[nagdu] Advance Notification

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Marion,
Curious about churches and the ADA.  Does this mean that churches who want 
to rennovate their premeses don't have to be subject to the ADA in that they 
need to make their place wheelchair accessible?

Why I ask is that when I belonged to a small church, I was on the Church 
Council when we talked about making changes to the building and we were told 
that we had to put in an elevator or ramps to make the rennovated space 
accessible to wheelchair users.  We couldn't afford to do this and the ramps 
would have no physical space due to the closeness of the property to the 
street.

As to the dogs, there were several of us who had guide dogs and the church 
even put in a relieveing area for the dogs.  This church is very guide dog 
friendly - and disability friendly and they made changes to allow for the 
participation of people with all disabilities.  Only we were unable to 
provide total access to all buildings on the site since we had buildings 
built in the 1930s and rennovated in the 1950s.

Me, personally, wouold never attend a church where my guide dog wasn't 
welcome.  How can one worship the one they call a "shepherd of man (sheep?)" 
and then deny access to the very creatures made by God?  Althouogh this 
church I was involved in was very welcoming to dogs and disabled, I left 
because the pastor was unwelcoming to LGBT folks - out ones - as I came out 
to be my real self and moved on.

I know that people will make whatever arrangements with their churches and 
that's fine.  I was surprised at the private clubs and churches not being 
obligated to be under the ADA rules about service dogs.  Guess I went to the 
right clubs and churches! LOL!  The people in these places all loved Jacob 
and Landon.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 4:41 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Advance Notification


> Cindy,
>    You were very wise to notify the church about your guide dog in 
> advance. As you stated, clubs that are private in nature and churches are 
> not subject to the provisions of the ADA.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 8:19 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Advance Notification
>
>
>>I believe, Marion, that this is a good point. If some give advanced 
>>notification and some don't, then there is reasonably confusion. There is 
>>not only confusion for the companies/businesses, but actually for blind 
>>people as well. Do we or don't we?
>>
>> I have signed up for a private retreat at a retreat center. I toyed with 
>> whether or not I should tell them. It is a church facility and not a 
>> public hotel really, so I did notify them in advance; that for me is a 
>> gray area and it is totally out of character for me to do it. They have 
>> no problem with my bringing him but were glad I said so. I think what 
>> made me do it was the notion that churches and the like are not 
>> necessarily considered public.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>>
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>
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