From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Wed Sep 8 09:40:01 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 09:40:01 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] Iraq veteran's service pit bull thwarts ban, with help from feds Message-ID: <003401cb4f74$7bc3c7e0$734b57a0$@net> Subject: [nagdu] Iraq veteran's service pit bull thwarts ban, with help from feds Iraq veteran's service pit bull thwarts ban, with help from feds By Christopher N. Osher The Denver Post Posted: 09/07/2010 01:00:00 AM MDTUpdated: 09/07/2010 http://www.denverpost.com/technology/ci_16006881 Veteran Glenn Belcher was prescribed a pit bull to help overcome his disabilities after serving in Iraq. Denver originally told him he could not have the dog in the city. (Diego James Robles, The Denver Post)Glenn Belcher credits his pit bull, Sky, with cutting down on the nightmares that come from his tour of duty in Iraq during Desert Storm. The dog steadies him as he goes up stairs. And Sky's soothing presence has allowed Belcher to reduce the number of antipsychotic drugs he used to take to one, down from four. So Belcher was shocked when he moved from California to Denver in 2009 to learn that the dog a nurse prescribed to help him overcome his disabilities was not welcome. Sky violated the city's ban on pit bulls, and Denver officials told Belcher he would have to move outside the city limits if he wanted to keep the dog. Now the city of Denver appears to be relenting, following new advice from the U.S. Justice Department about how the Americans with Disabilities Act should be interpreted. The new federal regulation states that the act allows "any dog" that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability, to be classified as a service animal. "As far as the ADA, it's now pretty black and white, according to what the U.S. Department of Justice has prepared," said Nancy Severson, Denver's manager of environmental health services, the agency in charge of enforcing the pit-bull ban. "If it's a service dog, and they claim it's a service dog, and the dog is providing the support for a disability, we will have to honor that," she said. A proposed ordinance that will get initial consideration Monday would allow pit bulls certified as service animals in Denver. Belcher, one of three owners of pit bulls certified as service animals who are suing Denver and Aurora, says it's about time. He warned city officials last year they were discriminating against him and his dog and making it impossible for him to access public spaces. The dog has remained in Denver since Belcher got a temporary restraining order against the city while the lawsuit was pending. "This breed has been hijacked by gangbangers and thugs and people who don't know how to raise animals to begin with," Belcher said. "There are no bad dogs, only bad owners." The new law would amend a pit-bull ban Denver enacted in 1989 after the Rev. Wilbur Billingsley was attacked by a pit bull that bit him 70 times and left him with two broken legs. The ban, which was upheld in Denver District Court in 2004, is deplored by many animal-rights activists but applauded by those who say pit bulls can be violent. Since 2005, the city has seized 3,186 pit bulls; 2,123 were euthanized. The new exemption could pose hurdles for officials trying to crack down on problem pit bulls. If a person claims their pit bull is certified as a service animal, city officials won't even be allowed to ask to see the certification. "This does blow a big hole in the breed ban," said Councilwoman Carla Madison, long a critic of the city's pit-bull ban. Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher at denverpost.com _______________________________________________ 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/tinadt%40sbcglobal.ne t From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Wed Sep 8 12:02:30 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 12:02:30 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: A new project from Guide Dogs of the Desert Message-ID: <005301cb4f88$63a93050$2afb90f0$@net> Subject: A new project from Guide Dogs of the Desert Hello: I want to let you know about a project that Guide Dogs of the Desert is doing. If possible, please let people know about it. Thank you in advance. Here is the announcement. Guide Dogs Of the Desert is conducting a study regarding blind parents and their small children. In the future, we would like to conduct training classes of blind parents with small children and the use of a guide dog. If you have been, or are currently a parent who is blind, please answer the following questions. Please be assured that your name and all answers will be kept confidential. Thank you for your participation in this study. Here are the questions. What was the most challenging aspect of being a blind parent? Did you want, or need support from an independent life skills agency? If so, did you get it? Did you use a cane, or guide dog for mobility purposes when you had small children, or now having them? Regards, Linda Samulski Outreach and Student Services Coordinator PO Box 1692, Palm Springs, CA 92263 Phone: 760.329.6257 - Fax: 760.329.2866 Mission Statement: Guide Dogs of the Desert improves the lives of the blind by creating opportunities for life-changing independence, and by conducting community and outreach programs. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100908/9cb5da2a/attachment.html From rstigile at sbcglobal.net Thu Sep 9 19:59:09 2010 From: rstigile at sbcglobal.net (Robert Stigile) Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:59:09 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Cagdu meeting Message-ID: <383032.55187.qm@smtp106.sbc.mail.mud.yahoo.com> HELLO Cagdu community, I am writing, to remind you, that Sunday September 12th is our next meeting. The call in number is 712-432-0175 and the pass code is 184220 pound. I hope to see all of you, who are guide dog users, those of you who may be friends of guide dog users, or if you have anyone who is interested in getting a dog on this call. Talk to every one Sunday. Robert Stigile E-mail: rstigile at sbcglobal.net Skype: robertstigile1 From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Fri Sep 10 09:00:37 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:00:37 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] Castro Valley author explores harrowing 9/11 escape Message-ID: <002501cb5101$50054190$f00fc4b0$@net> Subject: [nagdu] Castro Valley author explores harrowing 9/11 escape Castro Valley author explores harrowing 9/11 escape By Chris Metinko Oakland Tribune Posted: 09/10/2010 12:00:00 AM PDT Author Susy Flory and the subject of her latest book, 9/11 Twin Towers survivor Michael Hingson. Susy Flory had no intention of doing a book about survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Actually, the Castro Valley author was trying to do research for her new book on inspirational tales about people and their dogs. Little did she know the two subjects would come together. Enter Bay Area 9/11 survivor Michael Hingson, of Novato, blind from birth, and his yellow Labrador retriever, Roselle. "I had a contract with a publisher to write a book about true dog stories, and then I came across Michael's story," Flory said. "I couldn't believe it. After reading about it, I just had chills." That's why Flory, 45, is in the final steps of making Hingson's amazing story into a book, due out next August -- just in time to mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The book, titled "Thunder Dog: A Blind Man, A Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero," details Hingson's escape from the 78th floor of the 110-story Tower One of New York City's World Trade Center, as well as his other triumphs over challenges presented to him because of his blindness. "This is not just about 9/11. This is a memoir about what's it's like to be blind. This is much bigger in scope than just the one event," Flory said. The book includes stories about Hingson riding his bike through the streets of Palmdale, Los Angeles County, as a child and working in bustling Manhattan to show Hingson would not let blindness stand in his way. The book, however, does center on the events of that Tuesday morning nine years ago. Hingson was working as a regional sales manager of a data backup company located in Tower One. Roselle, his then 3-year-old guide dog, was sleeping under his desk when Hingson heard an explosion. The book details Hingson's and Roselle's harrowing descent down 78 floors and away from burning tower. The book even describes a scene in which Roselle led Hingson and a woman they met outside to the nearest subway stop because she could not see through the smoke and dust. The feat of getting out of the tower alive is all the more amazing considering the death toll of 2,606 that fateful morning when hijackers took control of two commercial airliners and crashed them into the two towers. At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the 89th floor of Tower One, followed by United Airlines 175, which hit the Tower Two at 9:03 a.m. After burning for 56 minutes, Tower Two collapsed, followed a half-hour later by Tower One. The book also talks about what Hingson says he has learned about trust, courage, teamwork and heroism, both as a blind man, and as a 9/11 survivor. "Not all the stories that came out of 9/11 obviously were good," Flory said. "This one was a good one, though. This is a good story." Flory added that writing the book opened her eyes to many daily issues that the blind deal with, living in a society set up for people with vision -- including things most take for granted, such as getting to work or using a mobile device. "It definitely raised my awareness," Flory said. "You hear Michael talk and you learn about the challenges." "Thunder Dog" will be the fourth book written by Flory, who grew up riding quarter horses in Castro Valley. She also worked in journalism, education and communications and has degrees from UCLA in English and psychology. After writing for several magazines, she threw herself into writing in 2006. "I like to immerse myself into something," Flory said. "Writing books really allows you to do that. It allows you to fall in love with what you're writing." Flory said "Thunder Dog" took her about three months to write -- and now will go through a publisher's review and rewrites -- although each book has taken a different amount of time and research. "It all depends on the subject," Flory said. "No two books are the same." As for that book on inspirational dog tales? Don't worry, "Dog Tales: Inspirational Stories of Humor, Adventure, and Devotion" is set to come out in June. Source: http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_16035230 _______________________________________________ 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/tinadt%40sbcglobal.ne t From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Fri Sep 10 14:09:53 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:09:53 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - 16 CCR SECTIONS 2260, 2266, 2282, 2282.1 Message-ID: <007501cb512c$83da8c20$8b8fa460$@net> Subject: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - 16 CCR SECTIONS 2260, 2266, 2282, 2282.1 TITLE 16. STATE BOARD OF GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind (hereinafter "board") is proposing to take the action described in the Informative Digest. Any person interested may present statements or arguments orally or in writing relevant to the action proposed at a hearing to be held on October 25, 2010, at 350 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael, CA 94903 at 1:30 p.m. Written comments, including those sent by mail, facsimile, or e-mail to the addresses listed under Contact Person in this Notice, must be received by the board at its office on or before October 25, 2010, or must be received by the Board at the hearing The Board, upon its own motion or at the instance of any interested party, may thereafter adopt the proposals substantially as described below or may modify such proposals if such modifications are sufficiently related to the original text. With the exception of technical or grammatical changes, the full text of any modified proposal will be available for 15 days prior to its adoption from the person designated in this Notice as contact person and will be mailed to those persons who submit written or oral testimony related to this proposal or who have requested notification of any changes to the proposal. Authority and Reference: Pursuant to the authority vested by Sections 7208 and 7209 of the Business and Professions Code, and to implement, interpret or make specific Sections 7208 and 7209 of said Code, the board is considering changes to Division 22 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations as follows: INFORMATIVE DIGEST/POLICY STATEMENT OVERVIEW Business and Professions Code section 7208, authorizes the Board to govern the admission of applicants for examination for licensure to instruct blind persons in the use of guide dogs or to engage in the business of training, selling, hiring, or being in the business of supplying guide dogs for the blind; govern the operation of schools which furnish guide dogs and train blind persons to use guide dogs. Section 7209 prescribes four requirements be met before exam eligibility. These requirements are: 1. Amend section 2260 Existing regulation allows a person to be eligible for examination for license as a guide dog instructor to verify training of 22 person-dog units, and allows for additional experience in kennel work or dog training only be credited, provided it is an apprentice in a guide dog school under a qualified instructor. Additionally, the guide dog instructor, after becoming licensed, must make up the lacking experience within one year, otherwise, have his or her licensed revoked. This proposed regulation would: ? Clarify three (3) years of full time experience required before qualifying an applicant to sit for the license examination. ? Change term "person dog units" to "guide dog teams" (to comply with international training terms). ? Delete reference to requirement for both years of experience and number of person dog units made up one year after obtaining license, otherwise to be revoked. ? Add a requirement that experience be obtained while under the supervision of an instructor who meets standards equivalent to those licensed by the Board and as determined by the Board. ? Add reference to minimum competency as set forth by sections 2266 and 2282.1. ? Define "full time" as an average of 32 hours per week. ? Add a verification provided to the Board, from an individual in a supervisory position, stating the individual has met the requirements as specified in subsection (a). 2. Amend section 2266 Existing regulation states that a school shall not employ, or keep in its employ an apprentice who is not suited to work with blind persons in the use of guide dogs and who has not had at least one year's experience working with the training of dogs. Existing regulation also requires that every apprentice at a licensed guide dog school undergo a systematic organized program of instruction which has been approved by the Board meeting five (5) different criteria. In addition, no apprentice shall be permitted to train any guide dog except under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed instructor until he has completed not less than 20 hours of such instruction a week for a period of not less than one year. This proposed regulation would: ? Eliminate the requirement that an apprentice have one year's actual experience working with the training of dogs. Such a requirement may discourage individuals from becoming an apprentice. Previous dog experience is not applicable to the Guide Dog field. Because of the unique aspects of Guide Dog training programs, it is often easier to instruct trainees who do not have prior dog training/handling experience. The Board's apprentice programs are comprehensive and cover all aspects of dog training required. With more of a focus on client training (training of blind persons), bringing in apprentices with more emphasis on this side is often helpful in giving them experience to draw upon client-related activities. Client training has become more of a focus for apprentices over the years as is indicated in the current Occupational Analysis performed by the Board. Many trainees are entering the field carrying degrees from a client-based background rather than a dog-based background (i.e., Orientation & Mobility (O&M), Psychology, etc.). ? Delete reference to "train" and change to "instruct" any guide dog, adding "team" to be consistent with international training definitions. ? Delete the not less than 20 hours a week for a period of not less than one year instruction requirement, changing the requirement to not less than 20 hours of instruction. 3. Amend section 2282 Existing regulation prescribes that preliminary training of dogs is a minimum of 90 days, six (6) months preceding the assignment of a guide dog to a blind person. This proposed regulation would: ? Delete reference to "Preliminary Training of Dogs," and replace with "Assignment of Dogs." ? Require that instead of six (6) months prior to assignment of a guide dog, there be a 60 day period to verify training. ? Delete reference to the number of days of training required, and rely on minimum competencies met and verified via section 2282.1. In order for an instructor/ school to assign a guide dog to a blind person, Section 2282.1 will set minimum guide dog competencies. Basing regulations on outcomes ensures quality of final "product" yet gives schools the opportunity to advance and improve techniques which may allow for more flexible training schedules. 4. Amend section 2282.1 Existing regulation establishes that certain competencies be met for guide dog training. This proposed regulation would: ? Re-number section 2282.1 to 2282. ? Add requirements that guide dogs meet an additional four (4) competencies through training and testing (?? 2282(a) (9-12) (b). Currently, there are eight (8) competency requirements to be expected of a team-ready guide dog. Also, there are no testing requirements for the existing competencies. This section would be amended to be more current with international training terminology and add additional requirements. The best existing practice of schools is to test each guide dog before pairing it with a client. Consumers requested codification into law of this best practice. This requirement would ensure the best practice continue for existing schools and exist for any new guide dog schools. In addition, all competencies will be tested and documented for verification. FISCAL IMPACT ESTIMATES Fiscal Impact on Public Agencies Including Costs or Savings to State Agencies or Costs/Savings in Federal Funding to the State: None Nondiscretionary Costs/Savings to Local Agencies: None Local Mandate: None Cost to Any Local Agency or School District for Which Government Code Sections 17500 - 17630 Require Reimbursement: None Business Impact: The Board has made an initial determination that the proposed regulatory action would have no significant statewide adverse economic impact directly affecting business, including the ability of California businesses to compete with businesses in other states. The Board used a Practice Task Force, primarily represented by all three (3) licensed guide dog schools, recommending final language to the Board to make this determination. Impact on Jobs/New Businesses: The Board has determined that this regulatory proposal will not have any impact on the creation of jobs or new businesses, or the elimination of jobs or existing businesses, or the expansion of businesses in the State of California. Because the Board relies on the input from the three (3) licensed schools, the feedback from the schools has not indicated any positive or negative impact on guide dog instructor jobs in the State. Cost Impact on Representative Private Person or Business: The Board has determined that there is no cost impact on private persons or places of business. There is no cost to guide dog users and the proposed language does not place any additional burdens on the schools which would result in additional costs. The agency is not aware of any cost impacts that a representative private person or business would necessarily incur in reasonable compliance with the proposed action. Effect on Housing Costs: None EFFECT ON SMALL BUSINESS The Board has determined that the proposed regulations would not affect small businesses because the affected guide dog schools are non-profit organizations. CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES The Board must determine that no reasonable alternative it considered to the regulation or that has otherwise been identified and brought to its attention would either be more effective in carrying out the purpose for which the action is proposed or would be as effective as and less burdensome to affected private persons than the proposal described in this Notice. Any interested person may present statements or arguments orally or in writing relevant to the above determinations at the above-mentioned hearing. INITIAL STATEMENT OF REASONS AND INFORMATION The Board has prepared an initial statement of the reasons for the proposed action and has available all the information upon which the proposal is based. TEXT OF PROPOSAL Copies of the exact language of the proposed regulations and of the initial statement of reasons, and all of the information upon which the proposal is based, may be obtained at the hearing or prior to the hearing upon request from the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind at 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite S 202, Sacramento, California 95834. AVAILABILITY AND LOCATION OF THE FINAL STATEMENT OF REASONS AND RULEMAKING FILE All the information upon which the proposed regulations are based is contained in the rulemaking file which is available for public inspection by contacting the person named below. You may obtain a copy of the final statement of reasons once it has been prepared, by making a written request to the contact person named below or by accessing the website listed below. CONTACT PERSON Any inquiries or comments concerning the proposed rulemaking action may be addressed to: Name: Antonette Sorrick, Executive Officer Address: 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite S-202 Sacramento, CA 95834 Telephone No.: (916) 574-7825 Fax No.: (916) 574-7829 E-Mail Address: antonette.sorrick at dca.ca.gov Name: Cenne Jackson, Executive Assistant Address: 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite S-202 Sacramento, CA 95834 Telephone No.: (916) 574-7826 Fax No.: (916) 574-7829 E-Mail Address: cenne.jackson at dca.ca.gov Website Access: Materials regarding this proposal can be found at www.guidedogboard.ca.gov. http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/about/lawsregs/2260_notice.shtml Antonette Sorrick Executive Officer State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind 1625 N. Market Blvd., S-202 Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 574-7825 direct (916) 574-7829 fax (866) 512-9103 toll free for in-state calls Antonette.Sorrick at dca.ca.gov www.guidedogboard.ca.gov ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- To unsubscribe from this email list please click on the link below and follow the instructions on the web page. https://www.dca.ca.gov/webapps/guidedogboard/subscribe.php From shannonldillon at hotmail.com Sun Sep 12 16:29:58 2010 From: shannonldillon at hotmail.com (Shannon L. Dillon) Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:29:58 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Agenda for September 12, 2010 meeting Message-ID: California Association of Guide Dog Users September 12, 2010 Roll Minutes a. Minutes for June 13 meeting b. Minutes for August 8 meeting Old Business a. SF Vicious Dogs Unit b. CA Guide Dog Board I) Legislation/August Meeting II) sponsor for board draft legislation III) waiver IV) definition of training V) resolution c. candy sales d. Convention October 21-24. meeting 10:30 Friday. I) Tina handling relief area. II) Speakers: guide dog schools Tina was checking on GDD and Seeing Eye; Robert will check with GDA; Shannon asked Guide Board to come. III) Roger purchased 1 gb hard drive portable but it was 109 not 99. IV) door prizes: everyone 4. New Business how to spend money. Scholarship or wait till someone has a problem, e.g. with a taxi driver. amount donating at state. 5. Topics for next meeting 6. Adjourn SHANNON L. DILLON -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100912/2d9ef18f/attachment.html From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Mon Sep 13 08:26:22 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:26:22 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] Blind man calls room denial discrimination Message-ID: <001f01cb5358$068d6bb0$13a84310$@net> Subject: [nagdu] Blind man calls room denial discrimination Blind Man Calls Room Denial Discrimination Posted: Sep 12, 2010 11:55 PM EDT NewsChannel5.com http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=13141107 Michael Turner says hotel denied him room because of seeing-eye dog. by Brent Frazier Clarksville, TENN. - Michael Turner, a senior at the University of Colorado at Boulder, is back in his native middle Tennessee for what he hopes will be his last courtroom encounter with the motel clerk who, according to him, discriminated against him by denying him a motel room because he had a dog with him. "I feel like I've been treated like a second class citizen since that day," Turner told NewsChannel 5 on Sunday afternoon. Turner, his wife, Miranda; and 3-year-old son, Michael; are back home in Montgomery County for a Tuesday morning court hearing in their civil case against Becky Jo McHughes, the front desk clerk at the Microtel Inn and Suites that fateful day; the woman who was slapped with a $50, misdemeanor citation for allegedly violating Turner's civil rights by turning away his family and their dog, Amberz. You see, Amberz was a service animal, a guide dog, because Michael Turner is completely blind. "I'm filing a civil suit against Microtel Inn and Suites and also have an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) complaint with the Department of Justice," Turner said. Turner said this will mark his third trip back to Montgomery County to try to resolve this issue that began to unfold August 10, 2009. The managing attorney at the Disability Law and Advocacy Center of Tennessee, Martha M. Lafferty, could not comment on the Turner case per se, but she was willing to talk in generalities when NewsChannel 5 first broke the story last February. "Hotels are required to allow people who use service animals to bring those service animals with them," said Lafferty. Turner said Microtel staffers likely thought his dog, Amberz, was really a pet. Turner has leaned on assistance from guide dogs, like Amberz, since 1999 when a motorcycle crash in Clarksville claimed his eyesight. "Service animals are not pets, ever," said Lafferty. "Service animals are like wheelchairs. You wouldn't refuse somebody in a wheelchair. So, why would you refuse somebody with a service animal?" The Center advises people with disabilities, who feel they are being discriminated against, to call authorities and file a police report. That's exactly what Turner did last year. "I did have a restaurant once where I did have to call the police," said Tricia Griggs, senior advocate for the Disability Law and Advocacy Center of Tennessee. "Another one where I was on the phone, calling the police." Griggs teaches tolerance and sensitivity to the corporate world regarding people with disabilities. The front desk employee who allegedly denied Turner a room is Becky Jo McHughes of Clarksville. Neither the management nor the owner of the building on Holiday Drive returned NewsChannel 5 phone calls. Microtel corporate failed to comment, but did try to encourage the owner to contact NewsChannel 5 regarding the controversy. "This type of discrimination has got to stop," said Turner in an earlier interview. "I do not want anyone ever to feel like I felt the day, when I went into that hotel and had my disability smack me straight in the face, and felt like less of a person because of my disability." A misdemeanor charge was leveled against hotel clerk Becky Jo McHughes, though it's not much more serious than a speeding ticket. Turner is hopeful the Tuesday court proceeding will bring finality, and more importantly peace of mind. "It was about principle," Turner said. "And about my personal civil rights. It's never been about the money. It's about the principle, and what I stand for." News More>>Meters To Collect Donations For Homeless _______________________________________________ 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/tinadt%40sbcglobal.ne t From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Mon Sep 13 11:46:08 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:46:08 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Outreach and Education Committee Meeting - Thursday, September 23, 2010 Message-ID: <003301cb5373$ee612740$cb2375c0$@net> I will attend this meeting via conference call. Tina -----Original Message----- From: Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind General Information mailing list [mailto:GUIDEDOG-GENERAL at LISTSERV.DCA.CA.GOV] On Behalf Of Antonette Sorrick Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 11:17 AM To: GUIDEDOG-GENERAL at LISTSERV.DCA.CA.GOV Subject: Outreach and Education Committee Meeting - Thursday, September 23, 2010 Outreach and Education Committee Meeting Thursday September 23, 2010 10:00 AM - Noon 1625 N. Market Blvd., Trinity Room Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 574-8200 Teleconference Phone Number: (866) 443-7569 User Access Number: 1112 User Password: 225745 350 Los Ranchitos Road San Rafael, CA 94903 (800) 295-4050 We welcome public participation in person or by phone, but phone lines are limited, so please contact the Board in advance if you would like to participate. To access the meeting agenda, visit us on the web at: http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/about/meeting/agenda_20100923.shtml State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind 1625 N. Market Blvd., S-202 Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 574-7825 direct (916) 574-7829 fax (866) 512-9103 toll free for in-state calls Antonette.Sorrick at dca.ca.gov www.guidedogboard.ca.gov ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- To unsubscribe from this email list please click on the link below and follow the instructions on the web page. https://www.dca.ca.gov/webapps/guidedogboard/subscribe.php From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Tue Sep 14 07:42:24 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:42:24 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Denver council delays decision on exemption to pit-bull ban Message-ID: <001f01cb541b$0cba3090$262e91b0$@net> Subject: Denver council delays decision on exemption to pit-bull ban Denver council delays decision on exemption to pit-bull ban By Christopher N. Osher The Denver Post Posted: 09/14/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_16068459 The Denver City Council on Monday delayed a vote on whether to create an exemption to the city's pit-bull-terrier ban that would allow the disabled to use the dogs as service animals. Council members sent the issue back to committee for further discussion, saying they feared the exemption would weaken the city's ban and make it virtually impossible to enforce. The council voted 10-0 on the motion from Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz to send the proposed exemption back to committee. Council members Jeanne Robb and Michael Hancock and Council President Chris Nevitt were absent. The issue is scheduled to come back before the full council Oct. 25 for a vote. Council members, in later interviews, expressed reluctance at adopting the exemption despite a U.S. Justice Department advisory issued in July. That advisory said disabled individuals have the right to pick any breed of dog to serve as a service animal under the Americans With Disabilities Act. "The department does not believe that it is either appropriate or consistent with the ADA to defer to local laws that prohibit certain breeds of dogs based on local concerns that these breeds may have a history of unprovoked attacks," according to the advisory. The advisory added that municipalities could not require documentation that would show dogs used by the disabled had been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal. Faatz said she feared that those guidelines could blow a huge hole in the city's pit-bull ban, adopted in 1989 after the Rev. Wilbur Billingsley was attacked by a pit bull that bit him 70 times and left him with two broken legs. "I'm afraid it would leave a large enough loophole that every pit bull born in the city will be able to squeeze right through it," Faatz said. She said that while she wants to show strong deference to the ADA, she also wants to ensure any exemption is done in such a way that the city's pit-bull ban remains viable. The council delay comes at a time when the city is defending itself from a federal lawsuit brought by three owners of pit bulls certified as service animals. The ban has long been deplored by animal-rights activists, but others say the ban is necessary because pit bulls have a propensity for violence and are popular among gang members. Councilwoman Carla Madison, who has never been fond of the breed ban, said in an interview that she may try to persuade her colleagues to allow further exemptions for other pit bulls not classified as service animals. For instance, Madison would like to exempt from the ban pit bulls that have been temperament tested or have gone through obedience training. She added that she also wants an aggressive-dog ordinance that would give city officials the right to intervene when any dog is showing aggressive tendencies. In such instance, city officials could require a muzzle or perhaps additional fencing for a yard. Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher at denverpost.com _______________________________________________ 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/tinadt%40sbcglobal.ne t From shannonldillon at hotmail.com Wed Sep 15 13:57:55 2010 From: shannonldillon at hotmail.com (Shannon L. Dillon) Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:57:55 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Federal Register Publishes Revised Department of Justice ADA Regulations In-Reply-To: <6EC360BD15478044862B4F1C8351F009178C4A02F9@DCASHQEX01.dca.ca.gov> References: <6EC360BD15478044862B4F1C8351F009178C4A02F9@DCASHQEX01.dca.ca.gov> Message-ID: SHANNON L. DILLON From: Antonette.Sorrick at dca.ca.gov To: bbarragan at socal.rr.com; ericholm at att.net; jneidich at sbcglobal.net; jxavier at dor.ca.gov; tbsfolsom at sbcglobal.net; Kkelly at guidedogs.com; YMMartin at guidedogsofamerica.org; BWendler at gddca.org; LMBernson at guidedogsofamerica.org; desertflower at dc.rr.com; agilbert at guidedogs.com; chudson at cci.org; mwatkins at guidedogs.com; DEHartford at GuideDogsofAmerica.org; rhill at gddca.org; Creature_girl at comcast.net; mwillows at sbcglobal.net; shannonldillon at hotmail.com; jsthom at comcast.net; frank-welte at sbcglobal.net Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:55:18 -0700 Subject: FW: Federal Register Publishes Revised Department of Justice ADA Regulations FYI Antonette Sorrick Executive Officer State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind 1625 N. Market Blvd., S-202 Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 574-7825 direct (916) 574-7829 fax (866) 512-9103 toll free for in-state calls Antonette.Sorrick at dca.ca.gov www.guidedogboard.ca.gov From: U.S. Department of Justice [mailto:usdoj at govdelivery.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 6:40 AM To: Antonette Sorrick Subject: Federal Register Publishes Revised Department of Justice ADA Regulations You are subscribed to ADA.gov (Americans with Disabilities Act) Home Page for U.S. Department of Justice. Today, the Department?s revised ADA regulations were published in the Federal Register. The revised regulations amend the Department?s title II regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35 for State and local governments, and the title III regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 36 for places of public accommodations and commercial facilities. The final rules take effect on March 15, 2010. Links to the HTML and PDF versions of the revised ADA regulations and fact sheets are available at this link.
You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the U.S. Department of Justice web site. You can update your subscription to this service, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support at govdelivery.com. If you have questions about the Department of Justice Web site, please contact webmaster at usdoj.gov. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Department of Justice and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. Department of Justice Privacy Policy GovDelivery Privacy Policy U.S. Department of Justice ? 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW ? Washington, DC 20530 ? 202-514-2000 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100915/43c52a1b/attachment.html From shannonldillon at hotmail.com Thu Sep 16 14:17:01 2010 From: shannonldillon at hotmail.com (Shannon L. Dillon) Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:17:01 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] California Association of Guide Dog Users offers a $150 grant Message-ID: The California Association of Guide Dog Users (CAGDU), a Division of the National Federation of the Blind of California (NFBC), is offering a $150 grant to (1) a first-time guide dog user; or (2) a first-time convention attendee who is a guide dog user; or (3) a guide dog user who has not attended a NFBC convention in a long time; to attend the state convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Irvine. The award will be made at the CAGDU meeting. The winner must attend the CAGDU meeting from 10:30-12:00 on Friday October 22, all general sessions of the convention, and the Banquet at the convention. If you are a first-time guide dog user or a first-time convention attendee who uses a guide dog, or if you use a guide dog and have not attended the NFBC convention in a long time, and you agree to meet the above criteria, please send your name, your dog?s name, the school you attended, how long you have had your guide dog, and a paragraph discussing why you think attending the convention will benefit you, to shannonldillon at hotmail.com. SHANNON L. DILLON -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100916/50d9e048/attachment.html From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Thu Sep 16 16:28:12 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:28:12 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] At your service: The next assistance animal you see could be a house-trained horse Message-ID: <003c01cb55f6$d5c71160$81553420$@net> Subject: [nagdu] At your service: The next assistance animal you see could be a house-trained horse At your service: The next assistance animal you see could be a house-trained horse Journal of the San Juans By JANE FOX Journal of the San Juans Reporter Sep 14 2010, 11:53 AM http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/jsj/lifestyle/102885534.html San Juan Island is now host to the next generation of assistance animal. And she is only 24 inches high. You might not think a miniature horse would be a prime candidate for such service. However, local artist Jaime Ellsworth, an assistance-animal trainer, is one of few in the nation proving that supposition wrong. "Pearl has been in training for a month, learning everything I offer her almost on the first try. She is extremely intelligent," Ellsworth says. By the time training is completed in two years, Pearl will be able to operate effectively as a guide for seeing- or hearing-impaired people. Whether it be turning on the light switch, alerting the owner if the door bell rings or fetching the telephone, Pearl will be trained in a full range of service tasks. Ellsworth and Pearl are breaking new ground in the area of horse as helper. The service animal jacket Pearl wears has been traditionally reserved for guide dogs. Dogs have always been thought of as loyal, intelligent, responsive and devoted. Horses, on the other hand, have nuances of exclusivity. Almost anyone can have a dog. Horses require a different level of finance and skill. Not so with service horses, Ellsworth says. In fact, service horses overtake service dogs in several categories. For one thing, a miniature horse will live for about 30 or 40 years, whereas a dog sometimes lives no longer than 10 years. This longevity of life can be a real asset to someone dependent on the animal. "The loss of a service animal can be devastating ... (with a horse) a person doesn't go through that loss every 10 years or so. The longer you have an animal with you, the more you will bond and the more the animal will learn." Another element is the horse's loyalty and ability to bond. Fidelity has long been associated with the dog, but the horse is equally capable of sticking to their owner. In fact, Ellsworth says, being a horse, not a dog, actually helps in this respect. "A horse is an excellent candidate for guide animal because they don't follow scents or other dogs. The horse focuses on the handler." Pearl is also as affectionate as a dog, if not quite as exuberant. She may not chase balls and roll over your feet, but Ellsworth says the horse "loves to snuggle," and will quite happily stand peacefully with her nose in the crook of Ellsworth's arm. "Horses bond very close, she is very calm." Additionally, everywhere the dog can go, Pearl can go too. Ellsworth has a collection of dogs, some indeed being trained for service, and Pearl will curl up with them on the rug, and ride with them in the car. "She loves to go in the car, she runs with the dogs to the car and stands with her head between the seats." Aside from other beneficial behavioral traits, the horse is also cheaper to feed than a dog. "It costs about a quarter a day to feed, and she keeps your lawn mowed. Also, their manure can be composted." (Incidentally, Pearl is house-trained.) The list goes on. It is perhaps surprising, then, that at this point in time Ellsworth estimates there are only around 150 guide horses working in the USA. Most, moreover, are on the East Coast. In fact, it was after reading about a horse in Massachusetts, Panda, that got Ellsworth interested in the idea. "I just don't think many people know about them," Ellsworth says. After Pearl's training is complete, Ellsworth will evaluate what kind of person Pearl could best help. Then, with the help of other assistant animal organizations, she will place her in a new home. "It could be anywhere in the country and we will do an initial minimum month training and then have ongoing contact with them." Until that point, Pearl will continue to learn, snuggle, and ride in the car. For more information on miniature horses as service animals, contact Ellsworth by e-mail, ellsworthart at hotmail.com Journal of the San Juans Reporter Jane Fox can be reached at jfox at sanjuanjournal.com or 360-378-5696. _______________________________________________ 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/tinadt%40sbcglobal.ne t From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Tue Sep 21 12:29:25 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:29:25 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: STORY OF SURVIVAL: 9/11 survivor offers inspiration for Iowa blind Message-ID: <005c01cb59c3$4d95d170$e8c17450$@net> Subject: STORY OF SURVIVAL: 9/11 survivor offers inspiration for Iowa blind STORY OF SURVIVAL: 9/11 survivor offers inspiration for Iowa blind Staff Writer 8:54 AM CDT, September 20, 2010 Michael Hingson has been blind since birth. But with his guide dog at his side, he managed to escape the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001 and help others do the same. On the morning of the attack, Hingson was busy preparing for a big meeting with his sales team. There was a muffled explosion and suddenly his office was in motion. "The building tipped and tipped and tipped. We literally moved about 20 feet," he said, speaking before the Iowa Department for the Blind Friday. The panic among his associates was immediate. He and his associate, David, said good-bye. "We thought we were going to take a 78 floor plunge," he said. Hingson felt for his guide dog, Roselle, and realized her tail wagging. In that instant, he says he knew there was a chance to escape. He directed his staff to head for the stairs to begin the 78 floor decent. No one knew yet just what had happened 18 floors up. Surprisingly, Hingson says his biggest fear was a power failure and the chaos that could ensue with everyone else in the dark. He tried light-heartedly to prepare people for the possibility. "I finally said to people, 'I don't want anyone to worry. Roselle and I are here and if the power and lights go out, we're offering a half-price special to get you out today only,'" he said. It took a full hour to get outside. David and Roselle made it several blocks before the tower came down. "We heard this rumble that literally within half a second became this deafening roar," he said. Through the thick cloud of dust, Roselle found a set of stairs and led them to safety in the subway. Since then Hingson has left his job to speak around the world about his experience. Still he says it's often his former career that prompts the most questions. "They still have a hard time fathoming the concept that a blind person could be a regional sales manager for a multi billion dollar fortune five hundred company," he said. "The reality is blindness isn't the handicap it's our perceptions." URL: http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-blind-nine-eleven-victim-0917 10,0,3825432.story _______________________________________________ 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/tinadt%40sbcglobal.ne t From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Tue Sep 21 17:42:47 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:42:47 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: `Article: Chase Away Cancer Message-ID: <007801cb59ef$144b5c10$3ce21430$@net> Subject: Article: Chase Away Cancer The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the ACVIM Foundation and the Chase Away K9 Cancer campaign are urging dog owners to take 10 minutes on the 14th of each month to check for cancer signs from head to tail. The 14th was chosen in honor of Chase, a black Labrador retriever born September 14, 1999, who died in 2006 of nasal carcinoma. She hadn't yet reached her seventh birthday. Chase was the inspiration for Chase Away K9 Cancer. "One in three dogs will develop cancer," says Chase's owner, Cera Reusser. "Early detection may affect treatment and prognosis." According to Veterinary Practice News: "The ACVIM encourages dog owners to keep a record of any growths, watch for unusual behavior and schedule a follow-up exam with a veterinarian if anything suspicious or worrisome is found." Sources: Veterinary Practice News August 24, 2010 Dr. Becker's Comments: If you visited the Chase Away K9 Cancer website, you saw pictures of the campaign's namesake, the beautiful black lab 'Chase.' Perhaps you read a little of the story of this young dog lost to cancer. There are few things as heartbreaking to a pet owner as losing a deeply loved companion animal, especially at such an early age. You feel cheated because his time with you was so short. And often, you feel panic at the thought that a new pet could be ripped from you just as quickly and unexpectedly. Most animal lovers eventually take the plunge again, but some are never able to get past the pain. They live in fear of growing attached to another pet. Cancer and Its Causes Cancer, in a nutshell, is abnormal cell growth. A healthy immune system is able to keep this process in check. It's when the immune system doesn't respond appropriately to abnormal cell growth that cancer gets a foothold. There are lots of reasons cancer develops in companion animals. Some have yet to be discovered, others we know about or suspect, including: .Genetics .Environmental toxins in the water, ground and air, including cigarette smoke .Vaccines .Too-early spaying and neutering .Processed commercial pet foods; diets deficient in cancer-fighting nutrients .A compromised immune system coupled with an inflammatory condition like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) Symptoms to Watch For To recognize signs of ill health, you must know your pup and keep an eye out for changes in her behavior or appearance. .Difficulty eating or swallowing .Sores that don't heal .Loss of appetite .Lumps or swellings anywhere on the body .Weight loss .Bleeding or discharge from any body opening .Changes in bowel or bladder habits .Lameness, stiffness, or other movement difficulties .Exercise intolerance .Offensive or unusual odor Make a Difference Where You Can, Starting with Your Pet's Diet As a pet owner, you have limited control over the genes your dog or cat inherits. However, you have the opportunity to exert a great deal of influence over your pet's environment, the medical care she receives, and certainly her diet. There is ample evidence connecting the consumption of complex carbohydrates and accelerated tumor growth in humans. In dogs and cats, there is data pointing to longer cancer survival rates in animals fed a diet high in protein and fat, and low in carbohydrates. Cancer needs glucose to grow, and carbs are a rich source of glucose. Cancer has no use for protein and fat, but healthy cells use both as energy sources. Feeding companion animal cancer patients a biologically appropriate diet - high in protein and healthy fats, with very low or no carbs -- effectively starves out cancer cells. Perform Routine Wellness Exams Choose the 14th or another meaningful day of each month and write reminders on your calendar. Check your pet from head to toe each month, not only for telltale bumps, lumps and swellings, but also for any other signs something is wrong or just 'off' with your dog or cat's body. If you haven't already done so, watch my video on how to perform an at-home wellness exam on the four-legged members of your family. This is a great way to stay on top of your pet's health and overall physical condition on a monthly basis. The earlier any type of health concern is noticed and addressed, the better. Be Your Pet's Healthcare AdvocatePartner with a holistically-oriented veterinarian whose focus is on helping you maintain your pet's good health. Carefully consider all options for vaccinations and procedures like sterilization and discuss your concerns with your integrative vet. Do the same with medications prescribed for your dog or cat. Antibiotics and corticosteroids are vastly overprescribed in many veterinary practices today. Both classes of drugs can devastate your pet's immune system, leaving him without the resources his body needs to fight cancer or other serious disease. Talk with your holistic vet about safe parasite control for your pet. Chemical flea and tick products should be used sparingly if at all, and with a great deal of caution, as they carry the risk of potentially deadly side effects. Your holistic vet can also help you with detox agents in the event your pet is put on a course of medication, as well as homeopathic and other natural remedies -- for example pet probiotics -- that can be used in lieu of or in conjunction with traditional therapeutic tools. Learn whether your dog's breed is predisposed to cancer, and if so, what type(s). If you suspect your pup may have cancer or you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing she doesn't, ask your vet about the new blood test that detects cancer in dogs. The earlier a problem is detected, the better your dog's chances of survival. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: . New Members 1 Visit Your Group Yahoo! Groups Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest . Unsubscribe . Terms of Use . __,_._,___ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100921/65a11c6a/attachment.html From kenvolonte at comcast.net Thu Sep 23 10:47:28 2010 From: kenvolonte at comcast.net (Ken Volonte) Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:47:28 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fw: food rewards resolution revized Message-ID: <938F28E4F88F475CB5F4189748EA466A@ken5f734aa928e> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Volonte" To: "Mary Willows" Cc: Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 4:38 PM Subject: food rewards resolution > Whereas guide dogs have been in the public eye for more than 80 years, > and; > > Whereas these guides work to please their handlers, and; > > Whereas some few guide dog schools now use food rewards to reinforce > physical praise, and; > > Whereas such use of food rewards may be entirely appropriate and > necessary during the initial training of the dogs for guide work, and; > > Whereas use of food rewards is inconvenient and messy and interferes > with the relationship between dog and handler because the dog will not > generalize situations, but will instead be focused on trying to get a > kibble, and; > > Whereas use of food rewards in public will lead to the erroneous > perception that we are training our guide dogs, and; > > Whereas use of food rewards has the unintended consequence of making > the dogs more solicitous of food: > > Now therefore be it resolved that the National Federation of the Blind > of California request that guide dog schools offer food rewards as a tool > rather than an imperative. From kenvolonte at comcast.net Thu Sep 23 11:46:10 2010 From: kenvolonte at comcast.net (Ken Volonte) Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:46:10 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] food rewards Resolution 2.doc Message-ID: <84627B751EFE49E5A43024701D9ACD64@ken5f734aa928e> Food Rewards Resolution Ken Volonte Whereas guide dogs have been in the public eye for more than eighty years, and; Whereas these guides have been bread to please their handlers, and; Whereas some few guide dog schools now use food rewards in order to reinforce physical praise, and; Whereas such use of food rewards may be entirely appropriate and necessary during the initial training of the dogs for guide work, and; Whereas any dog must be rewarded within 1 second of catching a desired behavior, and; Whereas use of food rewards in combination with the clicker is impractical because the time from behavior to reward is more than 2.5 seconds, and; Whereas use of food rewards is inconvenient and messy and interferes with the relationship between dog and handler because the dog will not generalize situations, but will instead be focused on trying to get a kibble, and Whereas use of food rewards in public will lead to the erroneous perception that we are training our guide dog from scratch for others, and; Whereas use of food rewards has the unintended consequence of making the dogs more solicitous of food: Now therefore be it resolved that the National Federation of the Blind of California request that guide dog schools offer the use of food rewards as a tool rather than as an imperative. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100923/844dcedc/attachment.html From info at michaelhingson.com Thu Sep 23 11:52:15 2010 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:52:15 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Fw: food rewards resolution revised In-Reply-To: <938F28E4F88F475CB5F4189748EA466A@ken5f734aa928e> References: <938F28E4F88F475CB5F4189748EA466A@ken5f734aa928e> Message-ID: Hi Ken, Thanks for sending this along. I would suggest that this is not a proper resolution for the committee. It should not be and is not our purview to use resolutions for a purpose other than adopting policies for the NFBC. While I appreciate Ken's opinion concerning food rewards they are widely used and accepted. Also, we are always training our guides; training does not stop when we graduate. I am not going to get into a debate about the merits of food rewards. I do suggest that if anyone feels food rewards are not proper then they should take it up with the schools, but we should not make this a subject for a policy decision of the NFBC. The schools are using the techniques they feel they need to use. Their use of food rewards does not address any issue of civil rights concerning the blind nor does such use promulgate any stereotype concerning blindness. Best, Michael Hingson The?Michael Hingson Group, INC. ???? ?Speaking?with Vision? ?????????????????Michael Hingson,?President ???????????????????????? (415) 827-4084 ???????????????????info at michaelhingson.com ?????????????? ????www.michaelhingson.com for info on the new KNFB Reader?Mobile, visit: http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com -----Original Message----- From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Ken Volonte Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 10:47 AM To: Ken Volonte Cc: Cagdu; Mary Willows; Miguel Subject: [Cagdu] Fw: food rewards resolution revized ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Volonte" To: "Mary Willows" Cc: Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 4:38 PM Subject: food rewards resolution > Whereas guide dogs have been in the public eye for more than 80 years, > and; > > Whereas these guides work to please their handlers, and; > > Whereas some few guide dog schools now use food rewards to reinforce > physical praise, and; > > Whereas such use of food rewards may be entirely appropriate and > necessary during the initial training of the dogs for guide work, and; > > Whereas use of food rewards is inconvenient and messy and interferes > with the relationship between dog and handler because the dog will not > generalize situations, but will instead be focused on trying to get a > kibble, and; > > Whereas use of food rewards in public will lead to the erroneous > perception that we are training our guide dogs, and; > > Whereas use of food rewards has the unintended consequence of making > the dogs more solicitous of food: > > Now therefore be it resolved that the National Federation of the Blind > of California request that guide dog schools offer food rewards as a tool > rather than an imperative. _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu From shannonldillon at hotmail.com Sun Sep 26 17:25:34 2010 From: shannonldillon at hotmail.com (Shannon L. Dillon) Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:25:34 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] representative from Board Message-ID: Antonette Sorrick from the Stae Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind said that Joe Xavier will attend our meeting because he will be down south anyway for dept of Rehab. She asked what topics we'd like him to be able to discuss. Please let me know in the next couple of days what you would like Joe Xavier to talk about; that is, what topics you plan to ask him about. You can respond to the CAGDU list or to my e-mail directly. shannonldillon at hotmail.com. Thanks. SHANNON L. DILLON -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100926/c95e4a99/attachment.html From shannonldillon at hotmail.com Sun Sep 26 18:13:14 2010 From: shannonldillon at hotmail.com (Shannon L. Dillon) Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:13:14 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] food rewards Resolution 2.doc In-Reply-To: <84627B751EFE49E5A43024701D9ACD64@ken5f734aa928e> References: <84627B751EFE49E5A43024701D9ACD64@ken5f734aa928e> Message-ID: Hi Ken: I believe that your resolution makes some assumptions and state those assumptions as fact, for example, that food rewards make guide dogs more solicitous of food, or that it is "messy". I agree with Michael that training doesn't stop when you leave the school. It's an ongoing process. It also includes reinforcing already learned training. Food rewards is one of many tools a user can choose. Some schools use food rewards as a tool and some don't. Think of it as a sort of currriculum choice. If you don't like the curriculum a school uses, you can choose to go to a different school. SHANNON L. DILLON From: kenvolonte at comcast.net To: mwillows at sbcglobal.net Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:46:10 -0700 CC: cagdu at nfbcal.org Subject: [Cagdu] food rewards Resolution 2.doc Food Rewards Resolution Ken Volonte Whereas guide dogs have been in the public eye for more than eighty years, and; Whereas these guides have been bread to please their handlers, and; Whereas some few guide dog schools now use food rewards in order to reinforce physical praise, and; Whereas such use of food rewards may be entirely appropriate and necessary during the initial training of the dogs for guide work, and; Whereas any dog must be rewarded within 1 second of catching a desired behavior, and; Whereas use of food rewards in combination with the clicker is impractical because the time from behavior to reward is more than 2.5 seconds, and; Whereas use of food rewards is inconvenient and messy and interferes with the relationship between dog and handler because the dog will not generalize situations, but will instead be focused on trying to get a kibble, and Whereas use of food rewards in public will lead to the erroneous perception that we are training our guide dog from scratch for others, and; Whereas use of food rewards has the unintended consequence of making the dogs more solicitous of food: Now therefore be it resolved that the National Federation of the Blind of California request that guide dog schools offer the use of food rewards as a tool rather than as an imperative. _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100926/c2e6adf0/attachment.html From regenerative at earthlink.net Mon Sep 27 16:35:00 2010 From: regenerative at earthlink.net (Fred C) Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:35:00 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Ever taken your dog on a Navy ship? Message-ID: Hi CAG Dudes and Dudettes, Have any of you taken your dogs on Naval warships? Yesterday, I was at a Navy open house at San Diego's Coronado Island. As part of their Fleet Week festivities, many warships were open for public tours. I was blocked from boarding the bus to the ships. A Navy guy told me that the stairways were steep aboard the ships were too steep for my guide dog. I didn't believe him, since my dog can climb ladders, but I didn't want to hassle with the guy. That, and it was a long hot sunny day, and I wondered how hot the decks of those ships got. I didn't want Churchill to fry his feet. Have any of you taken your dogs on Naval warships? What was it like? How hard was it on the dog? Thanks, Fred and Churchill Beach Cities Chapter From info at michaelhingson.com Mon Sep 27 18:25:19 2010 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:25:19 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Ever taken your dog on a Navy ship? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Yes I have. Also, there was a discussion recently on the NAGDU list about this same thing. They invite the public and so we can also go. They do not need to block us. The?Michael Hingson Group, INC. ???? ?Speaking?with Vision? ?????????????????Michael Hingson,?President ???????????????????????? (415) 827-4084 ???????????????????info at michaelhingson.com ?????????????? ????www.michaelhingson.com for info on the new KNFB Reader?Mobile, visit: http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com -----Original Message----- From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Fred C Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 4:35 PM To: Cagdu Subject: [Cagdu] Ever taken your dog on a Navy ship? Hi CAG Dudes and Dudettes, Have any of you taken your dogs on Naval warships? Yesterday, I was at a Navy open house at San Diego's Coronado Island. As part of their Fleet Week festivities, many warships were open for public tours. I was blocked from boarding the bus to the ships. A Navy guy told me that the stairways were steep aboard the ships were too steep for my guide dog. I didn't believe him, since my dog can climb ladders, but I didn't want to hassle with the guy. That, and it was a long hot sunny day, and I wondered how hot the decks of those ships got. I didn't want Churchill to fry his feet. Have any of you taken your dogs on Naval warships? What was it like? How hard was it on the dog? Thanks, Fred and Churchill Beach Cities Chapter _______________________________________________ Cagdu mailing list Cagdu at nfbcal.org https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu From regenerative at earthlink.net Mon Sep 27 20:07:07 2010 From: regenerative at earthlink.net (Fred C) Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:07:07 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Ever taken your dog on a Navy ship? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Got ya, In your opinion, you and your guide were able to go up and down the stairs (the Navy guys called them ladders) with no trouble? How hot does the deck of a ship get in these blazing Autumnal afternoons? Thanks, fred and Churchill From info at michaelhingson.com Tue Sep 28 11:19:30 2010 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:19:30 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Ever taken your dog on a Navy ship? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Fred, Unless the ladder is truly straight up and down, not usually, the guide dog can negotiate them. They do attempt to keep the ships pretty cool. The?Michael Hingson Group, INC. ???? ?Speaking?with Vision? ?????????????????Michael Hingson,?President ???????????????????????? (415) 827-4084 ???????????????????info at michaelhingson.com ?????????????? ????www.michaelhingson.com for info on the new KNFB Reader?Mobile, visit: http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com -----Original Message----- From: Fred C [mailto:regenerative at earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 8:07 PM To: info at michaelhingson.com; cagdu at nfbcal.org Subject: Re: [Cagdu] Ever taken your dog on a Navy ship? Got ya, In your opinion, you and your guide were able to go up and down the stairs (the Navy guys called them ladders) with no trouble? How hot does the deck of a ship get in these blazing Autumnal afternoons? Thanks, fred and Churchill From rstigile at sbcglobal.net Tue Sep 28 21:39:52 2010 From: rstigile at sbcglobal.net (Robert Stigile) Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:39:52 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] dues Message-ID: Hello All, The 2010-11 CAGDU dues are now payable. In order to avoid the long line, as well as make it easier for me to keep track of who has paid their dues, click on the link below and fill out the form just like you did for Pre-registration for the convention. It is fast and easy. http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1005002-I1CG2biTw8 Robert Stigile, Treasurer California Association of Guide Dog Users -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100928/c9ceaa6b/attachment.html From rstigile at sbcglobal.net Thu Sep 30 13:43:59 2010 From: rstigile at sbcglobal.net (Robert Stigile) Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:43:59 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] dues Message-ID: Hello All, I am pasting the link for you to go and pay your dues again as it wasn't working before. http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1005002-I1CG2biTw8 thanks, Robert Stigile -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100930/afed1b9e/attachment.html From tinadt at sbcglobal.net Thu Sep 30 15:22:54 2010 From: tinadt at sbcglobal.net (Tina Thomas) Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:22:54 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] dues In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <001d01cb60ee$0845dbb0$18d19310$@net> Hello Cagdu community- Those of you who have use of the web, please use the online form to register and pay your dues to Cagdu. This will assist our treasurer and secretary in keeping our membership list up to date. Thank you for your cooperation. Tina Thomas Cagdu VP Nagdu board member From: cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org [mailto:cagdu-bounces at nfbcal.org] On Behalf Of Robert Stigile Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2010 1:44 PM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Subject: [Cagdu] dues Hello All, I am pasting the link for you to go and pay your dues again as it wasn't working before. http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1005002-I1CG2biTw8 thanks, Robert Stigile -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20100930/eccee1a8/attachment.html