[nagdu] Guide Dog Handler Bill of Rights

[Jennifer Piening]

Hi!  When I was a student at BLIND, Inc., we could go anywhere we wanted 
to go.  If I had wanted to take a tour of the city of Minneapolis upon 
my arrival, I wouldn't have had to ask for permission; I would have just 
left and did what I wanted to do.
      I am not sure of the specific policy at GDB, but i know two people 
in my class went out with their families and friends who lived in the 
area.  I was so tired at the end of the day that I really didn't want to 
go on any nightly excursions.
      I've also been at events at the National Center, and even though 
people could go and do things at night, most people just stayed around 
the center and hung out after an emotionally and intellectually 
stimulating day.  Were we on lock down?  Of course not.  I think that 
maybe the same could be said about schools.  They don't plan a whole lot 
of unstructured off time activities, but i think that people could leave 
if they wanted to.
      I would like there to be a bill of rights, but how can we even 
formulate a bill of rights, when we don't even agree on which rights we 
should and shouldn't have?
      I personally would like to have total and complete ownership of my 
dog.  I never really thought of it till I got my second dog.  However, 
I'm wondering if we might have more success if we compromised a little. 
  Maybe if the school could retain ownership for a year if they felt 
they needed to retain some kind of ownership.  Then after the year, if 
everything was going according to  the terms of a  signed contract with 
clearly written terms and no ambiguity, then the person could own the dog.
      It's unfortunate to have to give a little on an issue about which 
  people feel so strongly  but this is what collective bargaining is all 
aboutt.
      I think it is important to try our best to remain unified, so that 
we can collectively work toward change.  If we fight among ourselves 
about who is and who isn't a "good" guide dog handler, then we will 
never get anything accomplished.
      Jennifer