Hi, my name isTyressPortis. I am interested in guide dog training, or handling. I do have a V.R counsler,birmingham. I am blind myself, but there has always been something about me getting along with dogs. An I think this would be a good experience for me. If needed to be contacted my phone number is 205 396-6632, and my cousler numberis 205 290-4400 who's name is William Driggers, located in the state Alabama,
----- Original Message ----- From: "Cheree Heppe" <cheree@xxxxxxxxxxxx To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date sent: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:41:20 -0800Subject: [gps-talkusers] off topic california dog guide owners
and others
Cheree Heppe here:
Below please find a letter regarding changes proposed by theCalifornia State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind which may require further study and consumer comment.
Regards,
Cheree Heppe
POB 18064
Portland, OR 97218
March 8, 2010
California Bureau of State Audits
Investigations
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
seeking to change state law to fund itself privately
A year ago in March, 2009, the California State Board ofGuide Dogs for the Blind sought to impose sweeping restrictive changes which over-stepped its functional purview. This March, the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind is at it again.
The portion of a document appended below circulated via
E-mail very recently
and as a concerned consumer who has successfully traveled
internationally with dog guides for forty years, I am responding.
There is in the ADA a functionally based requirement for dogguide work, not a badging requirement. If it guides like a dog guide, behaves in the sophisticated manner of dog guides educated to work publicly, and is in all respects dog guide-like, then it is a dog guide under ADA, regardless of badging.
The California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind ispre-ADA. Many who are not tied into the California State Board of Guide Dogs believe this Board's function to be superfluous, stifling, repressive, controlling and self-serving. Many feel that having options for dog guide training outside of California represents their best hope for acquiring a dog guide that can guide, exhibit proper social behavior and have good health. Many blind consumers prefer receiving services through non-patronizing, consumer empowering agencies.
This set of changes currently proposed by the CaliforniaState Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind elevates the proliferation of paperwork over honest dog guide training and performance.
Proposed requirements for documenting hours of training havebeen lifted as whole cloth from other International Federation of Guide Dog School standards which the California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind is neither equipped to review nor institute.
What exactly is the State Board of Guide Dogs doing when itreleases notice of an important meeting after the fact, then attempts to change regulations, citing the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools as authority without providing access to the International Federation?s foundation documents?
In 2010, most blindness rehab personnel refer to blindrecipients of services as "consumers" instead of "clients," considering the term "client" too non-involved and patronizing. Does this lack of modern language usage by principles of the California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind suggest a lack of up to date knowledge of the blindness rehab field or merely a disregard for blind consumers?
The State Board of Guide Dogs seeks to practice restraintof trade. In an earlier missive, the Board proposed preventing any dog guide services to blind graduates originating outside California unless outside entities paid and funneled services through the state's dog guide board.
Now, this Board seems to be keeping itself solvent bydigging for state sanctioned gold from the California dog guide programs by using state law put in place to protect consumers.
Unless this Board has state officials so buffaloed andCalifornia dog guide schools so tightly by the short hairs they don't dare make a move, they should really throw off the strangle hold this Board holds over California dog guide programs.
The California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blindshould be abolished to free up administrative and financial resources and permit national law and industry forces to govern the regulation of dog guide schools, as has been successfully accomplished everywhere else in the U.S.
Cordially,
Cheree Heppe
(Begin scanned document)
This is the notice of proposed modification to California guide
dog regulations.
Comment may be made until March 19, 2010.
Section (3) is the portion that discusses guide dog handler
instruction.
STATE BOARD OF GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND
NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN that The State Board of Guide Dogs for theBlind has proposed modifications to the text of sections 2262 and 2262.1 and 2276 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, which were the subject of a regulatory hearing on February 8, 2010. A copy of the modified text, including any document incorporated by reference is enclosed. Any person who wishes to comment on the proposed modifications may do so by submitting written comments on or before March 19, 2010, to the following:
Antonette Orrick
Executive Officer
State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
1625 N. Market Blvd., S-202
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 574-7825 phone
(916) 574-7829 fax
dca.ca.gov
DATED: __2/25/10_________
BOARD OF GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND
Proposed Modified Language
(Additions from previously proposed text are indicated by double
underline.
Deletions from previously proposed text are indicated by double
strikethrough.
)
(1)
Amend Section 2262 in Article 1 of Division 22 of Title 16 of the
California Code of Regulations to read as follows:
2262. License Period.
(a)
A school license expires on April 30th of each calendar year, andunless renewed by the date of expiration shall be automatically forfeited and may be reinstated or renewed only after payment of the renewal fee.
(b)
An instructor??s license Licenses shall remain in effect for oneyear after the date of issuance, and unless renewed by the date of expiration shall be automatically forfeited and may be reinstated or renewed only after compliance with the requirements of the Board.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 7200.5, and 7208 and 7211,Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 7200.7, 7211, 7211.1 and 7217, Business and Professions Code.
(2)
Add Section 2262.1 of Division 22 of Title 16 of the California
Code of Regulations to read as follows:
2262.1. Annual School Renewal Payment.
To renew its license after April 30, 2010, a school shall pay afee equal to 0.00425 of all school expenses incurred in the most recently concluded school calendar year. The school??s expenses shall be determined from the annual audit required by Business and Professions Code section 7217.
For a school license expiring on or before July 31, 2010, if therenewal payment is received on or before April 30, 2010, the school shall pay a fee equal to 0.004 of all school expenses incurred in the most recently concluded school calendar year.
(a) On or before April 30, 2010, the rate for calculating theannual school renewal fee pursuant to Section 7200.7 is 0.004 of all school expenses incurred in the most recently concluded school calendar year, as determined by the immediately preceding fiscal year audit required annually by section 7217 of the Code. Page 1 (Rev. 2/20/10)
(b) After April 30, 2010, the rate for calculating the annualschool renewal fee pursuant to Section 7200.7 is 0.00425 of all school expenses incurred in the most recently concluded school calendar year, as determined by the immediately preceding fiscal year audit required annually by section 7217 of the Code.
(c) The renewal fee shall be paid no later than April 30th of
each calendar year.
NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 7200.7 and 7208, Business andProfessions Code. Reference: Section 7200.7, Business and Professions Code.
[*** NB: This section will modify the regulations concerning
guide dog handler instruction.
***]
(3) Amend Section 2276 of Division 22 of Title 16 of the
California Code of Regulations to read as follows:
2276. Client Instruction Period.
Each school or instructor providing a guide dog to a client shall
comply with the following standards:
(a)
Clients training with their first guide dogs must receive
instruction consisting
of a Each school engaged in instruction of blind persons in theuse of guide dogs shall provide a minimum of 80 15 hours theory and a minimum 30 hours practical in-harness instruction spread over a two to of instruction over a period of four weeks period.
[*** This did not copy well from the original pdf, but it meansthat :for first-time handlers, the regulation will change from 80 hours of instruction over 4 weeks, TO the proposed new regulation which will require (for first-time handlers) a minimum of 30 hours in-harness and a minimum of 15 hours of theoretical training over a two week period. ***]
(b)
Clients training with successor dogs must receive, except thatwith respect to a person who has previously completed such minimum instruction consisting of in a school satisfactory to the Board, a school may provide a minimum of 40 10 hours theory and 20 hours practical in-harness of instruction. over a period of two weeks.
[*** The proposed change will change the training requirementsfor ??retrains? from 40 hours over two weeks, minimum, TO 10 hours of theoretical and 20 hours in-harness training over two weeks, minimum. ***]
(c)
The instruction must be individualized to the client and provideduntil the team achieves safe and effective guide dog mobility, until the instructor determines the team cannot satisfactorily complete instruction or until the client discontinues services.
(d)
The instruction may be conducted in any appropriate venue,including, but not limited to, in-residence at the school, in-home or a combination of both. A school may, when in its judgment it is necessary for proper instruction in a particular case, require instruction in excess of the minimums prescribed in this section. In no case shall less than 15 hours nor more than 25 hours of instruction be given in any one week.
[*** Sections c and d are self-explanatory. ***] Note: Authoritycited: Section 7208, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 7208, 7210.7 Business and Professions Code.
Page 2 (Rev. 2/20/10)
[***In summary, under these modifications, all trainees musttrain for a minimum of 15 hours per week and not more than 25 hours per week, over a two week period. The training for any handler (first-time or repeat) may be given in any venue deemed appropriate by the accredited school (including in-home, residence, combination, or other). The four week requirement period for first-time guide dog handlers (with 80 total hours of instruction) will be replaced by a minimum requirement for first-time handlers of: 30 hours in-harness and 15 hours theoretical instruction over a two week period. The requirements for repeat-handlers will change from 40 hours total instruction over two weeks (minimum) to: a minimum of 20 hours in-harness and 10 hours theoretical instruction over a two week period.
These proposed regulation-modifications regarding guide doghandler instruction are the current standards specified by the IFGDS (International Federation of Guide Dog Schools).
(End scanned document.)
To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or
vacation mode):
http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm
Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email togps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject.
To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or vacation mode): http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email to gps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject.