Users and was created with the generous
support of Aaron Cannon, a blind Software Accessibility Engineer and member
of NAGDU. We also extend a special word of thanks to Michigan State
University's Animal Legal & Historical Center for the use of their legal
research and information on state and provincial laws.  Before this
announcement was even released, the app had been downloaded more than 1400
times! To download your free copy of this awesome mobile app, simply go to
the App Store and type "NAGDU" in the search field; it's that easy! Once you
download the app, please browse through the information and send us your
feedback. You can do this directly from the app by using the "send an email"
feature. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you to raze
the expectations of the blind in the United States so we can live the lives
we want!

For more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users or
the National Federation of the blind, please visit the following websites:

National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU)

http://nagdu.org

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

http://nfb.org

About NAGDU

                   The National Association of Guide dog Users is the
nation's leading membership and advocacy organization for blind people who
use guide dogs.  NAGDU is a strong and proud division of the National
Federation of the Blind. NAGDU conducts public awareness campaigns on issues
of guide dog use, provides advocacy support for guide dog handlers who face
discrimination, supports sound policy and effective legislation to protect
the rights of guide dog users, offers educational programs to school and
civic organizations, and functions 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>, send an email message to <
<mailto:Info at NAGDU.ORG> Info at NAGDU.ORG>, or call (813) 626-2789.

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 create
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.

For more information about the National Federation of the Blind or to
support our work, please visit <http://nfb.org> or call (410) 659-9314.

Marion Gwizdala, President

National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind

(813) 626-2789

President at NAGDU.ORG

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.