[nagdu] Discrimination

Mon Jul 25 13:02:09 UTC 2011

I'll try to explain. 
Gloria, what drove you to ask about access issues. You haven't gotten a dog yet. Is ther something about your neighborhood or the people that you associate with that would make you wonder about this? Are you afraid your family and friends won't support you?  Did you just read too much of this list on a bad day? Are you worried you won't have the emotional strength to deal with an access issue? 
Something is making you ask this question. Something is making you react to my post the way that you did.  
We all know our situations far better then we realize.  Listen to yours. 
As for you getting a dog, only you can answer this. 
I do think we all need to listen to our questions and think about why we ask them. 

To give another example, my daughter likes to ride horses. She doesn't need to ride, she simply enjoys it.  Could she be hurt or killed riding or being around horses? Absolutely.  Do I think about this? No. Do I make sure she is as safe as she can be? Yes.  When she first decided horses were something she liked, my first thought wasn't "What if something happens" it was "Let's teach you how to be safe, and responsible while also having fun". I think had my first question been "What if she gets hurt or killed" I'd need to look at that issue and why I thought of that. 

Guide dogs are fun.   If you are ready, you will really enjoy it.  If you are not (and I am one of these people) you will not enjoy the experience or relationship.  It is okay to not be ready.  Your question to me, just seemed a little premature.  It's like worrying about your kid's future spouse when your child is still in preschool. Sure it's something you may think about it, but you don't think about it it with a preschooler the way you would with an adult child. 
I hope this makes some sense. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 7:14 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Discrimination

Gloria,

I don't think anyone is questioning whether or not you should get a 
guide dog.   That's your decision to make.  You asked about incidents of 
discrimination and Rebecca responded with her thoughts.  Sometimes the 
intent or emotion behind the words written isn't expressed as well as it 
might if it was verbal communication.   Rebecca has been a member of the 
list for a long time, so I guess I'm used to her style of writing.   I'm 
sure she'll respond to you as well, but please know that I don't think 
she meant to imply you shouldn't have a guide dog.

Julie

> Hi Rebecca,
> I am just reading your message. I believe you questioned my getting a 
> dog if I was concerned with receiving negative reactions from others. 
> I feel you must know I did a lot of research before I decided to go 
> through the process of getting a guide dog. It is not something I woke 
> up morning and decided to do. I feel as guide users there are many 
> things one should keep in mind and wonder about and public reactions 
> are one of those things. I just wanted to talk to others so that I 
> could better prepare myself. I thought this cite was to have others to 
> talk to about things that might concern me since many of you have had 
> your guides for some time. I guess I was wrong because my decision to 
> become a guide user is being questioned based off a few concerns I 
> had. I think it would be a bit irresponsible as a handler to not 
> question things like public perception.
> Gloria
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "PICKRELL, REBECCA M (TASC)" 
> <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
> Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 10:08 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Discrimination
>
>
>> Gloria,
>> I'm curious, why are you worried about this now? Is there a deeper 
>> issue?
>> I ask because it never crossed my mind to worry about this issue. 
>> Maybe that was because I was young and niaeve.
>> Access issues suck, so I'm curious to know why you'd choose to get a 
>> dog if this weighs heavily on you.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Gloria G
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 5:25 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Discrimination
>>
>> Thanks Julie. Your thoughts were helpful.
>> Gloria
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 4:20 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Discrimination
>>
>>
>>> Gloria,
>>>
>>> For me, no, I extremely rarely have issues of discrimination because 
>>> of my
>>> guide dog.  Well, I rarely have descrimination issues of any 
>>> variety.  I
>>> honestly have no idea if this is because I am a scary person, the 
>>> area I
>>> live, my particular dog, the specific places I go or some other factor.
>>> Others experience access issues more often than I do, but I wouldn't 
>>> say
>>> it's routine for any of us.
>>>
>>> There are lots and lots of people and resources available to assist you
>>> with an access issue should one come up.  My best advice is don't worry
>>> about and deal with it if one should come up.  That's all you can do.
>>> *smile*
>>>
>>> Julie
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 7/19/2011 1:32 PM, Gloria G wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I was wondering if many of you have experienced discrimination because
>>>> you were guide dog users? I mean is it pretty common for buisnesses to
>>>> refuse you service or make negative commants because of your guide, 
>>>> if so
>>>> please describe the situation and explain how you handled it if you 
>>>> would
>>>> like? Thanks!
>>>> Gloria
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>>>
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>>
>>
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