[Nfbofnc] Why Do NC Guide Dog Users Need to Organize?

[Marion Gwizdala]

Dear all,

                I have joined this discussion list temporarily to help
mobilize guide dog users in the State of Norht Carolina. A few days ago Gary
Ray sent a message I copied to him concerning organizing a North Carolina
Association of Guide Dog Users. This message was in response to an inquiry
from Ashley Coleman about how to go about organizing such a division. The
National Association of Guide dog Users will be participating in the 75 Days
of Action by organizing and strengthening our affiliate NAGDU divisions.
There is a need for such an organization in nearly every affiliate and
especially in North Carolina, as this message will convey.

 

                On July 15 a guide dog user had an appointment with a
podiatrist in Mooresville, N.C. When he arrived at the podiatrist office, he
was told he would need to leave his guide dog in the waiting room. He
attempted to advocate for himself and his efforts were fruitless. He
contacted the Mooresville Police Department which dispatched a police
officer who also attempted to intervene with no success. Unfortunately, as
is often the case, the police officer was uninformed about the fact that
there is a state law that provides for criminal remedies for such denials,
advising the guide dog user there was nothing she could do as she believed
such violations were civil offenses. The person who faced this
discrimination was referred to the NAGDU Information & Advocacy Hotline and
we are working with him to file criminal penalties against the podiatrist.

 

                I am writing to this list to encourage guide dog users in
North Carolina to begin the steps of organizing a North Carolina Association
of Guide dog Users. Many of you may not be aware that N.C. has a state law
that is incongruent with the Americans with Disabilities Act that requires
service animal users to register their service dogs with the North Carolina
Department of Health & Human Services or to present documentation that the
service animal has been trained in order to be protected by the state's
access laws, measures that are in direct conflict with the ADA. One of the
first orders of business for a newly organized NCAGDU would be to work for
the repeal of this law. Another valuable initiative would be to spread the
word about how law enforcement can best intervene in such situations in the
state so that the challenges faced by this guide dog user are never
encountered again.

 

                I am posting this message to let you know that the NAGDU
Board is fully supportive of any effort in N.C. to organize an affiliate
division. We are seeking individuals willing to take on a leadership role in
this organizational effort and lay the foundation to create an affiliate
division at this year's state convention. 

 

                I am here to help answer any questions concerning this
effort and to help gather together the resources needed to make this a
reality. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask them on
this list. I look forward to helping enhance the membership and work of the
National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina.

 

Fraternally yours,

 

Marion Gwizdala, President

National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc.

National Federation of the Blind

(813) 626-2789

(888) 624-3841 (Hotline)

President at nagdu.org

http://www.nagdu.org

 

High expectations create unlimited potential for the blind!