[Njagdu] [Fwd: [nagdu] Resolution Concerning Service Animals]

[Tracy Carcione]

No problem.

I think it is Marion's intention that states follow up on this resolution
by calling upon our legislators to make the changes outlined in the
resolution.  Our national resolutions may call for something to happen,
but it's us who will have to make it happen.
Tracy

> Tracy,
>
> Thank you for following up on keeping the NJAGDU membership up-to-date on
> what is happening on the NAGDU list. Personally I know I would not have
> known until I was at the convention and at the Resolution Committee as I
> am presenting another resolution dealing with the NFB DAN (Diabetes Action
> Network).
> If we need to bring this onto our state level, this document would be a
> good starting place for us to work with.
>
> Vinny
> Vincent Chaney Jr
> NFB Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Board of Directors
> NFBNJ Diabetes Division President
> NJAGDU Division President
> NFBNJ Technology Division Vice President
> NFBNJ.ORG Webmaster
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Tracy Carcione
>   To: njagdu at nfbnet.org
>   Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 10:58 AM
>   Subject: [Njagdu] [Fwd: [nagdu] Resolution Concerning Service Animals]
>
>
>   Below is a message our NAGDU president, Marion Gwizdala, sent to the
> NAGDU
>   list regarding a resolution he is bringing to the national convention.
>   Tracy
>
>
>   ---------------------------- Original Message
> ----------------------------
>   Subject: [nagdu] Resolution Concerning Service Animals
>   From:    "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
>   Date:    Tue, June 29, 2010 8:49 pm
>   To:      "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>            ""FLAGDU List"" <FLAGDU at NFBNET.ORG>
>   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>   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.
>   _______________________________________________
>   nagdu mailing list
>   nagdu at nfbnet.org
>   http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>   To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
>   http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>   _______________________________________________
>   Njagdu mailing list
>   Njagdu at nfbnet.org
>   http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/njagdu_nfbnet.org
>   To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Njagdu:
>   http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/njagdu_nfbnet.org/vgc732%40optonline.net
> _______________________________________________
> Njagdu mailing list
> Njagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/njagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Njagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/njagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net