From judotina48kg at gmail.com Wed Oct 1 21:35:09 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2014 21:35:09 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Transportation for Beach, Paws and Independence walk Message-ID: <13e201cfddfa$4089f820$c19de860$@gmail.com> Hello Everyone- CAGDU is asking that all who are planning to participate in the Manhattan Beach Pier Independence walk meet in the convention hotel lobby, at 4:00PM on Thursday October 9/2014 so that we can arrange for taxies and or Uber SUV's to transport us to the Shade hotel where we will gather and walk the pier. If you all have any questions, please feel free to email or call me. Thank You Tina Thomas CAGDU President -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141001/b36b7035/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Fri Oct 3 15:33:00 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2014 15:33:00 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: California Victim Compensation law Message-ID: <022701cfdf59$fda89140$f8f9b3c0$@gmail.com> Assemblymember Levine's Guide Dogs Legislation Signed Into Law Governor Brown Signs Assembly Bill 2264 Last weekend, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed into law AB 2264 by Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael). This bill makes victims of guide, signal or service dog attacks eligible for compensation for their injuries under the Victims Compensation Fund. "This bill protects assistance dogs that make independence possible for thousands of Californians who live with disabilities," said Levine. "Guide, signal and service dogs are highly trained animals. AB 2264 ensures that in the terrible case that these dogs suffer an attack, their owners will be compensated for their injuries." Theresa Stern, Director of Outreach and Alumni Services at Guide Dogs for the Blind said, "A guide dog serves as the eyes of its handler and when the dog is injured it is akin to having one's own body compromised." Having suffered through an attack of her own guide dog, Stern says "As a blind person I rely on my guide dog to live an independent and productive life. In instances where the handler of the attacking dog is not able to compensate the victim for medical costs it is crucial that the victim have access to funding for such purposes." Under current law, it is a criminal offense to cause injury, whether intentional or unintentional, to a guide, signal or service dog. Furthermore, those convicted of violating this law are held accountable by owing restitution to the victim for the harm caused. However, if the individual is financially unable to provide immediate compensation, the victim can face significant of out-of-pocket veterinary bills. By providing reimbursement through the Victims Compensation Fund, this bill ensures that victims of these attacks can access medical care for their assistance dog. AB 2264 was supported by Guide Dogs for the Blind, Canine Companions and Crime Victims United. # # # Assemblymember Levine represents the 10th Assembly District, which includes Marin County and southern Sonoma County. __._,_.___ _____ Posted by: "Becky Frankeberger" _____ Reply via web post . Reply to sender . Reply to group . Start a New Topic . Messages in this topic (1) Visit Your Group . Privacy . Unsubscribe . Terms of Use . __,_._,___ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141003/ebb7f82d/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 332 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141003/ebb7f82d/attachment-0001.jpe From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 5 17:39:50 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2014 17:39:50 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Transportation for Beach, Paws and Independence walk In-Reply-To: <13e201cfddfa$4089f820$c19de860$@gmail.com> References: <13e201cfddfa$4089f820$c19de860$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <06b001cfe0fe$0a6db270$1f491750$@gmail.com> From: Tina Thomas [mailto:judotina48kg at gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 9:35 PM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Cc: 'NFB of California List' Subject: Transportation for Beach, Paws and Independence walk Hello Everyone- CAGDU is asking that all who are planning to participate in the Manhattan Beach Pier Independence walk meet in the convention hotel lobby, at 4:00PM on Thursday October 9/2014 so that we can arrange for taxies and or Uber SUV's to transport us to the Shade hotel where we will gather and walk the pier. If you all have any questions, please feel free to email or call me. Thank You Tina Thomas CAGDU President -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141005/45e4a3b3/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 5 17:38:55 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2014 17:38:55 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Beech, Paws and independence In-Reply-To: <0b6501cfdd0b$60309890$2091c9b0$@gmail.com> References: <0b6501cfdd0b$60309890$2091c9b0$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <06a901cfe0fd$e996de00$bcc49a00$@gmail.com> From: Tina Thomas [mailto:judotina48kg at gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 5:05 PM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Cc: 'NFB of California List'; 'California Association of Blind Students Mailing List' Subject: Beech, Paws and independence The California Association of Guide Dog Users Presents Beech, Paws and Independence! A meet the Blind month Activity! WHO: Anyone and Everyone who would enjoy a walk on the Beech and educating the public about blindness, Paws and Canes. Where: The Manhattan Beach Pier WHEN: Thursday October 9/2014 TIME: 5:00PM To 7:00PM Details: We will travel from the convention hotel via taxi, umber and or any transportation you choose and meet at the Shade Hotel. Address: 1221 N Valley Dr, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 The Shade Hotel is located 4.1 miles from the convention hotel. If you have any questions, and or need more information, Please feel free to contact me via email at judotina48kg at gmail.com or via phone:323.337.7775 Thank you. Tina Thomas CAGDU President -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141005/6bf16bb5/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 5 22:37:31 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2014 22:37:31 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Shade Hotel address Message-ID: <002801cfe127$a10ece70$e32c6b50$@gmail.com> Hello everyone- Here is the address for the Shade Hotel. 1221 North Valley Dr. Manhattan Beach Ca 90226. Looking forward to meeting you all there and having a great time at the Beach! Tina Thomas CAGDU President -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141005/e4f0cc8c/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 5 23:06:27 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2014 23:06:27 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] October Bulletin Message-ID: <01fe01cfe12b$aafffc20$00fff460$@gmail.com> Hello- Could someone please email me the October bulletin judotina48kg at gmail.com Thank you. Tina -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141005/f7a8c514/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Mon Oct 6 09:57:44 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 09:57:44 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] Cagdu dues Message-ID: <01bf01cfe186$a6aa4e40$f3feeac0$@gmail.com> Everyone- Below my signature you will find a link that will allow you to pay your dues online to cagdu for the 2014-2015 calendar year. Dues are $5. If you have any questions or need assistance with filling out the form, please email me or Robert Stigile and we will be happy to assist you. Looking forward to seeing you all at convention! Tina Thomas CAGDU President Here is the link: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1005002-I1CG2biTw8 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141006/42c1e3b7/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Mon Oct 6 18:52:13 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 18:52:13 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: October 23 Hearing In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <023c01cfe1d1$511fb280$f35f1780$@gmail.com> Subject: October 23 Hearing Hi Tina, NFBC is testifying at the PUC hearing on 10/23 in Torrance regarding disability access to Uber and other ridesharing services. Can we get some NFB members and service animals to attend the hearing? I'm flying down to present on 10/23 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. Regards, Timothy Elder Attorney TRE Legal Practice, LLC 4226 Castanos Street Fremont, CA 94536 Phone: (410) 415-3493 Fax: (888) 718-0617 E-mail: telder at trelegal.com www.trelegal.com Please consider the environment before printing this email. Confidentiality Notice This e-mail may contain confidential information that may also be legally privileged and that is intended only for the use of the Addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient or an authorized agent of the recipient, please be advised that any dissemination or copying of this e-mail, or taking of any action in reliance on the information contained herein, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify me immediately by use of the Reply button, and then delete the e-mail from your system. Thank you! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141006/50945eaf/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Tue Oct 7 18:28:46 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2014 18:28:46 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: aging dogs and coconut oil Message-ID: <00a801cfe297$3503e320$9f0ba960$@gmail.com> aging dogs and coconut oil The right food could give your aging dog a new leash on life Courtesy of PurinaR PurinaR We've all seen people who look like their dogs: the burly man who owns a Siberian husky, the tiny woman with a miniature poodle. In fact, it's actually been proven that dog owners resemble their pets. But man and his proverbial best friend aren't just alike on the outside: We age similarly too. Just as people lose physical and mental capabilities as we age, so do our pets. Thankfully, along with the research being done on Alzheimer's and dementia in humans, there is also a new focus on how we can slow the effects of aging on the brains of our pets. Cognitive decline in dogs comes in different varieties: memory loss, reduced social interaction, learning impairment and disorientation, even house-soiling "accidents" that make it seem as if your pet has forgotten all that potty training you tirelessly worked on years ago. Although you may not want to believe your once spry dog is slowing down, the fact is that 28 percent of dogs aged 11 to 12, and 68 percent of dogs between 15 and 16 show some form of cognitive decline, according to a study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. But the situation isn't hopeless. Dr. Karen Becker, a Chicago-based veterinarian, says that regular exercise, well-maintained dental health, and biannual visits to the vet are good starts for keeping your dog mentally healthy. It's also important to not overlook the symptoms of cognitive decline by chalking them up to normal "aging." Often, something can be done if you let your vet know of any mental abnormalities in your pet early on. Yet those are just the basics. If your senior dog is afflicted with cognitive decline, what could be most important is what you're putting into his or her food bowl. Piggybacking on a 2009 study in Neurochemical Research, a study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that giving dogs food that contains medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, improves their cognition and delays potential cognitive decline. MCTs are a common nutrient that comes from vegetable oils, but the way it affects dogs' cognitive function is anything but ordinary. Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, a professor of animal behavior at Tufts University, summed it up, saying MCTs "reduce cognitive decline and improve cognition." More specifically, the study found that feeding your senior dog (any dog over age 7 is considered "senior") meals that include MCTs, such as Purina's new dog food , gave them increased learning abilities, better spatial awareness, and more energy overall than dogs who weren't on a diet that included MCTs. In creating their MCT-infused dog food, Purina scientists Gary Pan, Janet Jackson and Mark Roos were, according to Purina's website , "stunned by the results." When the senior dogs were switched to dog food containing MCTs, the researchers witnessed them beginning to regain their ability to "understand their surroundings, recognize their owners, respond to verbal commands, find what they were looking for around the house and become more active." In fact, the Purina scientists are such believers in MCTs that they incorporate it into their own diets, which can be as simple as using coconut oil in place of regular cooking oil. (And that's really great news: It means the next batch of cookies you whip up could really be good for you!) So even as life rumbles forward and our beloved pets inevitably age, we don't have to just cross our fingers and hope they are lucky enough not to undergo cognitive decline. There are things that can be done. The first step is carefully choosing what we pour into their favorite bowl. _______________________________________________ Seeingeye-l mailing list To post a message. Seeingeye-l at list.web.net For general information about the list or to modify your subscription visit. http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/seeingeye-l To unsubscribe, press enter or click on this link. <a href="Mailto:seeingeye-l-request at list.web.net"?Subject=unsubscribe For questions/cncerns/etc please contact one of the list's administrators. seeingeye-l-owner at list.web.net From judotina48kg at gmail.com Wed Oct 8 10:39:24 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2014 10:39:24 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] UberX pushes for approval for ride-sharing bill In-Reply-To: <019601cfe31d$293f8860$7bbe9920$@ky2d.com> References: <019601cfe31d$293f8860$7bbe9920$@ky2d.com> Message-ID: <034201cfe31e$ce08c900$6a1a5b00$@gmail.com> Subject: [nagdu] UberX pushes for approval for ride-sharing bill UberX pushes for approval for ride-sharing bill abc27 WHTM Posted: Oct 07, 2014 6:12 PM EDT By Dave Marcheskie HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - Ride-sharing services like UberX and Lyft are pushing Pennsylvania lawmakers to legalize the new method of transportation before the fall session expires. Hailing a cab in Pennsylvania has whistled its way to the state Capitol. Dressed in fluorescent T-shirts, UberX supporters held a rally inside the Rotunda. They demonstrated support by stacking boxes. "This might take a moment," Philadelphia uberX manager Jon Feldman said. "A lot of people means a lot of paper." About 30 empty boxes labeled "1,000 Petitions" were stacked in front of the Rotunda podium to represent the more than 33,000 signatures UberX has received. The San Francisco-based mobile app company is fighting to expand in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh is the only Pennsylvania city currently using the services, and on an experimental basis. Taxi companies argue that unlike them, UberX drivers do not have government oversight. Peter Shelly of the Pennsylvania Taxi Association warned swiping your phone screen for a ride could swipe your safety. "Uber, Lyft app is no more than glorified hitchhiking," Shelly said. "You have no idea who's driving that car. You have no idea about the insurance you may or may not have in the car." In January, a young girl in California was killed in a crash with an uninsured UberX driver behind the wheel. Since then, Feldman said the company has implemented a strict policy change. "All drivers are fully insured by up to $1 million in our policy from the moment the trip is accepted by the driver until the moment the rider is dropped off and safely exits the vehicle," he said. Feldman said the legislation asks for "common sense regulations" which he determined was oversight from Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, an agency that provides oversight to cap services statewide. Feldman said UberX has implemented policies that make becoming a driver more strict than state standards. "We are very proud of our industry leading background checks, which are county, multi-state and federal going back seven years, which is the maximum allowable by law and are far more thorough than those required in the state for any taxi or limousine," he said. Ride-sharing services like UberX, Lyft and Gett claim their independent drivers offer more transportation quicker and cheaper than traditional public transportation and taxi services. The company also promoted that access to ridesharing drivers help decrease drunk driving and promote safety overall. Several UberX supporters read testimonials and even touted helping the blind. Because Tuesday was Disabilities Awareness Day, several vendors were set up inside the Rotunda during the rally. Peter Smith, a volunteer with Susquehanna Service Dogs, is concerned about recent reports that UberX drivers refuse service dogs in their cars. Last month, the National Federation for the Blind filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against Uber after several drivers were accused of refusing rides to blind and their services dogs. One driver is accused of stuffing a service dog in the trunk before offering the person a ride. The group claims Uber violated the American Disabilities Act, which allows those with disabilities and their guide animals to go the same places like anyone else. Uber has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. "I think that if they're going to try and set up in Pennsylvania, there [must be] specific legislation," Smith said. "I would really like to see it spelled out to [Uber] right in that legislation. They have to accommodate all people with disabilities, including service and guide dogs." The bill has not been introduced on the House floor. Source: http://www.abc27.com/story/26729365/uberx-pushes-for-approval-for-ride-shari ng-bill _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com From judotina48kg at gmail.com Wed Oct 8 18:06:31 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2014 18:06:31 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] 2014 California Association of Guide Dog Users Anual meeting agenda Message-ID: <00da01cfe35d$4456b2f0$cd0418d0$@gmail.com> Here is the agenda for our cagdu annual meeting. California Association of Guide Dog Users Annual Meeting Agenda October 10, 2014 2:00 p.m. Embassy Suites Los Angeles - International Airport/South 1440 East Imperial Avenue El Segundo, CA 90245 2:00 - Call to order, Tina Thomas, President, California Association of Guide Dog Users 2:05 - Welcome and introductions, Tina Thomas, President, California Association of Guide Dog Users 2:10 - Secretary's Report, Roger Oberholzer, Secretary, California Association of Guide Dog Users 2:15 - Treasurer's Report, Robert Stigile, Treasurer, California Association of Guide Dog Users 2:20 Presidential Report, Tina Thomas, President, California Association of Guide Dog Users 2:30 - National Report, Michael Hingson, Vice President, National Association of Guide Dog Users 2:35 - Update on Uber, Tim Elder, Attorney, TRE Legal 2:40 - Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Michael Moore, Graduate Representative 3:00 - Guide Dogs for the Blind, Keith Tomlinson, Field Services Manager 3:20PM. Questions 3:25 - Announcements 3:30 - Adjourn The National Federation of the blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141008/76f58c57/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Wed Oct 8 18:08:30 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2014 18:08:30 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Beech, Paws and independence In-Reply-To: <06a901cfe0fd$e996de00$bcc49a00$@gmail.com> References: <0b6501cfdd0b$60309890$2091c9b0$@gmail.com> <06a901cfe0fd$e996de00$bcc49a00$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <010501cfe35d$8b14e5e0$a13eb1a0$@gmail.com> Subject: Beech, Paws and independence The California Association of Guide Dog Users Presents Beech, Paws and Independence! A meet the Blind month Activity! WHO: Anyone and Everyone who would enjoy a walk on the Beech and educating the public about blindness, Paws and Canes. Where: The Manhattan Beach Pier WHEN: Thursday October 9/2014 TIME: 5:00PM To 7:00PM Details: We will travel from the convention hotel via taxi, umber and or any transportation you choose and meet at the Shade Hotel. Address: 1221 N Valley Dr, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 The Shade Hotel is located 4.1 miles from the convention hotel. If you have any questions, and or need more information, Please feel free to contact me via email at judotina48kg at gmail.com or via phone:323.337.7775 Thank you. Tina Thomas CAGDU President -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141008/a72f65ee/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Wed Oct 8 18:09:43 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2014 18:09:43 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: Cagdu dues In-Reply-To: <01bf01cfe186$a6aa4e40$f3feeac0$@gmail.com> References: <01bf01cfe186$a6aa4e40$f3feeac0$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <010c01cfe35d$b69670d0$23c35270$@gmail.com> From: Tina Thomas [mailto:judotina48kg at gmail.com] Sent: Monday, October 06, 2014 9:58 AM To: cagdu at nfbcal.org Cc: 'NFB of California List'; 'California Association of Blind Students Mailing List' Subject: Cagdu dues Everyone- Below my signature you will find a link that will allow you to pay your dues online to cagdu for the 2014-2015 calendar year. Dues are $5. If you have any questions or need assistance with filling out the form, please email me or Robert Stigile and we will be happy to assist you. Looking forward to seeing you all at convention! Tina Thomas CAGDU President Here is the link: http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1005002-I1CG2biTw8 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141008/2f2c89ce/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 12 18:57:42 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 18:57:42 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] article pre-demonstration in Tallahassee In-Reply-To: <4567A98DD9DD4F0782F6D7E9A581CB0D@laptop> References: <4567A98DD9DD4F0782F6D7E9A581CB0D@laptop> Message-ID: <002601cfe689$143f8950$3cbe9bf0$@gmail.com> Subject: [nagdu] article pre-demonstration in Tallahassee While the link that Marion sent out did not work, I did find this article. Sherri Protest at museum in aftermath of blind woman's treatment A protest is scheduled Friday afternoon to highlight an incident where a legally blind woman said she and her guide dog were harassed by contracted security guards at the Museum of Florida History. Tiffany Baylor, who works for the Florida Department of Education's Division of Blind Services, said when she visited an exhibit at the museum Oct. 1 security guards, U.S. Security Associates employees contracted with Department of Management Services, told her she could not have her guide dog in the museum. The week was also the kickoff of Disability Awareness Month and Baylor was attending an exhibit featuring a Braille quilt created by a vision rehabilitation therapist at Lighthouse of the Big Bend. She told the Democrat the guards harangued her 2-year-old black lab Lando as she viewed the exhibit and began demanding to see paperwork proving she was blind and required the dog for mobility. "You know you're disabled, but you want to go through the community like everybody else," Baylor said. "When someone centers on that, but then harasses you openly in front of everybody, it's kind of humiliating." The museum is housed in the bottom level of the Florida Department of State building on Bronough Street. In a letter to Baylor, U.S. Security Associates' Southern Division Vice President Deborah Kalert said the company regretted the actions the guards took and that officers must uphold the constitutional rights of all people. "That their actions were perceived as being anything less than that is not what we or our officers expect," Kalert wrote. "As a testament to our strive for perfection, we have implemented additional training for our officers and are committed to providing you and all visitors with the highest level of service." Baylor said Secretary of State Ken Detzner called her Thursday morning and apologized. She said Detzner told her he would advocate for disciplinary action and training for the security guards and offered to walk her through the museum next week. A DOS spokeswoman confirmed Detzner had spoken with Baylor. He "emphasized that the museum is open and welcoming to all," she said in an email. "He owned it," Baylor said. "He said 'if this is my building, then I'm the one responsible. I'm really sorry this happened.'" Interfering with admittance to a public space by a person with a disability or their guide animal is a second-degree misdemeanor under Florida law. In a statement submitted to state officials about the incident, Baylor wrote, "the security guard continued and replied that he wanted to see proof that it was in fact a guide dog and not just a pet. I pulled the dog away from him a second time, and stated that there was a harness on the dog which clearly states 'Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.' He stated that the harness was not enough proof and that I needed to show him a card or papers as proof." Ben Wolf, spokesman for the Department of Management Services, the state's building manager, said the agency is aware of the incident and has released security video that captured a small portion of the encounter. The agency has also called on the security company to review protocols and provide training. "Capitol Police are currently looking into the matter and DMS has directed the private security company to review its protocols with respect to training," Wolf wrote in an email. "The Department of Management Services strives to make all guests feel comfortable in its buildings with respect to accessibility and safety. We will continue to make every effort to ensure all guests can access our managed buildings appropriately to conduct business or enjoy Florida's history. The company is apologizing and we feel that is the right thing to do." The almost three-minute video obtained by the Democrat shows 20 seconds of Baylor on camera. In it, security guards do not roughly handle the dog and they can briefly be seen confronting Baylor, but it is unclear what they are saying as she moves out of view. Surveillance video from the Museum of Florida History Disability advocate J.R. Harding said there are no public portions of state buildings that are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act. "Essentially all public building are open and service animals cannot be denied," Harding said, adding that officials can ask what service a guide animal provides, but not about an individual's disability. In her statement Baylor said she moved away from the security guard, who again approached her asking for proof that the dog was a service animal, telling her he would "let her stay in here this time, but you cannot come back in here without papers for the dog." Friday's protest is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. outside of the museum at 500 S. Bronough St. and will include members of the National Federation of the Blind and their service dogs. The organization is calling for criminal charges against the security guards involved and that they be disciplined. Baylor said if the experience has been educational to security staff and can prevent another incident involving an individual with disabilities then she sees no need for criminal charges. "I really want to make sure that my clients, or the students, or the people coming to the community who have guide dogs are safe to enter because the people know the rules and the laws," she said. "If they (security guards) learn what there is to do and really ingest it and realize there is a real reason to do so. That's what the goal is." Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world. Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one is paying attention. Sherri Brun NFBF Newsline Chair flmom2006 at gmail.com _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 12 18:58:32 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 18:58:32 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] Article from Tallahassee Democrat RE protest In-Reply-To: <7707E9401B854CDFA3C892D0C9997AB6@laptop> References: <7707E9401B854CDFA3C892D0C9997AB6@laptop> Message-ID: <003301cfe689$31e47ec0$95ad7c40$@gmail.com> Subject: [nagdu] Article from Tallahassee Democrat RE protest I found this in the Harness Up blog after doing a Google search for the article. First, I will paste the link as there is more than one posting on this subject. The article appears below. Harness Up! | The world wide blog of the National ... Advocates rally for access for those with disabilities Posted on October 11, 2014 by harnessup Advocates rally for access for those with disabilities Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat 10:56 a.m. EDT October 11, 2014 complementary information IMG_7808.JPG Marion Gwizdala and his 6-year-old German shepherd Sergeant walk in front of the Museum of Florida History in protest of the treatment of a blind woman there last week.(Photo: Sean Rossman/Democrat) complementary information end 17 CONNECT 8 TWEET 1 LINKEDIN COMMENTEMAILMORE About a dozen blind citizens rallied in front of the Museum of Florida History calling the contracted guards there "bullies" after a woman reported she and her guide dog were mistreated last week when they tried to visit the museum. The woman, Tiffany Baylor, was not at Friday's rally, but National Association of Guide Dog Users President Marion Gwizdala and his 6-year-old German shepherd Sergeant were, calling on state officials to allow them to offer more training to state or contracted security and scolding the treatment of a person with disabilities. "For a blind person to go into a public building and be harassed by security officers is unconscionable," Gwizdala said. "We are here to demand these security officers be reprimanded and if the state is not going to enforce the laws that three blocks away from here they passed then we've got a serious problem." Baylor said museum guards asked her to provide documentation of her disability and need for the guide dog. By law, specific questions about a person's disabilities are prohibited, but asking what service a guide animal provides is allowed. Officials with the Department of Management Services, the state's building manager, released a brief video of Baylor at the museum capturing a small portion of the encounter. The agency has also called on the company to review protocols and provide training. "The Department of Management Services strives to make all guests feel comfortable in its buildings with respect to accessibility and safety," wrote DMS Spokesman in an email Thursday. "We will continue to make every effort to ensure all guests can access our managed buildings appropriately to conduct business or enjoy Florida's history. The company is apologizing and we feel that is the right thing to do." The museum is housed in the bottom floor of the R.A. Gray Building that is home to the Department of State in Tallahassee. Secretary of State Ken Detzner called Baylor to apologize for the incident in his building and offered a personal tour through the museum. In a letter to Baylor, U.S. Security Associates' Southern Division Vice President Deborah Kalert said the company regretted the actions the guards took and that officers must uphold the constitutional rights of all people. "That their actions were perceived as being anything less than that is not what we or our officers expect," Kalert wrote. "As a testament to our strive for perfection, we have implemented additional training for our officers and are committed to providing you and all visitors with the highest level of service." Merry Schoch, vice president of the Florida Association of Guide Dog Users, said her concern was that the incident would be dismissed or quickly forgotten by state officials. "We have access denials all over the state of Florida and what is concerning to me is that they're not taken seriously," she said. "My hope is that the state of Florida takes this seriously and they will be role models for businesses, restaurants, hotels and cab drivers throughout the state of Florida. What's very sad is we live in the 21st century and why did this happen in the first place?" David Oliver, an Orlando lawyer for Morgan & Morgan who primarily handles Americans with Disability Act cases, said access restrictions are common, not just in public places and disabled individuals are not require to carry paperwork. He said even if a person's level of visual impairment may not be wholly apparent "that just stretches the bounds of outrageousness for anyone to question that," Oliver said. He added that there is potential for people to abuse the guide-animal claim, but "ADA guidelines are intended to avoid the public embarrassment of a disabled person for having to explain their disability," Oliver said. "A guide dog, that's a pretty simple answer and the questioning needs to stop there." Sherri Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world. Integrity is what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one is paying attention. Sherri Brun NFBF Newsline Chair flmom2006 at gmail.com _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 12 19:00:20 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 19:00:20 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [Nagdu-leaders] capitol News Service Television Story about Demonstration In-Reply-To: <048701cfe638$5c9e9ed0$15dbdc70$@verizon.net> References: <048701cfe638$5c9e9ed0$15dbdc70$@verizon.net> Message-ID: <004001cfe689$71dadab0$55909010$@gmail.com> Subject: [Nagdu-leaders] capitol News Service Television Story about Demonstration Dear Fellow Federationists, Below is a link to the Capitol News Service story about our demonstration. When you click on the link, go to the heading that says "Blind Justice", then arrow down to the "Play" button. I have already tested the link to make sure it works! (grin) http://www.flanews.com/?attachment_id=23296 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! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141012/1bbece86/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: Untitled attachment 00068.txt Url: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141012/1bbece86/attachment.txt From kenvolonte at comcast.net Tue Oct 14 21:27:48 2014 From: kenvolonte at comcast.net (Ken Volonte) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 21:27:48 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] stepping down Message-ID: <000001cfe830$607e06e0$217a14a0$@net> Dear Cagdu members: I find it necessary to step away from actively participating in CAGDU until Velvet's and my health are a little more controlled. The ability to be a part of something greater than ourselves and the opportunities for learning; these we will always cherish. My next project will be to try to get in on the trials of the Bionic Pancreas about to be held at Mass. General. This technology promises to provide insulin and glucafon automatically using an iPhone app. If this can stabilize my sugar, perhaps I'll have more energy. Hold a thought, especially for Velvet. She may be approaching the point where she will have to be living in a more skilled phacylity than either I or her aid Mary can give her. She's started falling again, and the physical therapy seems to be making things worse. Again, it has been a pleasure serving and learning with you. Ken -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nfbcal.org/pipermail/cagdu/attachments/20141014/2233ba14/attachment.html From judotina48kg at gmail.com Sun Oct 19 19:57:22 2014 From: judotina48kg at gmail.com (Tina Thomas) Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 19:57:22 -0700 Subject: [Cagdu] FW: [nagdu] Principal Tried to Bar Blind Counselor's Guide Dog, Complaint Says In-Reply-To: <011001cfea06$1c410400$54c30c00$@ky2d.com> References: <011001cfea06$1c410400$54c30c00$@ky2d.com> Message-ID: <12d201cfec11$92aaf3f0$b800dbd0$@gmail.com> -----Original Message----- From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger Kutsch via nagdu Sent: Friday, October 17, 2014 5:30 AM To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users Subject: [nagdu] Principal Tried to Bar Blind Counselor's Guide Dog, Complaint Says Principal Tried to Bar Blind Counselor's Guide Dog, Complaint Says By Katie Honan on October 16, 2014 7:29am BROOKLYN ? A blind counselor was discriminated against by the principal of an East Flatbush school who tried to bar her guide dog from her workplace, according to a complaint and the Department of Education. Tami Hernandez-Rosenberg, 46, of Queens, started teaching in 1993 and became a guidance counselor at I.S. 285 in 2001. Three years later, after brain surgery, she was left legally blind and suffered partial paralysis on her left side, she said. But she continued to work as a guidance counselor with assistance from school aides, a special computer and other tools, she said. In 2011, she tore her rotator cuff, making it hard to use a cane. The injury made her eligible for a seeing eye dog. She trained with Lonnie, a black Lab, in the summer and brought him to school in August to meet with her principal, Frederick Underwood, according to the complaint with the city's Commission on Human Rights filed by Borrelli & Associates in September. ?They all knew I was getting a service animal ? I made it very clear to everyone that I was coming back with a guide dog in September," she said. She also received the necessary paperwork through the state Department of Education, which granted her the medical waiver for the pooch. ?Mr. Underwood was not happy about having the dog in the building," she said. According to the complaint, the principal allegedly told her "I don't want that dog in this school." But he was advised by the Guide Dog Foundation that guide dogs must be allowed to accompany those who need them in public places under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the complaint said. The dog stayed by her side and sat behind her during counseling sessions, she said. She even held an assembly to teach the middle schoolers about Lonnie. But Underwood began to treat Hernandez-Rosenberg "adversely," the complaint states. She was assigned additional duties in 2011 that went above and beyond her job as guidance counselor, including student government adviser, ACS liaison and elementary school recruiter, she said. She assisted students with high school applications and was even part of the building's response team during emergencies. ?My job ? I don?t know why I was chosen ? was to go around and get all the kids with medical issues in an emergency drill," she said. ?I?m blind! Yes, I had a para who read the list off and collected the kids. But there are two other guidance counselors who can see.? Underwood also began switching up her work schedule, which forced her to retrain Lonnie, the complaint said. In 2013, he removed her from the air-conditioned room she requires for her health and also switched the para-professionals that had been working with her, according to the complaint. Underwood told her he could "do what he pleased," the complaint said. Later that year he told the paras working with Hernandez-Rosenberg that they could no longer write for her, telling them they were only supposed to read for her. This made her job more difficult, she said. And when she told Underwood she couldn't do some of the additional duties because of her disabilities, he wrote her up for insubordination, the complaint said. The stress from the situation caused her to have a bleeding ulcer last April, she said. In June 2014 she was removed from her assignment at the school ? but she still reports to I.S. 285 each day while waiting for another role. She sits alone in the media center and has gone on one interview this fall. ?It?s isolating. It?s humiliating,? she said of her situation. ?It?s sad.? Underwood, though, denied the allegations in the complaint and said he couldn't prevent the dog from entering the school since it's not up to him. He was supportive of Lonnie and said Hernandez-Rosenberg sent memos thanking him for holding a school assembly on the guide dog, which he felt fostered an "inclusive" environment. "We did that which was above and beyond what we had to do," he said. "We complied to all her accommodations." He also said she requested additional leadership roles, which is why she was assigned the other responsibilities. Underwood said the complaint is a "contradiction to what took place" and said he was forced to let teachers and Hernandez-Rosenberg go after lower enrollment cut his budget and staff. "I think she believes it's some correlation between what we feel about her," he said. "We also had to let go of teachers." A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said the agency "cannot comment on this matter as it is currently the subject of litigation." Hernandez-Rosenberg said she hopes to find work closer to her Howard Beach home, but also wants her former principal to recognize what he did to her. "I told him, you wouldn't take crutches away from someone with a broken leg," she said. ????? Source: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20141016/east-flatbush/principal-tried-bar-blind-counselors-seeing-eye-dog-complaint-says _______________________________________________ nagdu mailing list nagdu at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/judotina48kg%40gmail.com