[Cagdu] thoughts on guide dog board

[tina thomas]

Hi Ken- I agree with you on the points you made concerning the CA state
board. I strongly suggest we not only write individual letters but also we
as the California Association of Guide Dog Users write letters in opposition
of this bill. 
Tina 

"Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own instead of
someone else's."
- Billy Wilder

 
-----Original Message-----
From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf
Of Ken Volonte
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 9:45 AM
To: Cagdu
Subject: [Cagdu] thoughts on guide dog board

Hi cagduers.  The following thoughts represent my views on the guide dog
board and its function.

    The society we live in now is a more mobile one.  People travel about
all the time for jobs, for increased opportunities, for a change in their
individual needs and preferences.  I happen to live in California, but I
should be able to go to a guide dog school of my choice safe in the
knowledge that my chosen school can provide me with follow up services if
needed.  The position of the guide dog board is at odds with this because
the board requires all schools to obtain licensure in California.

    Every school has its own specialty which might dictate a desire to go
there.  For example, Pilot dogs was, for a long time, the only school that
was comfortable with guide dogs using escalators.  GDB dogs have the edge in
terms of soundness and consistency.  Fidelco uses German Shepherds, and so
on.  All of these schools know how to train guide dogs, and the law should
recognize this and not put encumbrances in the way of any student making any
choice.

    Now we come to the matter of trainers who will train a pet dog to be a
guide dog for a small fee of, say $1,000.00 a month.  Suppose I want to
train my pet Poodle to be a guide and go to one of these unscrupulous
trainers.  What guarantee do I have that this trainer knows what is expected
of a guide dog?  What protection do I or the public have under the law?  If
push came to shove, none at all.

    I have no problem with a licensing body or with supporting that body.  I
have two problems with the California State Guide Dog Board.  First, board
members are appointed by the governor and this appointment can be secured by
a big contribution.  People on the board don't necessarily have to know
anything about guide dogs or their function.  Second, the board presumes to
regulate schools outside of California, and that's the focus of this whole
business with 475.  Cagdu may have inadvertently caused this problem by
inviting members of the board to our seminar last year, and it's up to us to
fix it. 

_______________________________________________
Cagdu mailing list
Cagdu at nfbcal.org
https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.283 / Virus Database: 270.11.41/2040 - Release Date: 04/03/09
17:54:00