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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hello Everyone- Below is a letter that was sent to all out of state guide dog programs from the California state guide dog board regarding follow- up services. I hope all you read this and keep in mind that this policy and attitude of the board is a contradiction of everything our organization represents. To quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “ injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thank You. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tina <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/consumers/2015_outofstate.pdf">ion</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>[Name]<br>Chief Executive Officer<br>[School Name]<br>[School Address]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear [Name]:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=right style='text-align:right'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind (Board) exists to ensure the protection of people who are blind or visually impaired while receiving instruction in the use of guide dogs. The Board regulates both the schools located in California as well as the instructors who train and pair guide dog teams. While your school is not physically located in California, the Board understands that many out of state schools place guide dogs with clients who reside in California at the time of placement, or who may relocate to California after placement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Board understands and appreciates a school’s need to maintain an ongoing relationship with graduates of their program. Recently, the Board has received several questions regarding follow-up training from guide dog users who received their dogs from schools outside of California. In order to provide follow-up training in California, Guide Dog Instructors, regardless of school affiliation, must be licensed by the Board.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The purpose of this letter is not only to inform you of the licensing requirements and regulations regarding guide dog instruction in California, but also to create an open dialog. The Board wishes to ensure that there are no barriers to licensure for your instructors. Our goal is to create a gateway for your school to safely and legally provide follow-up instruction or in-home placements to guide dog users residing in California.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Our records indicate that you currently have no instructors licensed by the Board. The Board would like to invite you to undergo the licensure process in order to provide services to your clients residing in California. The Board’s licensure process and criteria are outlined on our website at: <a href="http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/forms_pubs/five_steps.shtml">http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/forms_pubs/five_steps.shtml</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please contact me if you would like more information on the licensure process, or if you identify any barriers that may impact your desire to participate in the licensure process. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Additionally, the Guide Dog Board is in the process of determining how many guide dog users reside in California. In order to identify an accurate population, we are surveying each guide dog program in the country asking how many active teams from your program are currently residing in California. If you could please respond simply by emailing or calling me for a quick discussion, I would greatly appreciate it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I look forward to working with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thank you for your time,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Brian Skewis<br>Executive Officer<br>California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind<br>Email: <a href="mailto:brian.skewis@dca.ca.gov">brian.skewis@dca.ca.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:#797A7B'><a name=footer></a><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4D7FB2'><a href="http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/consumers/2015_outofstate.shtml#heading"><span style='color:white'>Back to Top</span></a> | <a href="http://www.dca.ca.gov/help.shtml"><span style='color:white'>Help</span></a> | <a href="http://www.guidedogboard.ca.gov/about/contactus.shtml"><span style='color:white'>Contact Us</span></a> | <a href="http://www.dca.ca.gov/adobe/"><span style='color:white'>Get Acrobat</span></a> | <a href="http://www.dca.ca.gov/about_dca/disclaim.shtml"><span style='color:white'>Disclaimer</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=hidden1><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>| </span></span><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.ca.gov/use.html">Conditions of Use</a> | <a href="http://www.dca.ca.gov/about_dca/privacy_policy.shtml">Privacy Policy</a><br>Copyright © 2015 State of California<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>