[nagdu] Resolution Concerning Service Animals

[Passle Helminski]

Well done, Marion.  Passle



>Dear All,
>     Pasted below and attached to this message is 
>a resolution we will present at the 2010 annual 
>meeting of the National Association of Guide Dog 
>Users and to the general assembly. Please take 
>the time to read this resolution and ask any 
>questions you may have. The membership will be 
>asked to vote on endorsing this resolution 
>before it is presented to the entire convention.
>
>fraternally yours,
>Marion Gwizdala, President
>National Association of Guide Dog Users
>National Federation of the Blind
>813-626-2789
>Blind411 at Verizon.net
>
>
>
>RESOLUTION 2010-XX
>
>Regarding Civil Rights Protection of Blind Persons
>
>and Their Service Animals in Public Accommodations
>
>Proponent: Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, the purpose of the National Federation 
>of the Blind is "the removal of the legal, 
>social, and economic barriers faced by the 
>blind" so that we will achieve "full integration 
>into society on terms of equality"; and
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, discrimination by places of public 
>accommodation is one of the barriers faced by 
>the blind, especially among those who choose to 
>use a guide dog as their mobility tool; and
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, state laws vary in the protection from 
>discrimination that they offer to their blind 
>citizens; and
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act 
>(ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of 
>disability in public accommodations and offers 
>greater protection against discrimination than 
>many state laws; and
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, many states have laws that contain 
>provisions that are incongruent with the ADA, 
>such as requirements that service animals must 
>wear specific gear, provisions for muzzling, 
>requirements for documentation, language 
>concerning certifications that do not exist, and 
>prohibitions of service animals in zoos, all of 
>which are considered discriminatory under the 
>ADA; and
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, although the ADA has been in existence 
>for twenty years, many states have not bothered 
>to change their laws to conform with the ADA; and
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, a large majority of states provide 
>criminal penalties for discrimination on the 
>basis of disability, allowing law enforcement to 
>intervene, generally resulting in an immediate 
>resolution of such access issues, while 
>providing appropriate penalties for more serious 
>infractions; and
>
>
>
>WHEREAS, criminal penalties allow for a more 
>expeditious resolution of such access issues 
>(benefiting the disabled community, in general, 
>and society as a whole) by addressing 
>discrimination at the local level, while 
>relieving individuals from the burden of costly 
>litigation and prolonged civil processes:  Now, 
>therefore,
>
>
>
>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the 
>Blind in Convention assembled this seventh day 
>of July, 2010, in the city of Dallas, Texas, 
>that this organization call upon state 
>legislatures to examine their statutes for 
>parity with the ADA, removing provisions that 
>are not in conformity with this Federal law; and
>
>
>
>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>call upon the remaining states that do not 
>provide criminal penalties for discrimination 
>against blind guide dog users to more 
>effectively promote and protect the equal rights 
>of their blind citizens by creating criminal 
>penalties for acts of discrimination; and
>
>
>
>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization 
>urge all states to protect the civil rights of 
>the blind by vigorous enforcement of the law. 
>
>Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:2010 
>Resolution Regar#FF3B3.doc (WDBN/«IC») (000FF3B3)
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