[gps-talkusers] Re: off topic california dog guide owners and others
- From: "Cheree Heppe" <cheree@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:19:13 -0800
Cheree Heppe here:
Thanks for responding.
I am a blind consumer who has successfully traveled with dog guides since 1970.
If you want to try working with and owning a dog guide, there are resources to
get your feet wet, so to speak.
Try Guide Dog Users, Inc., (GDUI) www.gdui.org.
GDUI is not a dog guide training program. It is an organization of consumers
who travel with dog guides and their friends. has a website full of
information on dog guide programs and consumer contacts for your state. It
helps to get to know dog guide owners to see how it is to live with and work
with dog guides on a day to day basis.
If I were going to a dog guide program, I might try The Seeing Eye, but this
choice has to be yours and you have to be ready with already solid mobility to
really benefit from the use of a dog guide.
Happy travels.
Regards,
Cheree Heppe
----- Original Message -----
From: "tyress portis" <tyressp@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 10:07 AM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: off topic california dog guide owners and others
> 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 -0800
>>Subject: [gps-talkusers] off topic california dog guide owners
> and others
>
>>Cheree Heppe here:
>
>
>
>>Below please find a letter regarding changes proposed by the
> California 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 of
> Guide 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 dog
> guide 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 is
> pre-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 California
> State 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 have
> been 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 it
> releases 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 blind
> recipients 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 restraint
> of 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 by
> digging 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 and
> California 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 Blind
> should 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 the
> Blind 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, and
> unless 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 one
> year 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 a
> fee 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 the
> renewal 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 the
> annual 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 annual
> school 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 and
> Professions 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 the
> use 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 means
> that :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 that
> with 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 requirements
> for €œretrains€ 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 provided
> until 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: Authority
> cited: 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 must
> train 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 dog
> handler instruction are the current standards specified by the
> IFGDS (International Federation of Guide Dog Schools).
>
>>(End scanned document.)
>
>
>
>
>
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