A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

A Message from Your President

We Can, and Must, Work for Change

As a tragic week of violence and turmoil and shared pain and anxiety comes to an end, as we grieve the death of a good man caused by the very police officers who should be saving, not taking lives, we are all feeling like just about every aspect of our lives is unstable and outside  our control. Chaos seems to be the only ruling principle of these days and nights, and many of us are feeling alone and emotionally exhausted with nothing but enormous apprehension about what might come next. I wish I could pull just the right words out of a magical hat of reassurance. I know others have reminded us that one thing in all of this chaos and pain  that we can count on is love, love for one another, and love and respect for shared humanity, and I can definitely agree with that. Mark A. Riccobono,, president of the NFB, wrote a beautiful encouraging letter to members of the Federation. Several GDUI members have shared the letter with me. I appreciate Mark’s letter, his desire to understand, to seek truth, to help, to search – along with everyone else – for justice and an end to suffering. I thank him for sharing these words of compassion and resolve. If you haven’t read the letter, I hope you will. We are all members of the blindness community, and despite some differences in our varying approaches to solving problems, we are united in our quest to live well despite blindness and in caring for and about other members in our joint community, and in caring for the larger community of Americans of  which we are also all a part. . If there is a reliable plan for surviving this frightening pandemic and keeping all of the people we love and ourselves alive, and for finding ways to handle an economy in free fall, and, even more crucially imperative,  for ridding our country of the systematic racism that takes innocent lives, makes people of color more vulnerable to the coronavirus and illness and early death, and more likely to experience poverty, lack of opportunity, unhealthy environments and life threatening prejudice and discrimination, I join everyone else who is trying to find elusive answers, and everyone else who feels completely done with trying to find those same elusive answers, over and over, and over again! City streets in every part of the country are erupting into violence fed by righteous rage, and fear, and desolation. All we can do, I think, is to listen, to empathize, to try to understand, and – despite so many failed promises to do these same over and over again, – to re-commit ourselves once again to justice for all, a brotherhood and sisterhood of all of us, and making the changes that we so desperately need to make in our personal lives and as citizens of the larger community, and the world.

We are unlikely – most of us – to join the demonstrators exercising their civil right to gather and express outrage at yet another injustice visited upon the community of Americans who are black and advocate for change, not because we don’t share that outrage, but for more practical considerations – such as the coronavirus’s still seeking out vulnerable victims in crowded situations, and the impracticality and danger of exposing our guide dogs and ourselves to possibly life-threatening situations that would spell danger for people who don’t see and who sometimes need help with orientation. This does not mean that we cannot march with protestors virtually. We can! We participate in virtual ways when we speak up, when we decry injustice, when we refuse to stay silent, and when we know how to listen, and learn from the personal stories we hear and accounts from respected journalists that we read.

Let us all lean on each other. Let us all hang onto any and every speck of hope that we can find amid the chaos and the suffering, let us seek understanding and empathy, let us do what we can to make the world a better place, to keep on nudging that long arc of history toward justice, to teach our children and our grandchildren the values that will sustain and improve all of our lives, and let us be the change we want to see in the world.

Sincerely,

Penny

We have a few news items to share with you and the first – in case you haven’t remembered – is that

Voting in the GDUI 2020 Election is Under Way! If you haven’t voted yet, please retrieve your unique Voting ID Number from the post card you received from VoteNow in your postal mailbox, and/or the e-mail you received in your E-Mail In Box. The e-mail arrived immediately before Midnight on Friday night/Saturday morning, and if you haven’t found it in your In Box, you can call Sarah Calhoun at our toll-free number, 866.799.8436. Sarah will help you get in touch with the folks at VoteNow, who will be pleased to assist! Voting is quick and easy – and essential!

Did you miss Our Second Candidates’ Forum, or would you like to listen again? We have had some wonderful Candidates Forums during my participation in GDUI elections, but the one held on May 21 was so outstanding as to be the best one I ever experienced! The forum lasted for two hours, and every minute was dedicated to thoughtful, motivating commentary from our candidates. If you’re still trying to make up your mind before casting your votes, you won’t go wrong by listening to our most recent Candidates’ Forum.

Topic: GDUI 2020 Candidate Forum 2

Start Time : May 21, 2020 07:50 PM

 Meeting Recording:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/5u14CbDU-UxLTafG0EzTa-lxJJjceaa82yEYqPYKzEokfC4r_ulaS9b8dBI29vVq

 Access Password: 3P=iZ+8z

If you would like to listen to our recent, May 23, board meeting, that recording is also available. Thanks to Maria Kristic, here is the link and the password you will need to access the recording:

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

Start Time : May 23, 2020 12:39 PM

 Meeting Recording:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/-vVbPbfcy2pLYKOd83ryZPZ6LoHVeaa81SkdqfQFnU77pYQqRWMX3lVkjZZQu1l6

 Access Password: 5o!SF2FK

Leader Dogs to Resume Operations, Opening in Phases. Here’s an encouraging message from David Locklin, Director of Programs at Leader Dogs.

I am very excited to inform you that under the most recent executive order signed by Governor Whitmer, Leader Dogs for the Blind is cleared to resume full operations! We have confirmed with legal counsel that our services are included in the latest wave of businesses permitted to resume operations.

We have developed a Return to Work plan that provides for our operations on campus to resume in phases. The phases of this plan were developed to ensure a safe return for the team, clients and volunteers. Please know that the health and well-being of every foot (and paw!) on campus remains our top priority. All clients, team members and volunteers will be required to complete a virtual training prior to coming to campus.

For those of you who have been accepted into training and are awaiting class placement, we will reach out to you in the coming weeks with more detailed information on what training will look like and what safety measures will be in place.

Some of you may be wondering about the status of field visits and deliveries. Please know that we are continuing to review/operate by CDC guidelines and the extension of the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order in Michigan as it relates to travel and field visits. We will have more information for you soon, but for now, all field visits and deliveries remain suspended at this time.

We continue to accept applications and reapplications for all of our programs!

Thank you for your ongoing support and words of encouragement, especially over the past two and a half months.

We all look forward to the day we welcome clients back to campus for training!

More News from Leader Dogs! Leader Dogs for the Blind Virtual Summer Experience Camp 2020

Camp dates: Sunday, June 21–Friday, June 26, 2020
Application deadline: Friday, June 5, 2020

This free camp experience gives teens 14–17 years old in the U.S. and Canada an awesome lineup of virtual activities to build their independence! Participants will explore mobility options like guide dog travel, build leadership skills and make lasting relationships with peers. Using Zoom video conferencing, we will lead two 30-minute virtual sessions each day at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Teens can look forward to a Q&A session with a guide dog mobility instructor, a game session, a private Facebook group to keep the fun going through the week and lots more! Presenters include Leader Dog O&M Instructors, Leader Dog guide dog mobility instructors and some special surprise guests! Participants will receive a free LDB Virtual Summer Experience Camp t-shirt and a chance to win other prizes including a Humanware Victor Reader Trek.

To confirm your commitment for this week of fun, please complete the online application by Friday, June 5. You’ll need to check your email regularly after applying for updates and more information!

Karen grabs a blind guy and learns how to fly.

[From https://www.reddit.com/r/EntitledKarens/comments/gpk53w/karen_grabs_a_blind_guy_and_learns_how_to_fly/] [Editor’s Note! Thanks to the Disability Grapevine online newspaper, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabilityGrapeVine/, for sharing this entertaining article!] 

{Karen: Entitled white woman, blond bob haircut, who demands her way and demands to speak to the manager. Male Karens exist.}
I was having interesting conversation with a blind guy (I will call Dave) today while standing in line waiting to get into grocery store.

Line moved forward I let Dave know, when all of a sudden a lady (let’s call her Karen) with out making a sound just grabs him and tries dragging him forward.

I shout stop….. and that is as far as I got.

Dave just drops his cane, grabs her back and judo throws Karen over his shoulder though the air and onto the ground. calls out to me to help him get away from the person who is attacking him.

I grab his cane offer my arm and we move out of line and quickly go up to the security guards at front doors.

Karen is lying on ground screaming assault etc.

One guard goes to check on Karen while me and Dave talk to other guard. Dave explains he is blind and thought he was being attacked when he heard me shout stop so defended himself.

Guard one says he will call police and store manager and not to worry and moves us into store while he sorts everything out.

Second guard brings Karen up to first guard they talk we can hear Karen screaming how she was just being a good Samaritan helping a disabled person and was attacked for no reason etc. I ask Dave if he
wants to talk to her or wait for police. Dave says he will wait.Me and Dave just chat about how blind technology has improved over the last 40 years as my dad is blind and how as a kid I would act as
his guide kid (dog) and the new computer technology available now.

Police arrive about 30 minutes later the entire time Karen’s still going off at poor guards and store manager.

Cop one talks to me and Dave and gets store manager to find camera footage.

Cop two is dealing with Karen (poor guy)

We all get taken to managers office to watch footage (well except dave) cops ask Dave if he wants to press charges and they will arrest Karen for assault.

Dave says let her go as he is not going to file a complaint as long as Karen understands you never grab a blind person and to ask first if they need assistance.

Karen grumbling about he attacked her and she was just trying to be a good Samaritan etc.

I look at Karen and say your lucky dave stopped after just throwing you my dad is blind and was trained to do a lot worse count yourself lucky dave didn’t break your arm or choke you out like my dad is
trained to do.

Cops let Karen leave and store manager said she could still shop if she wanted to but had to go stand in line again but we could just go shop to separate us from her.

I helped Dave shop and we got $50 each voucher off store manager. I gave mine to Dave and offered him a lift home if he needed it instead of getting a cab.

Dave said he was fine we had a laugh and plan to meet next week for grocery shopping.

On way out security guards stopped us. Said when I bring blind people to shop just walk to front doors they will let us jump the cue as they don’t want anymore flying Karen’s and thanks for making
their day.

I looked at them said, Dude I was just chatting to Dave in line, I’m not his guide dog. Dave started laughing offered to get me a doggie treat next week when we meet up to shop.

All I could say was woof laugh with him and the guards and say catch you next time

Sorry no arrested Karen; everyone did not all stand up cheer and clap. Just a stupid Karen, found out the hard way don’t grab blind people without asking first.

And I’m looking forward to some smacko dog treats next week, lol

A Kentucky school surprised a little girl by including a photo of her service dog in the yearbook

By Alaa Elassar, CNN
Updated 5:00 AM ET, Sat May 23, 2020
(CNN) An elementary school in Kentucky saved a special spot in its yearbook for one very good girl — Ariel, a service dog.
[From: https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/23/us/louisville-service-dog-yearbook-photo-kentucky-trnd/index.html]

St. Patrick Catholic School in Louisville surprised 7-year-old Hadley
Jo Lange by including a photo of the Labradoodle among its kindergarten
class. Hadley Jo suffers from epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures.

Without Ariel, Hadley Jo might not be alive. “This dog has really saved my daughter’s life,” her mom, Heather Lange, told CNN. “I don’t know how I could ever thank Ariel as a mother. She goes with her everywhere, to school, rides the bus with her, goes to her dance classes and soccer practice. She always has her
eyes on my little girl. It’s a huge sense of security.”

At school, Ariel watches over Hadley Jo constantly. The 4-year-old pooch,
who bonded with Hadley Jo when she was just a puppy, is able to recognize
when the up-and-coming first grader is having an
episode.

Ariel and Hadley Jo at school. When these episodes happen at school, Ariel alerts teachers that something is wrong by barking. During seizures, the dog also lies down next to Hadley Jo and moves her body under the child to
cushion her fall.

“It’s important for us to do all we can to foster our relationship
with families and do what we can to support students,” Nathan Sturtzel,
principal of St. Patrick Catholic School, told CNN. “We love Ariel. She’s part of Hadley Jo’s family so she’s a part of our family too. Finding a place for her in our yearbook was an easy decision and it was a lot of fun to include her. We loved it.”

Ariel is also special for reasons beyond the love and protection she
provides Hadley Jo. The Labradoodle is the only service dog in the
archdiocese of Louisville, according to Lange. A victory for children with epilepsy.

To many, Ariel’s inclusion in the yearbook is just a sweet story about
a little girl and her adorable dog. But to Lange — and other parents of
children with epilepsy — it’s a story of victory. “When I got the yearbook and saw that they included our service dog, that was one of the most touching moments of my life. The inclusiveness meant so much,” Lange said.

“It proved that we may not all look the same, we may not all learn the
same, we have differences but it’s OK. We can still be kind and inclusive
and accept each other. This yearbook is a huge reflection of that.” What is epilepsy? Here’s what you need to know about the seizure-causing spectrum of disorders.

Hadley Jo had her first seizure when she was only 17 months old. It
came on suddenly while the family was dining at a restaurant. “She was on my lap while I was eating, and out of nowhere my baby fell into my arms and her eyes rolled back into her head and she was jerking,” Lange said. “She was having a seizure right before my eyes, it was terrifying. She stopped breathing, and there I was, a mother who thought she was about to lose her child.”

Since then, seizures have become a normal part of Hadley Jo’s life.
But with her puppy by her side, she hasn’t let it affect her happy nature
and kind spirit. The Lange family knows how lucky they are to have Ariel.

Service dogs can cost anywhere between $20,000 to $60,000. They were able to afford Ariel through community fund raising, but not all families have the same opportunity. That’s why Lange partnered up with the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckian to launch Hope for Hadley Jo, a non-profit organization that provides funding for families whose children need service
dogs.

Ariel and Hadley Jo as they graduate from kindergarten.
Lange has also become a strong advocate for children with epilepsy,
encouraging other schools to be welcoming and accommodating to them.
“It’s very comforting knowing my daughter has a home at her school
where she is loved and accepted, even though she may not look like everyone
else,” Lange said. “St. Patrick made a choice to accept my child and her service dog. The acceptance and inclusion is a true sign of kindness and compassion.”

C 2020 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights
Reserved.CNN Sans T & C 2016 Cable News Network.

As the night comes to an end around midnight and we prepare to go to press, city streets across the country are, once again, erupting into chaos despite curfews and admonishments and increased presence of police officers and the national guard.

Neither our outrage nor our dedication to seeking justice have come to an end – nor has our sadness or our frustration or our crushing anxiety. Many of us remain in quarantine, wishing for the touch of a friend or a hug from a giggly grandchild, lots of us have found new ways to shop for necessities and to connect with friends and organizations and causes we support. Our guide dogs still take us to a harness that, they hope, will connect them to the work that they love, and we praise their enthusiasm and make promises about better days to come and longer trips to take. We describe this new and confusing lifestyle as “The After,” and speak of “The Before” with nostalgia and rueful shakes of our heads. We are so glad to count on all of you for the friendship and support that will carry us all through, hopefully – and we have to believe this – to a better “After!”

Soon we will be coming to you with good news from our GDUI elections! Remember to vote before the end of the day on Sunday, June 7!

Please also remember to wash your hands, pet your dog instead of touching your face, be well, and stay safe! Thank you for your support and friendship.

Thank you for reading and sharing our Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! We welcome your feedback and your involvement in our organization. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/.

Our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/.

Our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

Download or subscribe to the GDUI Juno Report pod cast here: http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

Support GDUI when you use this link to shop at Amazon.com:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1871119.

To join the GDUI-Announce List, visit this link: http://www.acblists.org/mailman/listinfo/gdui-announce.

To subscribe to the GDUI Chat list, visit this link: chat+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

To subscribe to the (members only) GDUI Business list, visit this link:

business+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

ZOOM on Over to Learn More about Our Candidates, Our Elections, and the Business of Our Board!

There are all kinds of meetings taking place inside the blindness community, and GDUI is contributing our fair share this week, as well. On Thursday, May 21, at 8:00 PM, ET, we welcome your attendance at our second Candidates’ Forum. Come and meet our 2020 candidates. Ask questions, hear stories, and become well informed as you prepare to participate in our 2020 Election.

The call-in information for this second Forum is as follows:

Guide Dog Users, Inc. is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: GDUI 2020 Candidate Forum 2

Time: May 21, 2020 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Join Meeting

Meeting ID: 380 572 719

Password: 520107

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,380572719#,,#,520107# US (New York)

+13126266799,,380572719#,#,520107# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 301 715 8592 US

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

+1 253 215 8782 US

Meeting ID: 380 572 719

Password: 520107

Find your local number: Find Local Number

Then, on this coming Saturday, GDUI will be holding our final board meeting in advance of our coming election. Come an catch up on our ongoing work and the issues that are important to you as guide dog users. Everyone is welcomed! Here are all the ZOOM particulars you need to know:

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

Time: May 23, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/562675137

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,562675137# US (New York)

+13126266799,,562675137# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kjgqr0DUt

We are so grateful to our board member and candidate for GDUI Treasurer, Maria Kristic, for setting these meetings up for us, for managing the comings and goings during our calls, and for making us all feel more comfortable with this new-to-us and very current communications media choice. Thanks to Deb Lewis, as well, our current Second Vice President and candidate for that office again. Deb has managed both of our community outreach Zoom meeting events, which were carried on ACB Radio, and portions of which have appeared in our GDUI Juno Report. Visit ACB Radio’s Mainstream channel on the first Friday of every month to hear the new GDUI Juno Report:

http://acbradio.org/search/node/And, Visit this link to access GDUI Juno Report podcasts:

http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

The evening get-togethers for guide dog users across the country were fun for all of us, and we expect to sponsor more community outreach meetings as time goes on.

Speaking of Zoom… Raffle time is here again!!!!

Her name honors the virtual nature of the convention this year. Every time you reach out to touch her silky coat or fondle those irresistible sticky-up GSD ears, you will remember the 2020 way of family gatherings, doing business, learning, visiting with friends, and how Charlie gets his dogs to put a move on. She is ready to guide GDUI in to this new decade and her way in to your home and heart!

Introducing Zoom!! She is a black and tan German shepherd beauty. She’s about two feet tall, is in a sitting position with her ears up and mouth open in a big doggie smile. Zoom’s tag has been wood burnt with her name and she has her own leash. Of course, she proudly wears a magnificent, hand-crafted, Hava Original leather harness!

Getting tickets is the same as in the past with the exception of in-person sales- there will be none of that!

Important information:

Tickets are 3 for $5 or 7 for $10.

Get them as a gift to yourself or use as gifts for others- These tickets are terrific for all gift giving occasions (Graduations, Father’s Day, birthdays, appreciation gifts for hosts, thank you gifts for stylists and groomers, don’t forget your in-laws or that impossible to purchase for relative or friend).  Anyone can purchase, so encourage your friends and family to buy some for you! Their ticket purchases increase your  chances and support GDUI all at the same time.  A true WIN WIN all around!

You can purchase tickets online here: https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-raffle-tickets/ You’ll find adorable photos of Ms. ZOOM  on that page as well.

Or, call Sara Calhoun at 866 .799.8436.

We won’t be selling any products at our virtual convention, and there won’t be a GDUI auction this year, so your participation in our Zoom Raffle is your best opportunity to contribute financially to GDUI this summer. We appreciate your participation!

 Convention News! In just a couple more days, you’ll be able to register for the events you want to attend at the GDUI and concurrent virtual ACB Conventions! You can already peruse the ACB Conference and Convention program online by visiting this link And clicking on the pre-registration link. If you are using JAWS hit h for heading twice and you will be at the top of the events listing.

There are so many wonderful presentations and activities to look forward to – and (unless you’re a presenter), you can attend any of these meetings in your robe and slippers or  cut-offs and flip-flops – your choice! – or you can play Frisbee or do obedience or dispense Frostee Paws with your guide – anywhere inside or immediately outside your sheltering place – and no one will be the wiser! It’s all about virtual enjoyment and on-site comfort!

Registration for all ACB and GDUI programs opens for ACB members (If you’re a member of GDUI, you’re also a member of ACB!) on Thursday, May 21! Registration for non-members will be available a week later, on May 28.

Here’s much of what you need to know about our GDUI virtual convention. Visit this page for all of the details and updates: https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-program/ (Of course, you’ll have to be there – in whatever virtual way you choose (e.g., iPhone, Landline, iPad, PC) to hear what the guide dog instructors have to share with us, to learn from Lukas, to earn CEUs while you learn about the latest technologies, and to find out who this year’s awards will be honoring, and who will be the lucky person to become Zoom’s new owner!)

The GDUI 2020 Convention Program

Saturday, July 4

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM – Go Behind the Scenes with Disney’s Pick of the Litter

Join the Audio Description Project and Guide Dog Users Inc. for this interesting program featuring ACB’s Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Claire Stanley, who was profiled in two episodes of “Pick of the Litter”. 

We will be listening to Episode 3: Training Begins After returning to Guide Dogs for the Blind, the dogs begin formal training; and Episode 5: Meet Your Match. The dogs in advanced training take their final exams in the hopes of being matched with clients.

Claire will answer questions and tell us some behind-the-scene stories of what it was like filming the episodes.

Co-sponsored by GDUI and the ACB audio Description Committee

Monday, July 6:

1:30PM – 2:45PM

The 20/20 Visions from the Guide Dogs Schools

3:00PM – 4:15PM

Sit, Stay, Listen…

Presenter: Lukas Franck, The Seeing Eye, Morristown, NJ

Lukas will discuss clicker training, how he evolved in to it, how well he responds to a clicker, and how he uses it in training!

Tuesday, July 7:

1:30PM – 2:45PM

Hidden Treasures

Presenters:

Steve Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager, and Adam Kosakowski, Assistive Technology Specialist

NEAT Center at Oak Hill, Hartford Connecticut

During this presentation participants will learn some tips and tricks to help them in using different pieces of software on various hardware platforms.  For instance, we will demonstrate both the built in screen reader and screen magnifier, found in Windows 10 and go over a few of the best features of these items.  We will also highlight some of our favorite settings and items which you can  customize to make using your device a better experience. 

We will be focusing on the following devices and software: Windows 10, Apple devices and Android devices.  

Topics will include:

• Customization of Voiceover on an iPhone or iPad
• Changing visual settings on an iPhone.
• Customizing Windows 10 for a better experience while using your screen reader. Simple tricks to make reading items easier with the JAWS screen reader.
• Tips and tricks for Android users.

Co-sponsored by GDUI and ACBS

3:00PM – 4:15PM:

“Harnessing Her Power at the Iditarod!”

Presenter: Katie Mehrtens, The Right Spot Pet Massage, Illinois

From vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy to obtaining a guide dog, from early childhood special education instructor to massage therapist to the Iditarod, Katie Mehrtens’ life is filled with struggles and successes and a determination to succeed.

Days are often long – and nights too short – during 2020 Shelter-in-Place. Sometimes we just yearn for a little good news (for a change)! Here’s some Good News From Us!

We are pleased to inform you that, thanks to the efforts of several GDUI board members, The 2020 Updates to our GDUI Guide Dog School Surveys Are Now on Our Web Site. You may find them under the Resources page of the site’s main menu > GDUI School Surveys or directly at https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/gdui-school-survey/

Our Web site also now contains landing pages for the 2020 GDUI convention program and raffle ticket purchases. Both can be found in the main navigation menu on our site or directly at https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-program/ and https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-raffle-tickets/.

Our Web site has been updated with the latest approved meeting minutes from our January, 2020 board meeting. You may access our meeting minutes page at https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/meeting-minutes/.

As of May 18, 2020, we have 538 likes of our Facebook page, 289 members in our Friends of GDUI Facebook group, and 305 followers of our Twitter handle. Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/, our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/, and our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

Help University research teams to understand more about our transportation needs and our experiences with shared ride services.  

Researchers at Clemson University are currently soliciting responses for an online survey to gauge the opinions of people who are blind or visually impaired regarding ridesharing services. This is the first of two surveys on this subject. Your participation will help engineers and policymakers better understand the needs and concerns of individuals who are visually impaired in designing ridesharing services and in the writing of related policies.

If you are an individual who is blind or low vision, we would greatly appreciate your participation. Participants will be entered in a drawing for a $300 gift card; we anticipate that approximately 500 people will be entered into the drawing. For additional information regarding the risks and benefits of the survey or to complete the survey itself, please click the link below. The survey information and the survey itself are both screen reader accessible:

https://clemson.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8H3eZiQxELYcX89

Thank you,

 Aaron Gluck

Clemson University, Research Assistant

1-864-722-9053

amgluck@g.clemson.edu

Following the current trend during these days of COVID-19, Leader Dogs for the Blind makes their summer camp experience a virtual one!

Leader Dogs for the Blind Virtual Summer Experience Camp 2020

Camp dates: Sunday, June 21–Friday, June 26, 2020
Application deadline: Friday, June 5, 2020

This free camp experience gives teens 14–17 years old in the U.S. and Canada an awesome lineup of virtual activities to build their independence! Participants will explore mobility options like guide dog travel, build leadership skills and make lasting relationships with peers. Using Zoom video conferencing, we will lead two 30-minute virtual sessions each day at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Teens can look forward to a Q&A session with a guide dog mobility instructor, a game session, a private Facebook group to keep the fun going through the week and lots more! Presenters include Leader Dog O&M Instructors, Leader Dog guide dog mobility instructors and some special surprise guests! Participants will receive a free LDB Virtual Summer Experience Camp t-shirt and a chance to win other prizes including a Humanware Victor Reader Trek.

To confirm your commitment for this week of fun, please complete the online application by Friday, June 5. You’ll need to check your email regularly after applying for updates and more information!

 Thanks,

 Rachelle

Director of Communications & Marketing
Leader Dogs for the Blind

Here, one more time, and because May 30 is drawing close, is Up-to-date News about Our Upcoming GDUI 2020 Election. Visit our election news page, https://guidedogusersinc.org/category/gdui-2020-election-news/,  to learn more about the process and the candidates, and please plan to participate in our universally accessible 2020 election.

The Board of Directors of Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) is asking GDUI members to vote for the following positions:

President (term ending in 2022)

1^st Vice President (term ending in 2022)

2^nd Vice President (term ending in 2022)

Treasurer (term ending in 2022)

Two Director Seats (term ending in 2023)

The candidates for these positions are:

Candidate for President: Sarah Calhoun, from     Missouri            

Candidate for First Vice President: Maria Hansen (incumbent),    from              New York          

Candidate for Second Vice President: Deb Cook Lewis (incumbent), from              Washington      

Candidate for Treasurer: Maria Kristic, from New York          

Candidates for Director:

Robert Acosta, from California          

Margie Donovan, from California          

There are also two proposed amendments to the GDUI Bylaws to be voted upon during this election.                                       

Proposal 1 of 2: Add the words within brackets – 6.08-2-e_

“(e) Has missed three (3) or more [regular Board] meetings in any twelve month period without being excused.”

Rationale:  Section 6.08(2) deals with grounds for removal of a Director/Officer.  Paragraph (2e) refers to “regular” Board meetings which are scheduled well in advance.  It does not refer to “special” Board meetings which may be called with as little as two (2) days’ notice.

Proposal 2 of 2:  Add the below sentence at the end of 5.10(4):

“In the extraordinary event the Annual GDUI convention does not occur, the aforementioned transition shall take place on July 15in the year of election.” 

Rationale: GDUI needs to be prepared for the smooth transition of leadership under any extraordinary circumstance.

Section 5.10(4) currently reads:

“(4) Except in cases where persons join the Board to fill vacancies, the term of service for all Officers, Directors, or Appointees shall begin at the close of the annual GDUI convention in the year of election and shall end at the close of the annual GDUI convention in the year that elects and qualifies their successors.”

Any current GDUI member may request a copy of the candidate biographies from the Nominations Committee Chair at the following address: director5@guidedogusersinc.org.

The 2020 GDUI Elections will commence Saturday, May 30, 2020 12:00 AM (EDT) and conclude on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 11:59 PM (EDT).

GDUI members who have paid their dues by the record date of April 9, 2020 are eligible to vote in this election. Each member has one vote.

GDUI must receive the votes of fifteen percent of the members entitled to vote in this election, or at least sixty votes, for this election to be valid.

Voting System  

Once again this year VoteNow will be handling our election.  GDUI members will have the option of voting either telephonically or online.

Your old voter ID number will no longer be valid.  Next week, , members will receive new voter ID numbers.  either by e-mail or postcard directly from VoteNow.  Please watch your inboxes and mailboxes for this important information.  No one else at GDUI will have access to your personal ID number so, if you misplace that new number, you may call a designated person at VoteNow to retrieve that information. You will also receive the number for telephonic voting and the link to the online ballot.

Many thanks to this year’s GDUI Nominating Committee:

Dixie Sanderson (Chair)

Cynthia Hawkins

Pauline Lamontagne

Deb Trevino

We hope to spend time with you at Thursday evening’s Candidates’ Forum, and at our Saturday afternoon GDUI Board meeting. Meanwhile, check out all of the amazing opportunities to connect with others on the increasingly expanding menu  of ZOOM calls, have fun planning your participation in the many intriguing activities at the ACB and GDUI Convention, wash your hands, pet your dog instead of touching your face, be well, and stay safe! Thank you for your support and friendship.

Thank you for reading and sharing our Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! We welcome your feedback and your involvement in our organization. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/.

Our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/.

Our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

Download or subscribe to the GDUI Juno Report pod cast here: http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

Support GDUI when you use this link to shop at Amazon.com:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1871119.

To join the GDUI-Announce List, visit this link: http://www.acblists.org/mailman/listinfo/gdui-announce.

To subscribe to the GDUI Chat list, visit this link: chat+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

To subscribe to the (members only) GDUI Business list, visit this link:

business+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

Election News!

Were you there on Saturday for GDUI’s first Candidates’ Forum in the lead-up to our 2020 Election, scheduled to begin on May 30? If you missed it; or if you want to listen again to our candidates’ excellent responses to the questions which members and our Nominating Committee posed; or learn about the two proposed amendments to our bylaws,  which will also be on the ballot; or if you simply want to refresh your memory about how our universally accessible election will proceed, you can listen to the Zoom recording by following the link below. Remember to submit the password when you log in.

Topic: GDUI 2020 Candidate Forum 1

Start Time: Apr 25, 2020 12:52 PM

Meeting Recording:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/1O9_Ea_gyl1LHrPux0HRWOkoNJuiT6a82yYd-vcLnR5mCmg555iJ3UIBhWaj0SwC

Access Password: 2m?Yy=D6

A second Candidates’ Forum will be scheduled on Thursday, May 21, at 8:00 p.m. We will share the Zoom information for that meeting in an announcement which will arrive in your in box closer to that date.

To access our candidates’ biographies and other information submitted to the GDUI Nominating Committee,, to read the full text of our proposed amendments, to remind yourselves of important dates and other election-related information, visit this page on our web site: https://guidedogusersinc.org/category/gdui-2020-election-news/

Convention News!

In case you haven’t heard the news, ACB’s Conference and Convention and GDUI’s 2020 Convention will be held in cyberspace this summer! Here is the statement which the ACB Board of Directors shared with members in late March.

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) Board of Directors voted unanimously to forego its annual conference and convention in Schaumburg, Illinois, amidst the growing concerns about the novel coronavirus crisis. During a special meeting convened by the board on March 30^th, the elected leadership moved to explore ways in which members, partners, and stakeholders can continue to meet virtually through an engaging and enlightening experience.

“The health and safety of our members continue to be the leading voice that has guided us,” said ACB president Dan Spoone. “I’m proud of the thoughtful deliberation each board member gave to this difficult decision and the hard work our team in Alexandria and Minneapolis undertook to assure that the interests of those we serve remain paramount.”

Nonprofits around the country have faced similar challenges these recent weeks, and such difficult decisions have brought forward a wealth of resources and strategies about holding effective virtual conferences. ACB staff and volunteers are committed to assure the experience will pull from these best practices in a manner that is both innovative and accessible.

“While some official business will have to be put on hold, we’ll continue to virtually provide many of the valuable programs and break-out sessions that make the ACB conference and convention the greatest gathering in our country for Americans who are blind and visually impaired,” said ACB executive director Eric Bridges. “The support from our leaders and corporate stakeholders has been overwhelming, and we can’t wait to have them join us for what will be an event that will be forever etched into ACB’s history.”

According to ACB’s constitution and bylaws, official business must be held in person. This means elections and other official matters will be put on hold until the 2021 convention in Phoenix. However, ACB’s convention planning committee is already exploring ways to hold virtual programming, exhibits, special-interest meetings and even door prizes through a variety of innovative formats. For more information on this year’s convention, visit www.acbconvention.org.

GDUI is excited about our virtual convention! Our convention committee has already invited several of the speakers whom we had lined up for presentations in Illinois to present on interesting topics via Zoom and ACB Radio. We are looking forward to welcoming even more guide dog users to our virtual convention – and no one will need to buy a plane ticket or make a hotel reservation. (You can even attend in your jammies! – We won’t care!)

We won’t be exchanging hugs – except for the virtual kind – or hanging out in the guide dog relief area this summer. We’ll have to supply our own luncheon, and there’s no GDUI auction this year. Product sales will be on hold until 2021. But …

Our Summer Raffle is still on!

Her name, which  pays homage to the virtual nature of the convention this year, will cause you to remember the 2020 way of family gatherings, doing business, learning, visiting with friends, and how Charlie gets his dogs to put a move on. She is ready to guide GDUI in to this new decade and her way in to your home and heart!

Introducing Zoom!!

She is a black and tan German shepherd beauty.  About two feet tall, is  in a sitting position with her ears up and mouth open in a big doggie smile. Zoom’s tag has been wood burnt with her name and she has her own leash.  Of course, she proudly wears a magnificent,  hand-crafted, Hava Original  leather  harness!

Getting tickets is the same  as in the past with the exception of in-person sales- there will be none of that!

Important information:

Tickets are 3 for $5 or 7 for $10.

Get them as a gift to yourself or use as gifts for others- These tickets are terrific for all gift giving occasions (Mother’s day, Graduation, Father’s Day, birthdays, appreciation gifts for hosts, thank you gifts for stylists and groomers, don’t forget your in-laws or that impossible to purchase for relative or friend).  Anyone can purchase, so have your friends and family buy some for you if self-gifting is not your style; their ticket purchases increase your  chances and support GDUI all at the same time.  A true WIN WIN all around!

You can purchase by calling Sara Calhoun at 866.799.8436

Or on our website at: https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-raffle-tickets/

(There are some very cute photos of Ms. Zoom on that page, so share with your family and friends – They won’t be able to resist buying some extra tickets and increasing your – or their – chances of bringing Zoom home!)

The winning ticket will be drawn on Tuesday, July 8 during the second session of the program.  Of course, the winner does not need to be attending to win.

We are so grateful to Hava for once again supporting GDUI and creating another Hava Original pup to want and love!

Best,

Your GDUI 2020 Convention Program Planning Team

What’s one more thing we’re not giving up on this summer?  Our Awards, of course!

we plan to honor those special people who support GDUI, who share all the important reasons we love and depend on our dogs in print and audio and other media formats, and who make all our lives with our guide dogs easier and better! Here’s a message from Charlie Crawford, Chair of the GDUI Awards Committee.

Hello fellow GDUI members and friends,

Can anyone think of anything good to say about the Covid-19 virus?  We are all familiar with the saying, when life hands you a lemon, make Lemonade!  Well, Covid-19 has prompted our governments to tell us to stay at home and not go anywhere or collect in groups greater than just a few people.  So where is the Lemonade?  I suspect that most of us are busy on our computers or smart phones and wondering what we might do next?  Well, this is a golden opportunity to nominate someone for the Lieberg-Metz, the Ethel Bender, and – or the GDUI Moffitt – Gleitz Award! 

To help you to do it, I am extending the period for nominations for our awards until May 1, 2020!  Now let’s see what awards are there and how can you submit a nomination?

First there is the Lieberg – Metz Award which honors a person or persons who have greatly influenced our guide dog  working in positive ways!  This award was given last year to Ms. Ann Chiappetta for her publications of poetry and guidance in her written works.  Our first Lieberg – Metz winner was the long Time Braille Forum Editor and GDUI Juno Report pioneer, Mr. Nolan Crabb.

Our second award is the Moffitt – Gleitz Award.  This award is given out to a Blind person(s) who has or have been exemplary in their contributions to the welfare of guide dog teams and deserve the recognition of GDUI for what they have done.  Last year, GDUI honored Mr. James A. Kutsch Jr. for his long life of contributions to the well-being of Blind persons in general and Guide Dog teams in particular.  From his development of the first talking computer to his many years as President of the Seeing Eye Inc, Jim has done nothing less than demonstrate the wonderful contributions that can be made by a really exceptional person.

Lastly, our GDUI Ethel Bender  Award is open to sighted persons who have done so much to assist GDUI in our mission to protect and further the work of our wonderful guides.  Last year’s winner was Ms. Cheryl Lawyer whose many years of service to Blind persons and to Guide Dog puppy raisers and training programs has truly been beneficial to all Guide Dog teams.

Now that you have read about what needs to be done, I know you are asking how does it get done?  Could not be easier!  All you have to do is send me an e-mail to CCrawford@RCN.Com and let me know which award you are nominating who for and your reasons for doing so.  Make sure you have your name and e-mail address in the nomination so I can get back to you, and guess what?  To make it all even easier, I have extended the deadline for submitting the nominations until May 1, 2020 which now gives you an additional few days to get that e-mail to me!

Please do consider who you would like to nominate and we really can use some nominations for the Moffitt – Gleitz and the Lieberg – Metz awards.

I Thank you for reading this and for the nominations you may submit. 

 All my best,

 Charles Crawford: Chair: GDUI Awards Committee.

A Message from Deb! Don’t miss The April GDUI Juno Report! 

So much has happened since our last Juno Report. So we have diverted from our usual format to bring you excerpts from a recent conference call sponsored by GDUI and BPI called Entertaining Your dog. We learned lots of ways to keep your dog motivated and entertained and manageable during this stressful time. More resources were shared than we had time to air, so we’ll be following up on those and sharing in upcoming publications and Juno episodes. Thanks to the 45 or so dogs with their people who attended.

The Juno report airs on ACB Radio Mainstream on Thursdays at 4 and 7 AM/PM and on Sunday at 9PM and Monday at 12AM, 9AM, and 12PM. All times are eastern.

The podcast comes out in about two weeks. Subscribe in Itunes at:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gdui-juno-report/id1107836850

Wags to all of you.

Deb

Have you ever used the Be My Eyes app?

I have used it several times and, each time, found it to be very helpful. Last summer, I called a Be My Eyes volunteer to identify a huge, beautiful flower that surprised me by popping up in front of my house. I’ve called on Be My Eyes several time to ask a volunteer to read me from the package that contained a mysterious entrée from Trader Joe’s. And, once I called to see if what I remembered about the color of my tee shirt was accurate. It wasn’t!

People also call Be My Eyes to get information about a topic they want to know more about. A topic like “Blindness!” That’s how ACB will be assisting Be My Eyes callers.

Here’s an announcement from ACB Executive Director, Eric Bridges:

We are pleased to be bringing ACB onto the Be My Eyes platform as a “Specialized Help” provider. This means that anyone in the US who needs to communicate with an ACB expert can now initiate a video call directly through the Be My Eyes app and have their call routed simultaneously to our team.

This amazing tech is not only going to boost our efficiency in supporting members and prospective members (being able to solve problems faster, in many cases, by looking at them), but it will also allow us to ensure that calls are answered promptly in all cases.

Be My Eyes has a massive global platform and will be communicating our partnership far and wide, so, as one of only a few blindness orgs on the platform, we are leading the way for others. Currently their partners include big names like Google, Microsoft and P&G so we are in good company on the Specialized Help provider list (only visible in the US) and will be visible under the “Blindness Organizations” category on the Specialized Help screen.

We are thrilled to be signing on and hope that this increased connectivity will be of great benefit not only during this difficult remote period, but will go on to show its value in the future as well!

The Seeing Eye offers suggestions to sighted pedestrians to Help guide dog Users maintain a safe distance from other pedestrians while working our dogs! Let’s share this advice far and wide, with family and friends, so that we can all travel safely and flatten the Coronavirus Curve for everyone.

[From: https://morristowngreen.com/2020/03/26/seeing-eye-give-guide-dogs-and-their-masters-extra-distance-during-pandemic/]

Seeing Eye: Give guide dogs and their masters extra distance during pandemic

…The Seeing Eye suggests the following:

• Always remember, distracting a Seeing Eye dog can make its owner vulnerable to harm.
• Guide dogs don’t understand social distancing. Please help keep a safe distance by staying six feet away.
• Please don’t let your pet near a guide dog, even if your pet is leashed. Even allowing your pet to visit or “say hi,” for just a moment, can cause the guide dog to lose focus on the important job he has to do.
• It’s helpful to let a person who is blind know that you are nearby and tell them if you have a dog with you.
• Do not pet the guide dog, call the dog’s name, make eye contact, feed or talk to the dog. It’s always best to treat the dog as if he is not there.
• Do not shout directions, take the person by the arm or interrupt them, especially when they are crossing the street. Always ask the person if they need help first.

Good Advice from Cecelia Warren, GEB grad and disaster-preparedness expert from the Maryland Department of Disabilities: Thanks to Becky Davidson and Cecelia for sharing these Pointers for making Ourselves and our dogs Ready for Emergencies while We Shelter at Home during the pandemic.

1. In addition to frequent hand washing, also wipe down high touch points such as the leash and harness handle. Handlers are constantly touching other surfaces, but we always return to pick up the leash and harness. This advice applies to door knobs, cane grips, remote controls, and other objects you frequently touch.
   In the event that the dog has to stay with a sitter, have a bag packed with essentials- food, bowls, dog medicine, photo of dog (in case the dog goes missing), monthly preventatives, nylabone/toy (optional). Draft, save, print a set of instructions for the sitter. Include veterinarian name, location, contact info.
2. Contact the veterinarian, in advance, and put a credit card on file. If your dog needs treatment or meds while you are in quarantine, your sitter will not be reluctant to call the veterinarian. No worries about who will pay the bill.
3. If your dog’s medications need refill, do it now.
4. Purchase extra dog food now. If additional restrictions are placed on travel, commerce and supply chain interruptions could occur and make it impossible to find.
5. Arrange for possible sitters now, while you are healthy. I know of service dog handlers who live in congregate settings where visitors are not permitted during quarantine or shelter in place. There is no one able to take the service dog out for walks or breaks.
6. Perhaps puppy raisers or puppy sitters in the local region can assist with caring for the guide dog if the handlers family or friends cannot help. Reach out to them through your school or on Facebook. Get to know these wonderful people who volunteer to raise our guide dogs.
7. This is not a formal protocol- but I make these suggestions after many *disasters*. 

I am sure there will be those who don’t want to have their credit card on file with their veterinarian. The credit card does not make one pay for unauthorized charges. My dog is my responsibility. If I asked anyone to care for my dog I would want them to take him to the vet if he became ill. Veterinarians are not like primary care docs that let you pay the balance after your insurance pays their part. Vets need to be paid at time of service. Out of respect for the veterinarian and the puppy sitter- I think it’s a good practice not to make money an issue. Anyway, that’s my spin. Take good care of yourself and try to avoid people for a while.

Accessible COVID-19 Surveys: Share your experiences with people and organizations who need to know our community better!

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is conducting a confidential, real-time online assessment of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on healthcare and healthcare access among persons with a range of disabilities. AAHD has developed the COVID-19 & Disability Survey to collect and analyze that data.

AAHD is asking organizations to share the survey broadly amongst constituents and to encourage members to take it ASAP.

Please use this link (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COVID-19-Disability) in your listservs, newsletters, social media platforms, and other print and electronic dissemination strategies to help reach the most people. The survey will be open from April 17^th, 2020 to May 1^st, 2020.

Make sure your voice is heard by participating in a study investigating experiences of adults who are blind or have low vision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Major community organizations and companies have joined forces to collect feedback on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the lives of adults with visual impairments and to identify solutions for these challenges. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences in the following areas:
• Healthcare
• Transportation
• Employment
• Education
• Social experiences
• Access to meals, food, and supplies
• Voting

Take the survey at:

https://flatteninaccessibility.com/

This survey is open to anyone over age 18 with a visual impairment in the United States.

The World Blind Union (WBU) has developed a short survey to identify challenges faced by blind and partially sighted persons during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

WBU is undertaking this survey to understand how best to advocate for blind and partially sighted persons to ensure that COVID-19 response strategies are inclusive and accessible.

The survey can be completed in less than 20 minutes and it is available in English, French, and Spanish. 

WBU recognizes the unprecedented challenges emerging from this pandemic and is taking the opportunity to learn and establish practical solutions and best practices for the future. We realize that your needs and solutions may vary from country to country and we want to learn from your experiences and define best strategies to overcome the pandemic. We are confident that information and data collected will become a powerful tool for our advocacy efforts among governments, UN agencies and key stakeholders.

Your testimonies will also enable us to understand how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting your day-to-day life. The learnings and practical solutions gathered will be shared widely for the benefit of our community. We want to ensure that your voices are heard, and no one is left behind.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this important survey and circulate it widely to your networks. The survey link is: https://forms.gle/d5NEs7yVPgS14h2Y7

If you encounter any difficulties or accessibility issues while completing the survey, please kindly contact us at info@wbu.ngo. Please also note that we may contact you to follow up on some of your responses.

Thank you in advance for your collaboration.

Terry Mutuku

Communications and Strategic Development Officer

World Blind Union

Survey Time!

Are you looking to find new ways to fill the time during these long shelter-in-place days and nights? Maybe you have overdosed on Netflicks and Disney-Plus? Maybe you need a distraction to keep you from making another quick jaunt across the kitchen floor to open the refrigerator door. Or – even better! – maybe you’re looking for a way to help the researchers and organizations whose missions involve helping those of us who are blind to live better, safer, more fulfilling lives. How about spending some productive time completing several  blindness-related surveys!  

Calling all adult Braille Display users!

I hope you are all safe and sound! This email is an invitation to blind and low-vision adults, age 18 and older, to join me in helping to make Braille displays more useful and life changing by taking this brief 23 question survey. We want to know what annoys you when using Braille Displays. In return you will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon.com gift card.

You have until April 30, 2020,  to complete the survey.

Simply click here to take the survey, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W982W8S.

At Vispero, we want to make innovative solutions that change lives! To do so, we believe we need to listen to our users and understand their needs. Therefore this is your chance to tell us what improvements need to be made in Braille displays! Your input is directly shared with designers and project managers, and will be integrated into our products.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help us make products that change lives! Please stay safe!

 Joel Persinger

UX Manager

17757 US Hwy 19 N #560, Clearwater, FL 33764

T: 727.803.8000

JPersinger@vispero.com

www.vispero.com

HELP US IMPROVE YOUR EXPERIENCE OF ACCESSIBLE ONLINE SHOPPING

Hello,
We’re master students at the University of Washington doing a research
project looking into blind and/or visually impaired people’s
experience with online shopping activities. We want to know what’s
working well and what needs improvement. We need your help!

What participants are we looking for?
Our ideal participants are those who identify as blind or visually
impaired and have done online shopping previously.

What will I be doing in a study?
We will conduct a phone or Zoom online interview. We are going to ask
you some questions mainly related to your shopping experience.

How long will it take?
The session will take about 45 minutes.

Will I be compensated for participation?
We will offer a $15 Visa Gift Card as compensation to show our
gratitude for your participation.

How will the transcript of the interview be used?
We understand this is a sensitive topic. We want to ensure that any
collected information will be anonymized and is only for our research
project.

How do I sign up?
If you’re interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach
out to Yagmur by email at yerten@uw.edu or text/call at 202-390-3275.

Dear friends in blindness, 

As part of a collaborative research project, our small NYU-based team is recruiting interview participants to discuss different aspects of web development with a screen reader. Specifically, we would like to interview blind adults that have some web development experience (novice to expert welcome). Interviews will be conducted via zoom and will take no more than one hour. Participants will receive 25$ Amazon eGift Cards as honorarium. If you are interested, please contact Claire Kearney-Volpe at claire.kv@nyu.edu.

 Kindly, 

 Claire Kearney-Volpe and Chancey Fleet

Study on mentoring and career advancement

 My name is Tonika L. East, and I am a doctoral student in Leadership and Professional Practice at Trevecca Nazarene University. I am conducting an online study investigating mentoring and career advancement for individuals with blindness and/or visual impairments (B/VI) and how mentoring relationships affect employment outcomes. I am looking for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, over the age of 18 and who have held at least one job, to participate in my study.

This study consists of an online survey, which should take you about 30 minutes to complete. All of your responses will be anonymous and confidential. There will be an additional opportunity at the end of the online survey to participate in a follow-up focus group or interview.

To begin the study, please go to: https://www.research.net/r/blindmentor

If you have any questions before, during or after the study, feel free to contact me at 615.568.2613 or by email at tleast@trevecca.edu.

 Thank you in advance for your participation in my doctoral research project.

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University invite you to participate in a survey  as part of research on supporting navigation and orientation by people with vision impairments. For this study, participants will be asked to complete a 30- minute survey about their navigation experiences. To be eligible to participate, you must be blind or visually impaired, at least 18 years old, a US resident, and navigate to somewhere new at least once per month.  Participants who complete the survey will be compensated $10. Participation is completely voluntary.

More information about the survey, and the survey itself, can be found at this link:

https://cmu.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4VF2uspshol3p4h?fbclid=IwAR3yK2LZs_EOCbYf0rKpGjEBLuHGoqbweDxuS55BChHx46HekJO_pu_n6ao

Risks

The risks and discomfort associated with participation in this study are no greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during other online activities.

Benefits

There may be no personal benefit from your participation in the study, but the knowledge received may be of value to humanity. The knowledge received from this study could help researchers better understand how to design interactive tactile ground surface indicators.

Compensation & Costs

You will receive $10 for your successful completion of the survey for this study. The payment will be made available as an Amazon gift card that can be redeemed. 

There will be no cost to you if you participate in this study.

Right to Ask Questions & Contact Information

 If you have any questions about this study, you should feel free to ask them by contacting the Principal Investigator now at Patrick Carrington, Assistant Professor, Human-Computer Interaction Institute, 407 S. Craig Street, Room 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Phone: (412) 268-6541, Email: pcarrington@cmu.edu. If you have questions later, desire additional information, or wish to withdraw your participation please contact the Principal Investigator by mail, phone or e-mail in accordance with the contact information listed above. 

Dogs join fight against COVID-19 by learning how to detect the virus

[From: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/dogs-join-fight-against-covid-19-b
y-learning-how-to-detect-the-virus-1.4893325] Published Sunday, April 12, 2020 9:52PM EDT

TORONTO — A British charity which has successfully trained dogs to detect
malaria is now attempting to train their canine sniffers to detect COVID-19.

Medical Detection Dogs, a charity in London, U.K. has partnered with the
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to initiate trials that will
train dogs how to sniff out the coronavirus

Dr. Claire Guest, the behavioural psychologist behind the charity, told CTV
News she is confident in these canines’ ability to help combat the spread of
the virus.

“We already train dogs in the past. absolutely no reason why a dog can’t
detect the virus,” Guest said.

Four years ago, CTV News’ Sandie Rinaldo saw first-hand how these dogs are
trained to detect serious illnesses such as prostate cancer, Parkinson’s
disease and malaria.

Kiwi, a three-year-old golden retriever at the time, showed his skills by
sniffing various negative samples of a patient with prostate cancer and one
positive sample. Within minutes, Kiwi stopped and
attentively sat in front of the positive sample.

Kiwi and other dogs in the program have been trained to be more than 80 per
cent accurate. The same structure of trial is being used to teach dogs how
to sniff human samples that have been treated in
advance for COVID-19.

“The person will be breathing out, there’ll be a lot of odour around the
body that the dog can detect, the dog has to learn that smell,” said Guest.

Upon successful trials, Guest said the dogs will be vital in detecting those
who have the virus but are not exhibiting symptoms, which could be extremely
useful when screening travellers entering the U.K.

The U.K. has faced several weeks of lockdown already, with more than 85,000
cases of the virus, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who
spent a few days in the ICU earlier this week, but
has since been released.

Research into whether dogs can sniff out COVID-19 is based on previous
research into dogs’ ability to sniff out malaria and is based on a belief
that each disease triggers a distinct odour. (AFP)

More Help with Zoom

Hello. So many of us are spending more time in our homes. Some of us may be working from home while others, though they may not currently be employed, are using their technology even more. So many individuals and organizations are hosting conferences using the Zoom Cloud Meetings platform. Many people are receiving invitations to these conferences and are finding themselves using Zoom for the first time. While Zoom is very accessible with screen readers, there’s still a lot to learn, and many of us have questions that we would like answers to. 

To that end I have created a mailing list for people to ask questions and to provide support on how to use the Zoom program. I currently have just two rules that I’d like all users to follow. 

1. All messages should be relevant to Zoom. This can include Zoom on Windows, Mac, iOS or Android. 
2. Harassment or rudeness of any kind will not be tolerated. 

To join the group, send an email to 

zoom-users+subscribe@groups.io

To send a message to the group the email address to use is 

zoom-users@groups.io

Happy Zooming! 

David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org

We hope you have enjoyed our fourth issue of “Paws for GDUI News You Can Use.” Remember, this is your magazine, if you are a guide dog user, whether a member of a guide dog team or just beginning to think about getting a guide dog of your own, our goal is to reach out to you, add to your knowledge about living and working with guide dogs, answer your questions, keep you interested, and to make you feel included as a member of the largest guide dog-related membership organization in the United States. We welcome your submissions and your feedback! Send e-mail to us here: Editor@Guidedogusersinc.org. Or, call our office, and Sarah will help you get in touch with us by phone.

We know that these anxiety-filled days and nights are hard for you and your dog. They’re hard on us, and on Anders and Willow too. We enjoyed our community conference call on the topic of Keeping Our Dogs Entertained During Shelter-at-Home. If you missed it, do check it out on the April GDUI Juno Report! And, make plans to attend future GDUI calls. We’re planning another call, this one focusing on grooming our dogs while sheltering at home. Watch our web site and our lists for an announcement regarding time and Zoom access, and look for our call listed on ACB Community Conference Calls schedules. The number of ACB community calls continues to expand, as does the diversity of topics. The calls, offered many times during day time and evening hours, offer a wonderful opportunity to connect with others who are blind and visually impaired. Often it is connections like these that help all of us get through troubled times.

Visit this page on ACB’s web site to learn more about upcoming calls, and to subscribe to the list where Zoom access information is shared for daily scheduled calls: https://acb.org/ACB-community-conference-calls .

We want to highlight one more upcoming GDUI event, and that involves our up-to-date guide dog school surveys! We expect to have the updated surveys online within the next couple of weeks. Vickie Curley, our Guide Dog Schools Liaison, and Cynthia Hawkins and Dixie Sanderson, both GDUI Board members, spent countless hours contacting, re-contacting, and sometimes re-re-contacting guide dog schools and training programs to assure that the information we publish is updated and reliable! When the schools open for business again, the surveys will be so valuable for helping us compare the various programs and approaches to training so that, when we’re ready for a new guide dog, we can choose the training program that’s the best match for our personal preferences and needs. The data collection is complete, the spread sheets have been created, and we expect to be handing the documents to Steve for uploading to our web site within the next week or two.

Thank you for reading and sharing our Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! We welcome your feedback and your involvement in our organization. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/.

Our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/.

Our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

Download or subscribe to the GDUI Juno Report pod cast here: http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

Support GDUI when you use this link to shop at Amazon.com:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1871119.

To join the GDUI-Announce List, visit this link: http://www.acblists.org/mailman/listinfo/gdui-announce.

To subscribe to the GDUI Chat list, visit this link: chat+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

To subscribe to the (members only) GDUI Business list, visit this link:

business+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

From the President: Coronavirus and Us

As I think about the nightmare that virtually every one of us is living through while the outbreak of COVID-19 expands exponentially all across the world and the number of related deaths increases with every morning tally, I feel like everything I might say has already been voiced by all of us, in every headline, at the center of every waking or sleeping  nightmare, in conversations with family members and friends, parents and siblings and children… What else can I say that will help us cope, that can unravel how we could have arrived at this terrifying point in our history, that can quell the waves of panic that take our breath away and cloud our judgment and assault our spirit. How can GDUI offer any kind of helpful perspective, or strategy, or comfort?

Like all of you, I am overwhelmed. Like all of you, I do all that I can to keep myself and my family and those whom I care about safe. We all wash our hands incessantly. Armed with spray disinfectant and sanitizing wipes, we clean in ways that would make rehab teachers proud. We shelter in place and ask our guide dogs to declare work holidays and shelter along with us. We fight against despair, struggle to find hope, and want to reach out to every one we love and wrap all of you in cloaks of immunity.

Doing our best to provide help and support to all of you, Andrea and I have included many announcements and several articles and links to articles about the pandemic. We hope that the information we share here is helpful. The only other thing to say is that we will be brave, as we know all of you, and especially all of our guide dogs, will, and  we will tell one another more often than we might have even a month ago, that we care. We treasure our relationships with you, and we want you, and everyone you love, to be well, and safe.

Sincerely,

Penny

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Sheltering in Place: Distractions, Diversions, Advice, and Suggestions

We are all in various situations that involve sheltering in place. If you are a person deemed essential, because the job you do support those of us who are staying in to keep as many people as possible safe and to flatten the curve, we have so much gratitude for your heroism and dedication to the survival of our communities. Thank you. We are praying for your safety and well being.

If you and your guide dog are sheltering in place, yourselves, we have some suggestions that will, we hope, help you manage these long days and nights of enforced social distancing.

You could, for example, attend and participate in our March GDUI board meeting. We welcome your attendance and your interest in the work we do to support guide dog users and their dogs and make life better for everyone in our community. And, our board meeting could serve as a diversion, at least for a couple of hours! Here’s the Zoom invitation to our meeting. We hope you’ll come and join us.

Guide Dog Users, Inc. is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

 Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

Time: Mar 28, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/562675137

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,562675137# US (New York)

+13126266799,,562675137# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

+1 253 215 8782 US

+1 301 715 8592 US

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adkoW2kadE

Keeping our Guide Dogs Entertained and Interested as We Shelter in Place: An Opportunity to Share, in an Online and Telephonic Conversation with Guide Dog Users from Across the Country!

hosted by Guide Dog users Inc. and Blind LGBT Pride International

Tuesday, March 31, 8:00 PM eT, 5:00 PM PT and 2:00 PM HT

To join the call visit: https://zoom.us/j/2064346480

One tap mobile: 16699006833,,2064346480#

Phone: 669 900 6833       

Meeting ID: 206 434 6480#

We’ve been talking about all kinds of strategies for humans as we cope with the virus, but what about our guide dogs? Do you and they have the resources you need to keep things going? How is your dog coping with the new routine and new environment? Come share your resources and challenges, ask questions, receive tips from our panel and others on the call. We know your dog wants you to come, so gather up your leash, some toys and some treats and join us Tuesday evening! Oh and bring some friends — canine or human — All are welcome.

The call will be recorded and will be edited to include as part of the April GDUI Juno Report, so don’t worry if you can’t make it, but we hope you can!

Tuesday Topics Returns to ACB Radio with Discussion of the NovelCorona Virus from a Blindness Perspective.

Here’s a message from Paul Edwards, long-time host of Tuesday Topics. We’re so glad the show is back on ACB Radio, and we encourage all of you to join Paul and others who are blind in this timely discussion.

Paul’s message:

The first show will be about our experience with the virus. However, we want to focus on how blind people are equipped to cope with the pandemic. What advantages do we as blind people have dealing with the virus? What disadvantages operate for us? What could make coping easier? What are we most concerned about from the perspective of people who are
blind?

These are just some of the questions that we will explore when Tuesday Topics once again takes to the net. We will be using Zoom and we will be live! Try to get to the meeting by 7:45 so we have an idea of who is with us before we go live on ACB mainstream. I am overjoyed to have Rick Morin as my co-host for this series. Without him, this wouldn’t be happening!

Zoom allows folks to call in using their computers, using an app on their mobile phones or dialing in using either a mobile phone or a land line. If you are using your computer, go to  https://zoom.us/j/726965427. If you have downloaded the zoom app on your mobile phone you can join the meeting using the app  by opening the app and then by going to join meeting and then typing in the code 726965427. Then go to join again and double tap it. You will then be given the opportunity to connect using internet audio. Double tap that and you are connected. Make sure your audio is not muted and please use a head set so there isn’t a lot of feedback as you listen! Either using your mobile phone or a land line you can connect just as if you were dialing into a regular conference call. There are several available call in numbers but I will include only two; one from New York and one from California.

These should get you in. From New York dial 929.436.2866 and enter the code 726965427 followed by the pound key. You may be asked for another code but just hit the pound key again and you will be joined into the meeting. The same approach applies to the California number which is 669.900.6833 and the code is 726965427 followed by the pound key. After that, if you need to, hit pound again and you will be with us. Keep these numbers because they will apply to future Tuesday Topic shows every Tuesday. If you just want to listen, you can hear us on ACB Mainstream every Tuesday at 8 PM Eastern time with a repeat at 8 AM on Wednesdays and at other times during the week which will be announced on the ACB radio schedule. . Join us on March 31 at 8 PM East  tern daylight time or by 7:45 if you want to participate with us! Your opinion is a valuable resource! Share it!
Paul Edwards 

Support and Advice from ACB

At a time when our country is in a state of social distancing and government ordered or personal self-isolating, your ACB family has opportunities for you to connect with others from the comfort of your home.

 Here’s a list of ACB-affiliate-sponsored conference calls that are scheduled for up-coming days and evenings. Stay in touch with your ACB community, and please share this information widely with blind and visually impaired people you know, whether or not they are members of ACB or GDUI. We are all in this extraordinary situation together!.

 Saturday, March 28 – 8pm ET, 5pm PT, 2pm HT

Join Blind Information Technology Specialists for their Saturday night chat. These chats are informal opportunities for members and friends to get together and visit about whatever participants want to talk about. To join the call, visit https://zoom.us/j/356588666 or dial (646) 558-8656 and enter 356588666# as the meeting ID. You can also tap +16465588656,,356588666# to dial directly from your mobile device.

Saturday, March 28 – 9pm ET, 6pm PT, 3pm HT

Join President, Dan Spoone and Executive, Director Eric Bridges for a sports chat. At a time when so many major sports activities have been postponed, bring your beverage of choice and let’s get together and share our favorite sports memory, a prediction of a trade or who will win the next World Series, Super Bowl, or Kentucky Derby, and anything else on your mind. To join the call, visit https://zoom.us/j/412324476 or dial (929) 436-2866 and enter 412324476# as the meeting ID. You can also tap +19294362866,,412324476# to dial directly from your mobile device.      

Sunday, March 29 – 8pm ET, 5pm PT, 2pm HT

Join the Audio Description Project for an audio description round table. Let’s discuss where and what to watch with audio description. To join the call, visit https://zoom.us/j/731346634 or dial (929) 436-2866 and enter 731346634# as the meeting ID. You can also tap +19294362866,,731346634# to dial directly from your mobile device.

Monday, March 30 – 8:30pm ET, 5:30pm PT, 2:30pm HT

Listen in on ACB Radio to the special meeting of the ACB Board of Directors as they discuss the current impact of COVID-19 on, and make decisions concerning, our upcoming ACB Conference and Convention. Listen via ACB Radio over the phone at 605-475-8130 or online at www.acbradio.org.

To access a schedule of up-coming conference calls, as well as useful information for coping with the pandemic, visit this updated-in-real-time link on ACB’s web site:

https://acb.org/ACB-community-conference-calls.

We look forward to connecting with you!

New to Zoom? Check out this basic demo of the Zoom platform from Mystic Access:

https://www.mysticaccess.com/download/demo-of-the-zoom-conferencing-platform/

Mosen Consulting is offering a free audiobook for those who use or are interested in the remote meeting capabilities of Zoom.
Mosen’s book, “Meet Me Accessibly, a guide to Zoom Cloud Meetings from a blindness perspective”, is available for free using the link below. According to the page, “Meet Me Accessibly is a three-hour audiobook, written and narrated by Jonathan Mosen. It takes you from the basics of attending your first Zoom meeting, all the way to content sharing of your video and audio from a computer or iDevice.”

Zoom’s free plan allows for 2-person meetings, and multi-person meetings of up to 40 minutes. Pro plans start at around $15 per user per month and enable advanced sharing and moderation features.

Source: https://mosen.org/zoom/ 

Read Your Way Through Shelter in Place!

We’ll bet that one strategy you’re already adopting to get through these long evenings of distancing ourselves from others is reading. Right? ACB’S Blind LGBT Pride international is sponsoring a virtual book club of sorts that will allow us to share with one another our recommendations for books well worth downloading from BookShare, the NLS, Audible.com, Kindle, or any number of venues for accessible books. . Here’s what you need to know about attending the Monday, March 30, meeting:

Come one… Come on to our spring book share!
As in the past, be. P. I. Is the leader in social gathering virtual book discussion/shares… And our upcoming spring book share will be better than ever!

We will share interesting reads… Discuss interesting books… And generally be there to have some amazing discussion about how to occupy our time
Join us Monday night for the BPI book party!
Do you love us for our  fun, friendly, and informative events?  Then, you will love our book discussion!

Blind LGBT Pride international is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Blind LGBT Pride international’s Spring 2020 BookShare
Time: Mar 30, 2020 09:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/496009974
Meeting ID: 496 009 974

One tap mobile
+13126266799,,496009974# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,496009974# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
 +1 301 715 8592 US
Meeting ID: 496 009 974
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aWKeROkhHy

More BookSharing Resources!

Bookshare’s  collection development team has put together three special collections of books that are freely available to all people, even if they are not now BookShare members. Please feel free to help spread the word:

• Free Books for All! – a collection of 208 fiction and non-fiction books of varying grade levels
• Free Upskilling Books for All! – a collection of upskilling books for anyone who is looking to learn a new skill, prepare to go back to school, or switch careers. This collection has 147 titles.  (Particularly relevant in this economic climate.)
• Free Children’s Books for All! This is a collection of young reader books (grades 2 and below). There are 43 books in this collection. (Great for story time with younger kids being homeschooled).

An Announcement from National Braille Press Concerning Coronavirus-Related Closing and Free Digital Downloads to Help You Shelter in Place

National Braille Press’s offices are now closed until at least April 7th, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Orders of physical books, products, and ReadBooks book bags will not be processed or mailed until at least April 7th. (Email agrima@nbp.org with any concerns about orders.) Digital downloads from the bookstore will still be available during the closure.

Our sales department is available to take braille for business orders and we are gladly accepting donations online and over the phone, at 617.425.2415.

Please visit our operations update page for more details and updates.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in these difficult times.

Free downloads of three NBP titles

To help with some of the practical challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’re offering free digital downloads of three relevant books, between now and April 30th: 

Dinner Delivered: Accessible and Easy Ways to Receive Meals Direct to Your Door
by Kim Loftis and Chris Grabowski

Getting Visual Assistance with an iPhone
by Judith Dixon

Navigating Healthcare, When All They Can See Is that You Can’t
by Deborah Kendrick

Downloadable formats include DAISY, BRF, and Microsoft Word. Hard copy versions of these books are also available at half price. Find help and information on downloading and using these files on our Customer Service FAQs page.

If you or someone that you know could benefit from one or all of these guides, please share this announcement with them!

DAISY Consortium Support during the Pandemic:

The DAISY Consortium along with leaders in the accessible publishing and reading ecosystem will be presenting on a diverse range of topics each week. You are invited to participate in the live webinars, or afterwards review the recording at your convenience. The system we use (Zoom) is accessible, and both the live sessions and the recordings will have captions available.

These webinars will include presentations intended for industry events such as the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference in California, the London Book Fair, the Canadian Tech Forum event, as well new sessions covering announcements and innovations.

You can sign up for the latest information using our webinar only email list at: https://daisy.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35211fe5dce066db327cadb21&id=c0c0c0f413&e=d1a57669b9

The presentation topics will change each week. If a topic is of interest you can sign up using the link located below the title.

The first webinar, which will be held on April 1, 2020 is titled “Helping Higher Ed Students with access to accessible course material during the COVID-19 crisis” exploring some of the innovative considerations the industry is making to support students at this challenging time.
https://daisy.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35211fe5dce066db327cadb21&id=6d5c25a035&e=d1a57669b9

April 8, 2020 will be “Publishers Faceoff to Prove the Accessibility of their titles.”
https://daisy.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35211fe5dce066db327cadb21&id=5ef8116421&e=d1a57669b9

April 15, 2020 will be “Create EPUB publications from Word with a simple tool anyone can use”
https://daisy.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35211fe5dce066db327cadb21&id=ed4aa4d471&e=d1a57669b9

April 22, 2020 will be “Making Math Accessible, One Step at a Time”
https://daisy.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35211fe5dce066db327cadb21&id=82d339151c&e=d1a57669b9

The full list of forthcoming and archived webinars will be available at:
https://daisy.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35211fe5dce066db327cadb21&id=273052c718&e=d1a57669b9

DAISY will be keeping this webinar series running throughout 2020 as a primary mechanism to keep people up to date on developments in accessible publishing and reading. We encourage anybody with a question, suggestion, or a proposal for a webinar to contact us at:
https://daisy.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35211fe5dce066db327cadb21&id=733a99a07e&e=d1a57669b9
or email us at webinars@daisy.org
The DAISY staff will review proposals and arrange the schedule.

We look forward to receiving your feedback.
The DAISY Consortium.

Audible.com Makes hundreds of children’s titles available free to families quarantined by the Coronavirus pandemic. Genres are tailored to elementary, tween, teen, and adult listeners, as well as preschoolers. Audible has eliminated all log-in or sign-up requirements. All available titles can be accessed via desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet at stories.audible.com.

More Information and Supports for You During Shelter-in-Place

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Pets

Thanks to GDUI First Vice President, Maria Hansen, and our New York GDUI affiliate, for sharing this helpful information from the Animal Medical Center website: amcny.org

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Pets

Last updated: 3/6/20, 4:35pm EST

At the Animal Medical Center, we’re closely monitoring the current COVID-19 outbreak and what it means for our companion animals. We will update this page with relevant information as it becomes available, however, we recommend checking trusted government agencies for the latest updates.

Recommended Sources and Articles:

Centers for Disease Control

World Health Organization

New York Times | Coronavirus and Your Dog: No Need to Panic Yet

Can COVID-19 infect companion animals?

Short Answer: It’s unclear.

A dog in Hong Kong tested “weak positive” for COVID-19, suggesting that human-to-animal transmission might be possible. However, there is still a lot that’s unknown, and the lack of other positive results in companion animals makes it hard for researchers to answer this question definitively.

So far, the dog in Hong Kong has shown no clinical signs of infection. The dog’s owner had previously tested positive for COVID-19, and it’s believed the dog’s virus came from the owner. At this time, it’s unclear whether the dog can spread the disease or if transmission stops with the dog.

As a precaution with any infectious disease, infected humans should isolate themselves from their pets as they would with any other family member and follow the hygiene and preventive measures described below.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted by companion animals?

Short Answer: It’s highly unlikely.

At this point, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread from an infected companion animal to a human. However, the virus is thought to spread by contact with contaminated surfaces (which can include your pet’s fur/nose/tongue), so please follow the hygiene and preventive measures described below.

How can I protect my pet?

Since there’s no vaccine for the new coronavirus, preventive steps and preparation are the best ways to protect yourself and your pet.

Practice good hygiene to stay healthy

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds and be sure to get the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Wash your hands after touching or playing with your pets. While there is no evidence at this time that pets can spread the coronavirus, washing hands after interacting with animals is always a good idea.   

When you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home when you aren’t feeling well.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces you touch often.

Create an emergency plan for your pet

Have a two-week supply of your pet’s food on hand in case you’re not able to get to the store.

Create a list of the medications your pet takes, including dosages and administration instructions. Make sure you have enough medication for at least two weeks.

Identify a trusted relative, friend, or sitter who will help care for your pet if you become ill and cannot care for your pet for a period of time.

Make sure your pet is microchipped and wearing up-to-date identification tag.

If you contract COVID-19

Restrict contact with your pet, just as you would other people.

Avoid direct contact with pets, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food.

Avoid sneezing or coughing on or near your pet.

If you must care for your pet while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact and wear a face mask.

Social Security Offices Closed

Effective March 17, 2020, Social Security Offices Will Only Offer Phone Service

** Online Services Remain Available **

All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  This decision protects the population we serve—older Americans and people with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  However, we are still able to provide critical services.

Our secure and convenient online services remain available at www.socialsecurity.gov.  Local offices will also continue to provide critical services over the phone.  We are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local governments, and other experts to monitor COVID-19 and will let you know as soon as we can resume in-person service. 

If you need help from Social Security:                                                   

• First, please use our secure and convenient online services available at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. You can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, check the status of an application or appeal, request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas), print a benefit verification letter, and much more – from anywhere and from any of your devices.  We also have a wealth of information to answer most of your Social Security questions online, without having to speak with a Social Security representative in person or by phone. Please visit our online Frequently Asked Questions at www.socialsecurity.gov/ask.

 

• If you cannot conduct your Social Security business online, please check our online field office locator for specific information about how to directly contact your local office.  Your local office still will be able to provide critical services to help you apply for benefits, answer your questions, and provide other services over the phone.

 

• If you already have an in-office appointment scheduled, we will call you to handle your appointment over the phone instead.  If you have a hearing scheduled, we will call you to discuss alternatives for continuing with your hearing, including offering a telephonic hearing.  Our call may come from a PRIVATE number and not from a U.S. Government phone.  Please remember that our employees will not threaten you or ask for any form of payment. 

 

• If you cannot complete your Social Security business online, please call our National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).  Our National 800 Number has many automated service options you can use without waiting to speak with a telephone representative.  A list of automated telephone services is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/agency/contact/phone.html.

Vispero/Freedom Scientific Steps Up To Help!

Your health and safety are just as important to us as accessibility.
We know many of you must remain at home and will need to continue to work or
attend school remotely. To ensure that your life remains accessible we are
offering those in the US and Canada a Free Home License of JAWS, ZoomText,
or Fusion which will expire June 30, 2020.

For those outside of North America, Freedom Scientific and our international
distributors are working together to provide home solutions for our
customers during the COVID-19 crisis. Please contact your country’s
distributor if you need assistance connecting to school or work from home.
Learn more: https://portal.freedomscientific.com/SponsoredSoftware

Is my email eligible to download a license?

Type your college email address and choose Search to see if you qualify. If
you don’t have a college email address, then provide your personal email
address.

Types of Sponsored Licenses
Educational institutions in the United States with up-to-date multi-user
licenses of JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion, are qualified. All students, faculty,
and staff with an active email address are entitled to receive free home
annual licenses for their personally owned equipment.

In addition, special licenses have been created to assist students and
workers who must remain home during the COVID-19 crisis. A free short-term
Home Annual License of JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion (expires June 30, 2020) is
available to anyone with a personal email address in the United States and
Canada.

These products require either a Microsoft Windows 10 or 7 operating system.
Remote desktop and Citrix support are not provided. Contact Freedom
Scientific Customer Service at 727-803-8000 with any questions.

A Message from AFB Concerning Their Cancelled Leadership Conference: Listen to Selected Sessions Online.

Despite having to cancel our 2020 AFB Leadership Conference, we at AFB know that knowledge sharing is vital to our community. To that end, we are thrilled to make a select portion of our conference available, free of charge, through a series of online seminars. We’re beginning with key sessions from the 2020 AFB Leadership Conference, which will now be hosted as a mini virtual event.  

We’re so grateful to Dr. Rachael Sessler Trinkowsky for providing the first virtual session, sharing her expertise on providing remote instruction to students who are blind or low vision—a critical topic now that so many schools and organizations are moving their classes online.

We miss our AFBLC community, but we look forward to connecting online at the Virtual AFB Leadership Conference.    

Save the Date: 

“Remote Instruction and Services for Blind and Low Vision Participants”
Presented by Dr. Rachael Sessler Trinkowsky,
Technology Training and Vocational Coordinator at the Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches, Florida

Wednesday, April 1, 1:00 p.m. Eastern 

Register for the Zoom Meeting:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8_OTOq_-SkGGlNTOLcYBoQ?utm_source=AFB&utm_campaign=9e77296145-afblc2020-virtual-events&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ec813cd965-9e77296145-165282813 

We will be adding new sessions to afb.org/AFBLC once a week

Refreshments – especially those that can help us get out of bed in the morning and keep us on-task when there’s work to be done and decisions to be made – are important even, maybe especially, during Shelter-in-Place. And, it’s also helpful to plan for future happiness as we wait to return to normal times and concerns. That’s why news of this Top Dog 2021 Fund-raiser comes at the perfect time!

Missouri Guide Dog Users has teamed up with White Cane Coffee for a fundraiser! All proceeds will go towards Top Dog 2021, to be held in St. Louis, Missouri!

White Cane Coffee was started by a blind woman and brothers who are on the autistic scale. They provide work for blind and disabled individuals in their community. All coffee products are labeled in both braille and print.

By using the link below to place your order, proceeds will go to Missouri Guide Dog Users! (And, you won’t even have to leave the safety of your home to place your order.)

https://whitecanecoffee.com/ref/plm3645/

Thank you for supporting our fundraiser for Top Dog 2021! Enjoy your coffee!

 Kind regards,

Missouri Guide Dog Users

Email: topdog2021.information@gmail.com 

April 6! That’s the Last Day You Can Submit Your Comments Regarding the Rules That Will Allow Us to Fly with Our Guide Dogs.

The Department of Transportation Notice of Proposed Rule Making Regarding Flying with Service Animals: Your Comments Are Important! 

GDUI’s Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Committee and our Board of Directors have worked hard over recent weeks to prepare comments to send to the U. S. Department of Transportation regarding the Notice of Proposed Rule Making concerning dogs that will be permitted to fly onboard planes. We submitted GDUI’s comments on February 20 , and, equally important, we urge all of you to submit your own comments on the proposed rules. We cannot overstate how important it is for our community to respond to the proposed rules. According to spokespersons from the U. S. Department of Transportation, over 10,000 comments have already been submitted. The regulators need to hear from each of us, as well! The deadline for submitting comments is April 6. To read our comments and learn how to submit your own, visit this link:  https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-provides-comments-regarding-u-s-department-of-transportation-notice-of-proposed-rule-making-docket-no-dot-ost-2018-0068/

When you post your own comments, please identify yourself as a guide dog user. Use your own words. We are sharing our comments to provide guidance. Sharing your personal experiences, your individual misgivings about the proposed rules you don’t agree with, and your passion for the guide dogs who allow us to travel independently and add so much to our lives: All of these aspects of the comments you share will help regulators to understand our concerns and the priority we place on our civil right to fly, unburdened and unencumbered, with our guide dogs.

More Readings to Share.

From Your Editor

Hello,
Here’s hoping you are staying  safe, sane and smart!  It can be so difficult to stay calm and reasonable in one’s thinking with the ever changing world we currently live in.  Speaking for myself there are times, with the constant news updates and seeming lack of any other conversation topic, when I struggle to keep, what I call, the COVID Crazy at bay.

I encourage you to stay centered, if not for yourself then for the sake of your guide.  My big yellow fellow is uncertain enough as our daily work together is changing and we have fewer visitors- so he doesn’t need to deal with  my stress level going off the charts too, at least not 24-7!.

There are many opportunities for connection through new, and existing, conference calls, Zoom gatherings, and other group Distance events- so pull up a spot on the floor, cuddle your guide and join in, I even hear pants are optional!
Warmly,’

Andrea

Emotional support animals can endanger the public and make life harder for people like me who rely on service dogs

March 2, 2020 7.19am EST

Deni Elliott, University of South Florida

[Editor’s Note: We are pleased to include this informative article from our life member, Deni Elliott. The article is found here: https://theconversation.com/emotional-support-animals-can-endanger-the-public-and-make-life-harder-for-people-like-me-who-rely-on-service-dogs-131122. We welcome your opinions in response.]

In 2017, Marlin Jackson boarded a cross-country flight. When he got to his row, another passenger was already in the middle seat with an emotional support dog in his lap.

According to Mr. Jackson’s attorney, “The approximately 50-pound dog growled at Mr. Jackson soon after he took his seat…and continued as Mr. Jackson attempted to buckle his seatbelt. The growling increased and the dog lunged for Mr. Jackson’s face…who could not escape due to his position against the plane’s window.” Facial wounds requiring 28 stitches were the result.

Untrained emotional support dogs don’t just attack people. They attack highly trained service dogs, as well, sometimes ending their working lives.

I can relate. I am a visually impaired person partnering with my fourth guide dog over a 20-year period. In the past decade, I have increasingly needed to cope with clueless handlers allowing their pets to interfere with my dog’s work.

As a professor of ethics, I teach students to consider first the needs of the most vulnerable. I wish I could teach the same lesson to those who risk public safety with their ill-trained dogs, most of whom are emotional support animals, a category not recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Dogs, dogs, dogs

Over the past decade, purported emotional support animals have increasingly appeared in stores, restaurants and airports. While peacocks, pigs and kangaroos make the headlines, almost all the animals found in no-pet zones are dogs. Dog biting, barking, growling, urinating and defecating are top complaints, with one airline reporting an 84% increase in dog-related incidents from 2016-2018.

The influx of inappropriate dogs has also generated unwarranted suspicion toward the approximately 10,000 Americans who, like me, partner with legitimate, trained guide dogs.

Animal public access in the U.S. is currently governed by a

patchwork system of inconsistent laws, creating confusion for people with disabilities, citizens and, particularly, gatekeepers – the store managers, restaurant owners and building supervisors tasked with deciding which dogs should be allowed in their no-pet spaces.

In other countries, IDs are issued only to professionally trained service dogs who have demonstrated ability to behave in public. In the U.S., there is no such validation. As a result, pet owners have become increasingly brazen in fraudulently claiming their animals warrant legal public access.

Service dogs versus emotional support animals

The Department of Justice, which enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act, allows people with physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or mental impairments to have public access with service dogs who have been individually trained to perform tasks that mitigate their owners’ disabilities.

The Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development allow service dogs on public transportation and in housing, respectively, but also grant access to people with mental and emotional disorders accompanied by emotional support animals – untrained animals who need only to contribute to their owners’ emotional well being, as any good pet would.

Technically, the individual seeking access with an emotional support animal must have certification of a mental or emotional disorder, which is a much lower standard than the disability requirement of DOJ.

Some mental health professionals have been willing to attest to an individual’s “need” for an emotional support animal without having a professional relationship with them. And none vouches for the appropriateness of specific animals.

ADA service dogs may legally accompany their handlers almost anywhere. Emotional support animals may not. For example, emotional support animals currently allowed in aircraft cabins are not legally permitted in airport shops and restaurants. Emotional support animals allowed to live in college dorms may not go with their owners to class or the cafeteria.

Online purveyors of official-looking letters, vests and patches guaranteed to get dogs access in pet-free zones take advantage of the confusion between service dogs and emotional support animals, liberally mixing the classifications. They also fail to mention that the individual seeking such accommodation must have proof of a mental disorder. This omission, itself, is an ethical problem.

A predicament for gatekeepers

Gatekeepers have to weigh the consequences of confronting an individual accompanied by a dog. Denial of access to a disabled handler with a legitimate service dog can result in a US$10,000 fine by the DOJ. The fine for a handler who falsely portrays a pet as a service dog or emotional support animal ranges from $100 to $1,000 and happens only if the handler supplies identification or waits for the police.

It is cheaper and easier for gatekeepers to just hope that questionable dogs don’t put patrons at risk. Airline attendants face a unenviable dilemma, as passengers cannot escape aggressive or stressed dogs in the tight confines of an airplane.

Change on the horizon?

There are recent signs that DOT and HUD are moving toward DOJ’s more stringent regulations. On Feb. 5, 2020, DOT opened a 60-day public comment period for a plan that would reclassify emotional support animals as pets and restrict free aircraft cabin access only to service dogs. HUD recently posted new guidelines to help housing providers better determine animal access.

In my view, more federal intervention is needed. Medical documentation of disability should be the entry point for service dog access, just as it is for handicapped parking permits. Offering a nationally recognizable ID for service dog owners who voluntarily provide documentation would eliminate some fraud.

Ideally, a dog’s ability to behave appropriately in public should be proven prior to access and affirmed annually by testers, who use a public access test to verify a dog’s manners and handling of disability-specific tasks, such as that developed by Assistance Dogs International or those performed by all U.S. guide dog schools.

Some argue documentation and testing is burdensome or a violation of disabled people’s civil rights. But physicians, who diagnose ADA-defined disabilities, already provide their patients verification for state and federal benefits. Behavior tests assure handlers their dogs can work in stressful situations. And ensuring public safety protects the civil rights of all people.

Worried about your guides in this uncertain time?

[Editor’s Note: Here is something from the CDC.]

Worried about your pets and COVID-19?

Pets are part of the family – it’s natural to be worried about their health and safety during an outbreak. Here’s what we know so far about pets and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):

• There have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19 in the United States.
• There is no evidence that pets can spread COVID-19 to people or other animals or that they might be a source of infection with this new coronavirus in the United States.
• Because all animals can carry germs that can make people sick, it’s always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals.
• Wash your hands after handling animals, their food, waste, or supplies.
• Practice good pet hygiene and clean up after pets properly.
• Take pets to the veterinarian regularly and talk to your veterinarian if you have questions about your pet’s health.

Remember to include pets in preparedness plans

If you’re preparing your family, remember to include your furry, feathered, and scaly family members too. Get 2-weeks’ worth of supplies for your pets, such as:

• Pet food
• Medications
• Litter

Healthy Pets, Healthy People is CDC’s one-stop-shop for information on staying healthy around pets and other animals. Visit the website or follow @CDC_NCEZID for more updates.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30329  

800.CDC.INFO (800.232.4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348

How Covid-19 can live on your phone, and how you can clean it

By Andrew Williams

[Editor’s Note: excerpted  from Article found at

https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-clean-your-phone

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher.]

Protect yourself from Covid-19

Putting your phone under water likely won’t be enough

There are three common strands of advice for minimizing the spread of Coronavirus, issued by bodies like the NHS and the WHO. If you have to sneeze, do it into a tissue or your sleeve. Avoid contact with unwell people, and wash your hands with soap, often.

Your phone complicates that last one. Sanitize your hands all you like, bacteria and viruses sitting on your phone may be transferred right back to those hands as soon as you check WhatsApp or Instagram.

Few of us clean our phones regularly. And we probably should have done before now.

A 2011 study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found one in six phones analyzed showed traces of fecal matter. And you want your mobile to be free of nasties like Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter spp. as well as Covid-19.

A professor who studies infectious disease told TechRadar, “Good hygiene and disinfecting regularly touched items like door handles, surfaces and telephones are essential as it is very easy to transfer the virus onto your clean hands by touching something that someone with the virus has come into contact with or been in the vicinity of.”

Cleaning methods

But what should we use to clean our phones?

You can apply the same substances you use to clean your hands, but some are more suitable than others. The current best advice is to moisten a lint-free cloth, the kind you might use to clean a pair of glasses, add some soap and give your phone and its case a thorough wipe down.

Soap and water are a highly effective team

“Water itself doesn’t inactivate or ‘kill’ viruses but simply washes them away,” says the professor we spoke to. “Soap is far superior because it contains fat-like substances. Viruses themselves are composed of genetic material, proteins and fats. When soap interacts with viruses the fat-like substances in the soap compete with the viral lipids and cause the virus to break down.”  Another  bonus of soap and water is that when you wash with water you can cover a large surface area. “So the preference is always to be using soap and water where possible. If not, then alcohol gel with a good technique is also fine.”

All smartphone makers also recommend avoiding cleaning solutions that contain bleach or abrasives, and the use of any rough cloths. These may spoil the finish of a phone’s metal sides and cause micro-abrasions in glass that will dull its surface. We’re out to clean the phone, not ruin it.

Half-life

How long can a virus survive on your phone? Long enough for it not to be an excuse for mindful hygiene, particularly in the case of Covid-19.

“Research on the coronavirus suggests it can remain viable for up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless steel. This is all impacted by the environment.”

If the coronavirus can survive for days on at least parts of your phone, now is a good time to start cleaning it regularly, as well as your hands. Concerned about where to get the most up-to-date health advice? Head to the relevant website of your country’s healthcare system. That’s NHS.uk in the UK, CDC.org in the US and health.gov.au in Australia.

So, what’s the easiest way to clean your phone?

Prepare a bowl of hot (but not boiling) soapy water. Don’t use anything other than household soap as it may damage the coating on your phone.

Bring your phone to the water, and be sure to take it out of its case. Then turn your phone off before you begin to clean it.

Do not submerge your phone, unless it’s IP68 water-resistant. Even then, we’d recommend not submerging your phone entirely.

Take a cloth and moisten it using the soapy water.

Gently rub the cloth around your phone ensuring you get to every area you can find. If you have a case, do the same for that.

Ensure you don’t allow the water to get into any of the openings of the phone such as the charging port or speaker grille.

Then wipe your phone down again with a clean microfiber cloth.

Leave your phone to dry out fully before turning it back on again. Repeat this method as much as you need to.

How do I keep my phone clean?

Your hands are the main way your phone will get dirty. If you keep your hands clean, you’ll be keeping your phone clean as well.

The World Health Organization says you should wash your hands for 20 seconds at a time, so follow that advice and you should also ensure your phone is kept clean.

If you’re concerned about your phone’s cleanliness, you should repeat the steps above.

Our last article is from GDUI Affiliates Liaison, Pauline lamontagne. In case you grow tired of filling your time while stuck inside with books and movies and phone calls, and worry, you might want to do some long-overdue work to acquire not-for-profit status for your GDUI affiliate. Here, Pauline lamontagne tells you how to accomplish this worthy goal!

OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING 501)(C)(3) STATUS FOR PINE TREE GUIDE DOG USERS  Bruce Prindall and Pauline Lamontagne

Please note, here is a disclaimer. The below article is NOT legal advice.
It is an overview of Pine Tree Guide Dog Users'(PTGDU’s) experience for
obtaining federal tax exemption status under section 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) and maintaining it.

Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU) in July 2017 was incorporated in the State
of Maine. The paperwork was submitted to Maine’s Secretary of
State’s office under Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions .
There was a filing fee($40 in Maine.) PTGDU also had to attach its constitution and Bylaws.  On a yearly basis, a renewal statement with accompanying fee must be submitted. Thirty-five dollars was this year’s renewal fee. The fee is higher if the corporation is a for profit corporation; PTGDU is a non-profit corporation.  Please note, the agency and fees that your affiliate will need to apply will be different from Maine’s. The website http://www.nasconet.org/ may be of assistance.

Once PTGDU was incorporated, and prior to applying for 501(c)(3) status, Pine Tree Guide Dog Users had to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the federal government by submitting an SS-4 form.  There was no fee for the EIN.  The instructions are at https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 and the online form is at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf.

Please note, the creation of accounts and submission of forms, with the Federal government, was done electronically. There did not appear to be a snail mail option. Also, it appeared that you could not partially complete and save a form and then return later to complete it for submission.

Prior to submitting the 1023-EZ form, a checklist of 30 questions was completed by PTGDU.( The instruction booklet is at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023ez.pdf)

This checklist was not submitted as part of the 1023-EZ application; however, its completion was used by PTGDU to determine whether the 1023 or 1023-EZ form would be used. (Please note, if you answer yes to any of the questions on the check list you cannot use the 1023-EZ form. The 1023 form would be required.)  Among the factors that led to PTGDU’s submitting the 1023-EZ form were that PTGDU does not expect to have gross earnings of $50,000 or more on a yearly basis. Also, PTGDU will not be endorsing specific candidates. The latter would make PTGDU ineligible for non-profit status.

You will also need to determine your National Taxonomy for Exempt Entities (NTEE) , a three character code that best defines your organization type.  PTGDU used R99 for civil rights other. As previously noted, The 1023-EZ form must be completed online at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023ez.pdf, in one sitting because once you start the form, you must finish it as there is no option to save it.  When submitting the 1023-EZ form, PTGDU had to create a pay.gov account.  The fee was $275.00. (The cost for the 1023 currently is $600.00.)  As long as PTGDU does not have gross proceeds of $50,000 or more, PTGDU must file annually a 990-N form entitled Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (there is no fee).  There is no penalty for late filing, however, if an organization does not file for three consecutive years, the tax exempt status may be lost.

You will need to check in the location where you are incorporated to determine whether there are any other requirements. In Maine, a license is required for soliciting charitable contributions. $50 is required for the first year and then $25 is required for subsequent years.  We expects that 501(c)(3) status will assist PTGDU with fund raising as well as other efforts including possible grant writing.

Pine Tree Guide Dog Users appreciates the grant of $400 from President Bob Acosta’s Helping Hands for the Blind organization! It was given with the understanding that the money would be used for obtaining PTGDU’s 501(c)(3) status as well as writing an article so that others would benefit.

If Bruce, PTGDU’s secretary, or I, President of PTGDU, may be of further assistance, please, e mail Bruce at ptgdu2013@gmail.com or me at plamontagne@twc.com

A Final Note from Penny and Andrea

You have reached the end of our fourth issue of Paws for GDUI News You Can Use for 2020. Who would have imagined when we launched this publication that, so precipitously, our lives would turn upside down, anxiety would become the watchword of every day, and nearly every item we have included in this issue would describe, or offer support for coping with the pandemic we are all experiencing?  

We hope this publication is helpful to all of you. Please do shelter in place. Sing Happy Birthday twice as you wash your hands many times each day. Comfort your guide dogs and they comfort you with their enthusiasm for life in general and all the affection they give so freely. Let us all reach out to one another, hope for the future, and share all the mutual affection we feel for each other and our community. We will look forward to sharing “Paws for GDUI…” again at the end of April, and for all the months yet to come. Thank you all for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Paws for GDUI News You Can Use

Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/.

Our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/.

Our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

Download or subscribe to the GDUI Juno Report pod cast here: http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

Support GDUI when you use this link to shop at Amazon.com:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1871119.

To join the GDUI-Announce List, visit this link: http://www.acblists.org/mailman/listinfo/gdui-announce.

To subscribe to the GDUI Chat list, visit this link: chat+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

To subscribe to the (members only) GDUI Business list, visit this link:

business+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

The Department of Transportation Notice of Proposed Rule Making Regarding Flying with Service Animals: Your Comments Are Important!  

GDUI’s Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Committee and our Board of Directors have worked hard over recent weeks to prepare comments to send to the U. S. Department of Transportation regarding the Notice of Proposed Rule Making concerning dogs that will be permitted to fly onboard planes. We submitted GDUI’s comments on February 20 , and, equally important, we urge all of you to submit your own comments on the proposed rules. We cannot overstate how important it is for our community to respond to the proposed rules. According to spokespersons from the U. S. Department of Transportation, over 10,000 comments have already been submitted. The regulators need to hear from each of us, as well! The deadline for submitting comments is April 6. To read our comments and learn how to submit your own, visit this link:  https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-provides-comments-regarding-u-s-department-of-transportation-notice-of-proposed-rule-making-docket-no-dot-ost-2018-0068/

When you post your own comments, please identify yourself as a guide dog user. Use your own words. We are sharing our comments to provide guidance. Sharing your ggpersonal experiences, your individual misgivings about the proposed rules you don’t agree with, and your passion for the guide dogs who allow us to travel independently and add so much to our lives: All of these aspects of the comments you share will help regulators to understand our concerns and the priority we place on our civil right to fly, unburdened and unencumbered, with our guide dogs.

We have made our comments available to help you think about what you want to say and to motivate you to add your personal comments to ours and others for whom revised regulations are bound to affect travel plans and life styles.

The Guide Dog Users of Florida Conference Call

On Thursday, February 13, GDUF held a conference call to discuss the proposed rules described in the U. S. Department of Transportation Notice of Proposed Rule Making  the recording from that very interesting call is available at this number, using the access code and reference number, as follows:

515.606.5480

Access code: 256965 pound

Reference number 24

Our thanks to Tom Hanson, who invited us to participate on the call, to all of the GDUF members who shared their responses to proposed rule changes, to Sarah Calhoun,  Lillian Scaife, and Annie Chiappetta, who also attended, and to Kati Lear, who has made the recording available for all of us. We encourage you to listen to the recording. Our conversation, along with the document referenced above,  will help you to understand the proposed rules and to think about what you want to say when you provide your own comments to the Department of Transportation.

When you know how you want to respond to the NPRM, and if you find it difficult to post your comments online, you can turn to ACB for help with the process of posting your comments. If you need assistance with filing your comments electronically, please email your comments and contact information to advocacy@acb.org, and ACB will file them on your behalf.

It is important that as many individuals file comments as possible, so please do not let any technical difficulties deter you from doing so. If you have any questions while drafting your comments, please reach out to Charlie Crawford at Advocacy@GuideDogUsersInc.org, to Claire Stanley cstanley@acb.org), or Clark Rachfal (crachfal@acb.org).

Announcing the GDUI 2020 Elections

The 2020 GDUI Elections will commence on Saturday, May 30 at 12:01 A.M. EDT, and run through Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 11:59 PM.EDT.

GDUI is seeking candidates for the following positions in our May 2020 elections.

President (2-year Term)

1^st Vice President (2-year Term)

2^nd Vice President (2-year Term)

Secretary (2-year Term) 

Treasurer (2-year Term) 

2 Director Seats (3-Year Term)

GDUI members in good standing are eligible to run for a position on the GDUI Board. Interested candidates should submit an application, resume and cover letter to the Nominations Committee Chair, Dixie Sanderson Director5@GuideDogUsersInc.org by the deadline of March  21, 2020.

The information supplied within the cover letter, application and resume will be shared with the GDUI members eligible to vote in this election.

GDUI members who have paid their dues by this year’s record date of April 9, 2020 will be eligible to vote in the May elections.

GDUI is proud of our universally accessible voting system in which each member of GDUI is entitled to a voice in the election of our GDUI Board.

If you have not renewed your membership, now is the time to do so. 

An at-large membership in GDUI costs $25.00 per person per year. 

dues may be paid online by going to https://guidedogusersinc.org/join/, or by credit card by calling 1-866-799-8436.

Or by mailing your check to the above address and made payable to GDUI. 

Important dates to remember:

 In order to be eligible to vote in the 2020 GDUI election your 2020 GDUI dues must have been received on or before the record date of April 9, 2020.

We will hold 2 candidates’ Forums prior to the elections.  Phone numbers for these calls will be publicized closer to the dates. 

Candidates’ Forum 1.  Saturday, April 25, 2020, 1:00 P. M. EDT.

Candidates’ Forum 2.  Thursday May 21, 2020 8:00 P. M. EDT

Between the dates of April 1, 2020, and April 15, 2020, we encourage members to submit questions for your candidates.  Please submit your questions to the Nominations Chair, Dixie Sanderson Director5@GuideDogUsersInc.org  and include “Forum Question” in the subject line of your message.

Election period: Saturday, May 30 12:01 A.M. EDT through Sunday, June 7, 2020 11:59 P. M.EDT

Visit this page to find the application for candidacy for any of the officer or board positions for which you want to run:

https://guidedogusersinc.org/application-for-candidacy-2020/

We want to extend many thanks to Dixie Sanderson, Chair of the GDUI Nominations Committee, and committee members, Cynthia Hawkins, Pauline Lamontagne, and Deb Trevino

Bylaws

2020 is another year where members may submit suggested changes to our GDUI bylaws. The deadline to submit bylaw suggestions is March 15.  They should be submitted to  bylaws@guidedogusersinc.org or to Maria Hansen, Chair of our GDUI Bylaws Committee, directly at mhansen1@rcn.com.

The committee will evaluate all submissions and work with you to understand the rationale for your suggestion and, pending approval,  include your suggested bylaw among the items to be voted upon in May.

 We are excited to bring you yet another fun episode of the GDUI Juno report. This month we feature another segment of the GDUI program from the 2019 convention. This time we’re exploring the intricacies of pet food with Doctor Renee Streeter who is a VETERINARY nutritionist. Warning: your dog may get hungry hearing all about this, but you probably won’t. 

The GDUI Juno report airs on ACB Radio Mainstream on Thursdays at 4 and 7 AM/PM and on Sunday at 9PM and Monday at 12AM, 9AM, and 12PM. All times are eastern.

The podcast comes out in about two weeks. Subscribe in Itunes at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gdui-juno-report/id1107836850

Wags to all of you.

Deb

Good News from Southeastern!

Southeastern Guide Dogs is very excited to announce that, because of the latest additions to our Alumni Support Program, starting on March 2, 2020, you will be able to receive the following benefits for your dog – at no cost to you: 

 High-quality dog food, sponsored by 

Fromm Family Pet Food .

Trifexis (a monthly preventative providing your dog protection from fleas, heartworms and intestinal parasites), sponsored by 

Elanco .

Annual veterinary wellness visit and vaccinations,

 sponsored by select Veterinarian Partners and private donors. 

In anticipation of our 

March 2 launch date, we are now ready to accept your enrollment application. How exciting! You’ll be able to choose from the benefits listed above, which are optional   to you.

Warm regards,

Titus Herman

Chief Executive Officer

For questions and support, contact 

alumnibenefits@guidedogs.org

941.729.5665

4210 77th Street East | Palmetto, FL | 34221

  Southeastern Guide Dogs | 4210 77th Street East, Palmetto, FL 34221

Higher Ed! Hunter College is seeking applicants to its Programs in Blindness and Visual Impairment

Combined VRT and O&M Master’s Degree Program (54 credits) and VRT Masters (40 credits)

Hunter’s VRT and O&M programs are offered with hybrid distance learning. Summer labs are on campus, dorm housing is available.

VRTs are eligible for O&M Advanced Certificate program.

Application deadline for Fall 2020 is March 15

For more information, visit:https://education.hunter.cuny.edu/admissions/graduate-programs/special-education/blind-and-visually-impaired/

M-Enabling Summit, the leading conference and showcase promoting accessible technology and environments for seniors and users of all abilities, which will be held June 22-24, 2020, at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, in Washington, D.C., is the annual meeting place for all who create and contribute to accessible ICT products, services and consumer technologies.

With its 2020 theme of “Digital Inclusion Strategies: A Catalyst for Action,” the M-Enabling Summit will highlight how organizations can successfully leverage innovative enabling technologies to make their digital workplaces, learning environments and products and services accessible to users of all abilities. It also offers an ideal platform to network with accessibility professionals, organizations, and decision makers seeking to address compliance challenges and market development opportunities.

This year’s thought-provoking agenda is set to be led by over 150 experts and industry leaders exploring how to further drive digital inclusion forward across all sectors of activity. A powerful differentiator in gaining a competitive advantage and establishing a positive culture, digital inclusion is embraced by leading organizations across all sectors of activity.

Annual M-Enabling Summit. 

REGISTRATION:

The M-Enabling Summit offers a discounted early bird registration rate through April 30th.Register today and save:

https://m-enabling.com/conference-registration/

Summer Experience Camp – Making Teens Unstoppable!

A Free Program at Leader Dogs for the Blind

 Application Deadline April 1, 2020!

Summer Experience Camp is a week of fun, friendship and skill building. The program combines activities like ziplining and tandem biking with independence building exercises and things exclusively Leader Dog—GPS training and spending time with future Leader Dogs. The combination helps increase independent travel skills, interpersonal skills and leadership skills.

The free program is for boys and girls ages 16 and 17 who are legally blind. Leader Dog covers all costs including airfare to Michigan—and everyone receives a free HumanWare Victor Reader Trek GPS device. The 2020 camp dates are June 24—July 1. Applications are due by April 1, 2020.

You can view a Fox Sports clip about camp, read camper stories and download an application at LeaderDog.org.

 Rachelle Kniffen

Director of Communications & Marketing
Leader Dogs for the Blind
1039 S. Rochester Rd. • Rochester Hills, MI 48307-3115
Direct 248.659.5013

Toll Free 888777.5332

GDUI/ACB Convention News!

In 2020 there  is exciting news for those of you registering for the American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention in Schaumburg IL.

Registration costs are  increasing from $15 to $25 for pre-registration and from $25 to $35 for onsite registration. You may wonder  why this is exciting news! As always the price of registration will include all general sessions, the exhibit hall, some affiliate programming and the many sessions offered by our sponsors and business partners.

But wait there’s more! All committee sessions that do not involve food functions will be presented at absolutely no cost! That means the outstanding transportation seminar,   legislative boot camp, information access programming and so much more will all be included in the cost of registration.

Pre-registration will open on May 21 and close on June 21^st.  Again this year we are offering an exclusive opportunity to register early for ACB members. Convention pre-registration beginning May 21st through May 27th will be open only to ACB members. Starting May  28th registration will be open to everyone. Registration prior to the convention is easy, saves time and the earlier you register the better chance you have of booking tours and attending functions that have limited capacity.
If you are not a member of the American Council of the Blind a membership at large is $10.00. To become a member contact the Minneapolis office at 612.332.3242. To take advantage of the registration special you must pay for a membership by May first.

If you are in need of a wheelchair or a scooter to use during the ACB 2020 Conference and Convention Lang Home Medical
is offering ACB a great weekly rate. 

standard wheelchairs:

$45 for 16- and 18-inch wheelchairs

$55 for a 20-inch wheelchair

$75 for a 22-inch wheelchair

$80 for a 24-inch wheelchair

transport wheelchair: $45

scooters $125

power wheelchairs $250 (very limited supply)

There will be an additional fee of $15 to cover the drop-off and pick-up of the wheelchair or scooter at the Renaissance. To reserve please call 847957.7443 and ask for Matt.

You must reserve prior to June 15th. Let Matt know you are with ACB.  Once you have made your reservation please contact ACB Convention Coordinator, Janet Dickelman. She’ll be maintaining a master list to accept the deliveries.

Don’t miss out on the fun, make your hotel reservations today!

Room rates at the Renaissance Schaumburg are $94.00 per night (up to four people in a room)

This room rate does not include tax which is currently 15.0%.

For telephone reservations call 800.468.3571, this is a central reservations number, let them know you want a reservation at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.

Due to limited computer characters the block is listed as

AMERICN COUNCL BLIND. American is missing the second A and Council doesn’t have an I.

Rooms must be booked by June 10 2020, to guarantee the convention rate.

Please feel free to contact Janet Dickelman, with any questions either via  phone, 651.428.5059 or email

janet.dickelman@gmail.com

If you are traveling to attend the 2020 ACB Conference and Convention read on for important information regarding  transportation to the hotel.

American Taxi Dispatch

Inc offers a rate of $28 from O’Hare and $55 from Midway to the Renaissance in Schaumburg. The same rates will apply from the hotel back to the airports.

When you arrive at either airport volunteers will try and put more than one person in a taxi so the fare can be split but this may not be possible so be prepared to pay the entire fare.

The rate for Union Station or Greyhound is also $55.

You can call American Taxi Dispatch and book your ride a few days prior to your arrival, or call them when you arrive.

 Their phone number is  847.255.9600.

There are other options such as Uber, Lyft and other taxi companies; please keep in mind many of these companies add in an additional airport pickup fee.

ParaTransit in Schaumburg: Setting Up your Service During Convention

If you want to use paratransit service during convention, you will need to ask your local paratransit provider to provide a copy of your eligibility to Pace Suburban Bus which operates paratransit services throughout the entire Chicago Metropolitan area including Schaumburg.  You will need to call Pace Regional Paratransit Visitor Eligibility.  They will tell you what your local provider needs to do to send a copy of your eligibility to Pace.  While Pace has indicated this needs to be done a minimum of seven days in advance, we recommend doing this at least two weeks in advance.  You also might want to call Visitor Eligibility back before arriving at convention to make sure you’re in the system so you can schedule rides.  The Visitor Eligibility folks can also help you schedule your first trip, a good idea if you’re wanting to use paratransit for pickup from either O’Hare or Midway airports, or from Amtrak or Greyhound.  If you’re being picked up from Midway, Amtrak (Chicago Union Station) or Greyhound, there will be a transfer from a City of Chicago paratransit carrier to the North Cook County paratransit carrier.  North Cook will pick up at O’Hare.  From O’Hare, Pace will need to know what airline you’re coming in on and they can tell you where you need to go to be picked up.  If scheduling a return Paratransit pickup to O’Hare, tell them your departure airline and they’ll drop you at the correct terminal.

Using the Service While You’re Here

Our paratransit system is a regional system, meaning you can travel anywhere in the Chicago Metropolitan area if you want too.  However, it’s divided into several service areas, each served by a different paratransit operator.  If you want to travel, say into Chicago, you’ll need to make a transfer at the Rosemont Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) station, and you’ll need to make more than one phone call to schedule your ride.  To schedule paratransit rides from the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, call the North Cook County paratransit operator.  When you call, be prepared to give your name to the call taker, as well as the pickup address and address for your destination and the time you want to be picked up.  You need to call at least one day in advance of the day you want to travel.  The hotel address is 1551 Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, Illinois.  Be aware that service may be limited on Sundays and holidays due to reduced fixed route service in the area on those days.  If you’re wanting to travel into Chicago, tell the call taker you want to be taken to the Rosemont CTA station to transfer to the City of Chicago paratransit service.  They’ll tell you how long you should allow in travel time between the hotel and Rosemont.  Then, call the Chicago Zone 3 Paratransit operator, tell them what time you’ll be at Rosemont and the address where you want to go in Chicago.  If you’ll be needing a return trip, give the pickup time and pickup address in Chicago to the call taker, and they’ll tell you when you can expect to arrive back at Rosemont.  You then call North Cook county back and tell them what time you’ll be at Rosemont for your return trip and they’ll set the pickup up to bring you back to the hotel.  In our system, the vehicle you’re transferring from will wait until the vehicle you’re transferring to arrives, and the driver will help you get between vehicles.  Transferring is also what you’ll need to do if scheduling a return paratransit ride to Midway Airport, Amtrak or Greyhound.  They shouldn’t ask for addresses for O’Hare or Midway, Amtrak or Greyhound.  Just be sure if going to Amtrak you tell them Chicago Union Station.

Paratransit fare is $3.25 each way, and you’re allowed to have one Personal Care Attendant with you.  If you are taking a companion who is not a PCA, you may need to pay $3.25 each way for them as well, the call taker will let you know if this is the case.  Transfers are free.  More information about the paratransit service, including numbers to call to travel to other parts of the region,  is available at www.pacebus.com, by clicking on the Paratransit Service link.  Or, you can call Pace at 312-341-8000.

Phone Numbers You Need to Know

Pace Suburban Bus, Regional Visitor Eligibility: 312.341.8000, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Ask for Visitor Eligibility

North Cook County Paratransit Operator, to schedule rides from the hotel: 800.554.7599, Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City of Chicago Zone 3 Paratransit Operator for Scheduling Rides into Chicago: 866.926.9633, option 1, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. 7 days a week

Thanks to  Illinois Council of the Blind, 217.523.4967, www.icbonline.org, for providing all of this helpful information.

Apply to Become a 2020 ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellow

[From: The February 2020 ACB Braille Forum]Kenneth Semien Sr.

  Have you noticed how ACB has been progressing? Have you considered contributing by sharing your skills and abilities to make ACB all that it can be? Are you interested in playing a role in creating positive change for Americans who are blind, visually impaired or low vision? If you answered, “yes” to any of the above questions, you are encouraged to read below to confirm your eligibility and necessary commitment to become a member of the 2020 Class of ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows!

For the fifth consecutive year, JPMorgan Chase will provide full access to the ACB conference and convention for 5 ACB members who have demonstrated leadership abilities. Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to join the leadership inner circle or renew your commitment to assist in the growth and continuance of ACB. Get connected with previous classes of Leadership Fellows who have involved themselves in this enlightening experience while meeting other members and active leaders from around the country. By attending the 59th annual ACB convention in Schaumburg, Ill., as a Leadership Fellow, you will be introduced to tools for success through participation in informative workshops, seminars and leadership development sessions that are sure to prepare you to serve well in future leadership roles within ACB, your local chapter, and your state or special-interest affiliate.

To be a qualified applicant, you are required to meet specific criteria, including but not limited to the following three elements:

18 years of age or older

Blind or visually impaired

An ACB member in good standing (current on membership dues)

Eligible applicants must be endorsed by the president of their state or special-interest affiliate. Applicants are encouraged to be sure that they meet the award criteria before requesting that their affiliate president write and submit a letter of recommendation on their behalf. The application process for this award also consists of the submission of two letters and participating in a telephone interview with a team of DKM committee members. The letter of application should begin with your complete name; physical address; email address containing the applicant’s name, along with a home and cell number, then introduce yourself to the committee by including objectives in applying for the leadership award; a brief summary of your education and relevant experience; number of years of membership in ACB, as well as previous conventions attended, if any; description of one’s role as a leader; and examples of what you bring to ACB. The affiliate president’s letter of recommendation should address the applicant’s contributions to the affiliate, ACB and community organizations; and describe the applicant’s demonstrated leadership skills and leadership potential. Thirty-minute telephone interviews will be scheduled for mid-April.

All recipients receive round-trip transportation; hotel accommodation (double occupancy), per diem stipend for meals and incidentals, convention registration fee and reception and banquet tickets. Recipients are expected to attend the convention from the opening meeting, Saturday evening, July 4th, through the Thursday evening banquet, July 9th, and to participate actively in all designated convention activities, including the daily general sessions, special-interest presentations, seminars and workshops.

Send application documents to Kelly Gasque in the ACB national office,

kgasque@acb.org

The deadline for receipt is April 3rd. Selected awardees will be notified during the latter part of April. If you have questions regarding the application process and required documentation, contact DKM chair Kenneth Semien Sr. via email, semien.k@att.net. Other beneficial information will be shared once your application has been received. Apply today, don’t be late!

GDUI Joins ACB in Commending West Virginia for Making Absentee Voting Accessible for People with Disabilities

[Excerpted from the news release found here: https://acb.org/ACB-commends-WV-accessible-absentee-voting]

Alexandria, VA — On Monday, February 3, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice signed into law Senate Bill 94, a bill to ensure that all voters in West Virginia are guaranteed access to the ballot box, at polling locations and when voting absentee. On behalf of our nationwide membership, and in conjunction with the Mountain State Council of the Blind, the American Council of the Blind commends West Virginia for working with us to ensure equal access to absentee voting for people with disabilities.

“A critical guarantee of our democracy is the right to privately and independently mark, cast, and verify an election ballot. This right is not always afforded to people with disabilities, at the polling location or when voting absentee. The American Council of the Blind commends Governor Justice and the West Virginia State Legislature for working with ACB to pass S.B. 94 to ensure all residents of the Mountain State may fully participate in the democratic process,” said Eric Bridges, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind. Prior to this law, blind and visually impaired West Virginians could not independently and privately vote via absentee ballot; no alternative method to traditional paper ballots existed to allow those who could not visually read the ballot to vote independently. West Virginia will now implement an alternative absentee voting method that will allow those who cannot visually read the ballot to take advantage of this alternative voting system if they wish to do so.

While advocating for this new form of access, the American Council of the Blind, Centers for Independent Living, and West Virginia voters with disabilities were represented by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, and Disability Rights of West Virginia.

“Ensuring equal access to the ballot is fundamental to our democracy. Yet, voters with disabilities have been consistently disenfranchised in absentee voting by the requirement to vote by paper ballot. We applaud West Virginia for recognizing the importance of equitable access to the voting process for all voters and the right to cast a private, independent ballot. S.B. 94 will help to remedy the historic disenfranchisement of voters with disabilities by providing an accessible, secure online option by which they can cast their ballots,” said Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban  Affairs.  

Is audio description your jam? Here’s lots of news you can use!

Audio Description Project (ADP), an initiative of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), aims to bring more meaning and enjoyment to entertainment, cultural, and educational experiences for blind and visually impaired people.

If the cold winds of early March are getting you down, we suggest cuddling up with your guide dog and checking out the amazing array of audio-described entertainment listed, and updated daily, on the Audio Description Project page. ADP maintains a list of described DVDs, broadcast television, movies, performing arts, museums, and national parks on the ADP web site:  http://www.acb.org/adp/. As the only repository of all audio described titles on DVD and the three video streaming services (Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and Netflix)  the ADP WEB SITE PROVIDES A LIST OF EVERY DESCRIBED TITLE. For example, here are described video statistics AS OF February 1, from the ADP Master AD List:

SUMMARY:  3780 unique described videos and TV Series.  1722 videos were duplicated in more than one service.
22 Current Movies; 1212 DVDs; 13 Apple TV+; 387 Disney+; 71 Hulu; 1208 iTunes; 1120 Netflix; 1675 Prime-Video; 7 Other; 216 TV Series: 31 ABC, 15 CBS, 2 CW, 26 FOX, 21 NBC, 25 DISCOVERY, 21 HGTV, 25 HISTORY, 18 TBS, 10 TNT, 22 USA.

The American Council of the Blind’s  Audio Description Project Announces Call for Nominations for the

 Twelfth Annual ADP Awards-2020

This year’s ADP Awards include a call for nominations in six categories:

Achievement in Audio Description – Media

 Achievement in Audio Description – Performing Arts

Achievement in Audio Description – Museums/Visual Art/Visitor Centers

Achievement in Audio Description – International

Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award in Audio Description – Research and Development

Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description

The call for nominations ends on Friday, May 29, 2020, with winners announced during a plenary session of the American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention and at the Audio Description Project Conference, July 2020 in Schaumburg, IL.

Nomination material, criteria and more information are available at: 

http://www.acb.org/adp/

Delaware Lawmakers Pass Groundbreaking Bill to Allow Titer Test in Lieu of Rabies Vaccine

[From:https://www.dogingtonpost.com/delaware-lawmakers-pass-groundbreaking-bill-to-allow-titer-test-in-lieu-of-rabies-vaccine/

By Brandy Arnold

Feb 7, 2020

Lawmakers in Delaware stepped up to help pets in a way that’s never been done in any state in the country. Once signed by the Governor, Maggie’s Pet Vaccine Protection Act could save the lives of countless pets moving forward.

Maggie’s Vaccine Protection Act, formally known as House Bill 214, unanimously passed in both the Delaware House and Senate, leaving just Gov. John Carney’s signature the last step in making it official. Once signed, veterinarians and pet owners will have the ability to exempt a pet from legally required rabies vaccine if the animal is sick, disabled, injured, or if other medical considerations exist which make vaccination a risk to the animal’s health and life. Instead of a vaccination, a Titer test, which measures a pet’s antibodies to combat rabies, can be used.

Delaware businessman and pet owner Al Casapulla initiated the bill after losing his beloved Shih Tzu, Maggie, to over-vaccination when state law required she be vaccinated, regardless of whether it was safe.

“I have been working on this bill since she died… I am extremely excited and very emotional,” Casapulla told the Coastal Point after learning the act had passed. “My passion to see this through was more than the passion I had when I started my business, because I knew if this gets passed we would be saving the lives of so many innocent animals and allowing vets to use their discretion on making legal, educated exemptions.”

“Maggie will be saving lives long after I am gone,” he said in an emotional Facebook post.

Governor Carney is expected to sign the bill in May.

Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrated the first litter of puppies born in the guide dog school’s new Puppy Center in San Rafael.

[From: https://patch.com/california/sanrafael/guide-dogs-blind-celebrates-new-puppy-center-marin]

Kristina Houck, Patch Staff

Feb 14, 2020

Guide Dogs For The Blind Celebrates New Puppy Center In Marin

All future guide dogs from Guide Dogs for the Blind will be born in the $23 million Puppy Center in San Rafael.

SAN RAFAEL, CA

Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrated the first litter of puppies born in the guide dog school’s new Puppy Center in San Rafael.

The puppy shower kicked off Wednesday with capturing the mom and dad’s paw prints in cement outside   the Puppy Center and ended with puppy shower games and treats for attendees.

The event was not open to the public, but a crowd of roughly 200 puppy raisers, breed custodians, trainers and staff celebrated with about 40 dogs.

All future guide dogs from the guide dog school will be born in the $23 million Puppy Center and will spend their first critical 8-10 weeks of life at the facility, according to the organization.

The Puppy Center includes areas for puppy birthing, puppy socialization and the Learning Lab, an educational center to expand the public’s understanding of what it takes to make a successful guide dog, as well as learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind’s clients who travel through life with a guide dog at their side.

The Puppy Center’s grand opening to the public is planned for later this year.

The organization was the subject of an award-winning 2018 feature-length documentary called Pick of the Litter, which was developed into a television docu-series by the same name, which debuted late last year on subscription streaming service Disney+. 

For more information on Guide Dogs for the Blind, visit guidedogs.com

Disasters and Scary News

When we were planning the contents of this issue of “Paws for GDUI News You Can Use,” I reminded myself to remind all of you of our Disaster Assistance and Preparedness Program (DAPP). Two weeks ago, some of the scariest news stories involved terrible flooding in Mississippi, and there are doubtless still families coping with the aftermath of that disaster. If you are one of those who was affected by this weather event, and if you need financial help coping with the expenses of caring for your guide dog while you find temporary shelter, or if you are involved in any similar disaster-related emergency situation, please remember GDUI’s DAPP fund which can offer help. Visit this link to learn about the program and to find out how to apply for assistance: https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/disaster-assistance-preparedness-program-dapp/.

Since then, when I was thinking about how GDUI could help members coping with climate disasters or the aftermath of other emergency situations, news of the global pandemic that is causing serious illnesses and even death all over the world has become the dominant theme of the breaking news that grabs all of our attention and is, frankly, terrifying. This disaster looks to be far bigger in scope than any natural disaster any of us might have experienced or anticipated, and there’s not much help that our DAPP Committee might be able to provide for preparing for such a scary emergency. We are all in the same frightening situation, and we need more than shared empathy to prepare and to cope.

As I was thinking about what to do, what kinds of items I should be stocking, how to keep everyone in our household safe, and well, I came across the article I’m pasting below and decided to share it with you. We hope that the advice provided here will keep all of us safe, and, as we take precautions, that the preparations we make will offer reassurance and quell some of our shared panic.

The CDC tells us that this could be bad.

As we plan and prepare and cope, let us draw strength from all of the relationships that sustain us. Let’s pet our guide dogs to share and derive comfort from one another. Let’s keep in touch with each other, and stay safe. – Penny Reeder, President, Guide Dog Users, Inc.

The Wuhan Virus: How to Stay Safe

As China’s epidemic continues to spread, things may seem scary. Here are 10 simple precautions that can protect you from contracting the coronavirus.

By Laurie Garrett

| January 25, 2020, 2:47 PM

[From: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/25/wuhan-coronavirus-safety-china/]

As the new Wuhan coronavirus has spread not only all over mainland China, but also worldwide, panic is rising. Inside China there is a growing sense of helplessness, as the government is compelled to take drastic measures to stop the virus, including introducing some travel restrictions in Beijing. I have received panicked queries from journalists and public health workers in China, asking, “How can we protect ourselves and our families?”

The epidemic could have been controlled fairly easily three weeks ago had there been more openness, swift action, and no attempted cover-up. But now it’s too late, and this virus is spreading globally. Because there is no vaccine or treatment for nCoV2019—the Wuhan pneumonia—and infection has spread throughout China, the government is forced to turn to its 2003 SARS playbook. And that means entire cities must be cut off, and the population of the nation must be restricted in its movements and potential disease-spreading behavior. It is not surprising then that travel out of Beijing may be forbidden; the entire mainland could go on lockdown soon.

I know people are very frightened. And I expect panic will rise in the coming days. But very simple measures can protect you.

During the SARS epidemic, I traveled all over China and Hong Kong, interviewed people infected with the virus, doctors and nurses treating the disease, government officials, police—everybody. I was never concerned that I would become infected, despite being in the room with sick individuals. And that’s because I knew what precautions to take. Here are the most important ones to know:

1. When you leave your home, wear gloves—winter mittens or outdoor gloves—and keep them on in subways, buses, and public spaces.
2. If you are in a social situation where you should remove your gloves, perhaps to shake hands or dine, do not touch your face or eyes, no matter how much something itches. Keep your hands away from contact with your face. And before you put your gloves back on, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, scrubbing the fingers. Put your gloves on.
3. Change gloves daily, washing them thoroughly, and avoid wearing damp gloves.
4. Masks are useless when worn outdoors and may not be very helpful even indoors. Most masks deteriorate after one or two wearings. Using the same mask day after day is worse than useless—it’s disgusting, as the contents of your mouth and nose eventually coat the inside of the mask with a smelly veneer that is attractive to bacteria. I rarely wear a face mask in an epidemic, and I have been in more than 30 outbreaks. Instead, I stay away from crowds, and I keep my distance from individual people—a half meter, about 1.5 feet, is a good standard. If someone is coughing or sneezing, I ask them to put on a mask—to protect me from their potentially contaminated fluids. If they decline, I step a meter (about 3 feet) away from them, or I leave. Don’t shake hands or hug people—politely beg off, saying it’s better for both of you not to come in close contact during an epidemic.
5. Inside your household, remove all of the towels from your bathrooms and kitchen immediately, and replace them with clean towels that have the names of each family member on them. Instruct everybody in your home to only use their own towels and never touch another family member’s. Wash all towels twice a week. Damp towels provide terrific homes for viruses, like common colds, flus, and, yes, coronaviruses.
6. Be careful with doorknobs. If it’s possible to open and close doors using your elbows or shoulders, do so. Wear gloves to turn a doorknob—or wash your hands after touching it. If anybody in your home takes sick, wash your doorknobs regularly. Similarly, be cautious with stairway banisters, desktops, cell phones, toys, laptops—any objects that are hand-held. As long as you handle only your own personal objects, you will be ok—but if you need to pick up someone else’s cell phone or cooking tools or use someone else’s computer keyboard, be mindful of not touching your face and wash your hands immediately after touching the object.
7. If you share meals, do not use your personal chopsticks and utensils to remove food from a serving bowl or plate and, of course, tell your children to never drink out of anybody else’s cups or from a container of shared fluid. It is customary in China to prepare several dishes for a meal and then allow everybody at the table to use their personal chopsticks to pull food from the common dishes: Don’t do this until the epidemic is over. Place serving spoons in each dish and instruct everybody at the table to scoop what they want from the serving dishes onto their personal plates or bowls, return the serving spoon to the main dish, and then use their personal chopsticks only to pick food from their personal plate or bowl into their mouth. Wash all food and kitchenware thoroughly between meals and avoid restaurants that have poor hygiene practices.
8. Absolutely do not buy, slaughter, or consume any live animal or fish until it is known what species was the source of the virus.
9. When the weather allows, open your windows at home or work, letting your space air out. The virus cannot linger in a well-ventilated space. But of course, if it is cold or the weather is inclement, keep warm and close those windows.
10. Finally, if you are caring for a friend or family member who is running a fever, always wear a tight-fitting mask when you are near them, and place one on the ailing person (unless they are nauseated). When you replace an old, dirty mask from the face of your friend or loved one be very, very careful—assume, for the sake of your protection, that it is covered in viruses, and handle it while wearing latex gloves, place it inside of a disposable container, seal it, and then put it in the trash. While wearing those latex gloves, gently wash the patient’s face with warm soap and water, using a disposable paper towel or cotton swab, and seal it after use in a container or plastic bag before placing it in your household trash. Wear long-sleeved shirts and clothing that covers your body when you are caring for your ailing friend or relative. Clean everything your patient wears or touches very thoroughly in hot soapy water, including sheets, towels, and utensils. If you have space, isolate the sick person in your household in a room, or a corner of a room, where they are comfortable, but separated from the rest of the household. If the weather is tolerable, open a window that is on the opposite side of the room, so that air gently blows past the patient’s face and then outdoors. Of course, don’t do this if it is very cold, as your friend or loved one will be made sicker if uncomfortably cold.

The Chinese government will take very drastic actions over the next few weeks, and this will be a time of hardship for the Chinese people. As the virus spreads in other countries, similarly draconian measures may be invoked to slow the epidemic. But with these simple precautions, if taken by everybody in your household, building, office, and school, you will dramatically reduce the spread of the virus and bring the outbreak to its knees.

Be safe. Do not panic. Take commonsense precautions. As frightening as this time is, you will get through it.

Laurie Garrett is a former senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Pulitzer Prize winning science writer.

Thank you for reading and sharing our Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! We welcome your feedback and your involvement in our organization. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/.

Our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/.

Our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

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http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1871119.

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To subscribe to the (members only) GDUI Business list, visit this link:

business+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

If You Missed our January 25 Board Meeting, You Can Listen to the Recording Here:

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

Date: Jan 25, 2020 12:53 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Meeting Recording:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/y8JFHYn_pzlORq_k2W_TYu18Q6b9T6a82iQX-KEFyh7HHHHSICVshI8ohf29fuNh

Hearing Loss? Can You Work with a Guide Dog Safely and Successfully?

Golden State Guide Dog Handlers Inc. (GSGDHI) invites you to attend a telephone/zoom program, titled Hearing Loss and Your Success as a Guide Dog Handler”, set for Monday, February 3 from 6 to 7:30 PM PST

Noted below is the Zoom call in information as well as a description of the program.

Zoom Info:

The CCB Golden State Guide Dog Handlers Inc. is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Hearing Loss and Your Success as a Guide Dog Handler

Date Monday, February 3 at 6 PM to 7:30 PM PST

call in number: 1.669.900.6833

meeting ID: 634304501

When prompted for a participant code, press the Pound key.

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:

https://zoom.us/j/634304501  

One tap mobile

+1.669.900.6833,, 634304501# US (San Jose)

Program Description

Golden State Guide Dog Handlers Inc. (GSGDHI) invites you to attend a telephone/zoom program set for Monday, February 3 from 6 to 7:30 PM PST. This informative program will address the needs of guide dog handlers who also have significant hearing loss. Our panelists will be Marc Gillard of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Becky Barnes Davidson from Guiding Eyes, Cathy Abrahamson of the San Francisco Light House, and guide dog handlers David Jackson and Deborah Kendrick, who are guide dog handlers with hearing loss.

Kindly RSVP so we will know the approximate number of callers who will join us by sending an email to the program facilitator, Susan Glass.

Susan Glass email: Susan Glass

mailto:susancglass@att.net  

Deadline Rapidly Approaching to Register for ACB Mid-Year Meetings!

Are you planning to represent your ACB state or special interest affiliate, or Committee, at the ACB February meetings? If so, make sure to register soon!

 The American Council of the Blind DC Leadership Meetings will take place from Saturday, February 22 to Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at the Holiday Inn & Suites Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia. The deadline to register for the meetings and book a hotel room at the group rate is next Friday, February 7.

Register by visiting: 

http://weblink.donorperfect.com/DCLeadershipmeeting

2020 DC Leadership Meetings Schedule:

Saturday, February 22: Board Meeting

Sunday, February 23: Affiliate Presidents’ Meeting

Monday, February 24: Legislative Seminar

Tuesday, February 25: Meeting with Legislators on Capitol Hill

Hotel Information:

Holiday Inn & Suites Alexandria – Old Town

Room rates (pretax): $109/night (king/double)

Address: 625 First Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone number: 703.548.6300

Holiday Inn Old Town Reservations (enter group code “ANC” under more options): 

https://www.ihg.com/…/ho…/us/en/alexandria/axehd/hoteldetail

To learn how to schedule meetings with your representatives and senators on Capitol Hill, please visit: 

https://acb.org/2020-leg-seminar-scheduling-hill-meetings

Leader Dogs has launched an alumni Facebook page. Below is information on how to join!  

This group will connect Leader graduates with other LDB alumni to share stories, photos, everyday issues and personal wins. Anyone who attended a Leader Dog program (Guide Dog Training, O&M Training and/or Summer Experience Camp) is welcome to join.

The group is administered by Leader’s client services team. They will confirm that only LDB alumni are in the group. They will also check in periodically to see if there are any questions or concerns that a LDB team member can help with.

When new clients are approved for one of LDB’s programs, they’ll be invited to join the group. This group is a place they can seek support and ideas to help them prepare for training, e.g.,  what to pack, how much money to bring, etc.. Who better to give them advice than LDB alums!

Please note that you must join with your own Facebook account, not your spouse’s, child’s or dog’s account

To find the LDB Alumni Group:

1. In Facebook, go to the search bar at the top and type “Leader Dogs for the Blind Alumni”
2. A list of pages and groups associated with Leader Dog will appear.
3. Click “Leader Dogs for the Blind Alumni,” which should be the first group/page on the list.

To join the LDB Alumni Group:

1. Once on the group page, click the “+Join Group” button.
2. You will be prompted to answer three questions all of which must be answered to join the group. These questions help LDB confirm that you’re a client:

Have you been approved for or completed at least one program at Leader Dog? If you’ve completed more than one, select the most recent.

• Under what name did you submit your application for training at Leader Dog (in case it’s different from your Facebook name)?
• What is your date of birth?

Please note: You must answer all three questions before being accepted to the group! If you aren’t sure what name you used on your application, give us your best guess.

If you have any questions, please contact

mailto:clientservices@leaderdog.org  

GDUI congratulates The Seeing Eye, and everyone who lives in New Jersey, on the state’s naming The Seeing Eye Dog the official State Dog of New Jersey! We can’t think of a more fitting honor! (Willow, the Seeing Eye Dog who lives here with me, is wolfing and wagging in agreement!)

Congratulations!

HUD ISSUES GUIDANCE ON REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT RELATING TO ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

On January 28, 2020, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued guidance under the Fair Housing Act, regarding reasonable accommodations related to assistance animals, including guide dogs. Read the news release here:

https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_013

AER Scholarship Opportunity for Visually Impaired Students Pursuing a Career Working with People who are Blind and Visually Impaired

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) is now accepting applications for the William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship. This educational scholarship is awarded every other year to two selected applicants who are legally blind and are studying for a career that provides services to persons who are blind or visually impaired.

If you are not a student, please help us spread the word by sharing this information to schools or directly to individuals who qualify.

The deadline for submitting the application and accompanying documentation is April 30, 2020; and scholarship recipients will be notified on or before May 31, 2020. The two winners will be announced at the AER International Conference 2020, July 22-26, in St. Louis, MO.

All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply. Scholarship applications detailing eligibility requirements can be found here:

https://aerbvi.org/resources/aer-scholarships/

To submit your application, please complete the application in full, then submit your application and accompanying documentation no later than April 30 to Michele Basham at

mailto:michele@aerbvi.org

Employment Opportunity! Menus4ALL is launching an independent contractor sales representative program, nationwide, on February 2, 2020.  A limited  number of representatives will be trained initially. This role is targeted, and all processes have been geared toward sales reps with blindness and visual impairments with moderate assistive technology skills.  

We are accepting applications for our first group of reps between February 2 and February 21, 2020.  Then, interviews and training will take place in the first part of March.   

To learn more, please watch our 

Employment Program Video, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi5_m79-Mbs&feature=youtu.be

If you have members or clients ideal for this role please share these details. 

Stephanie Jones will be on the Blind and Beyond Radio Show’s February 2 show at 7:15 EST, where she will be announcing this program and taking call-ins.  For a link to the radio show, visit

https://www.blindandbeyondradioshow.org/

If you have questions please contact Stephanie Jones at 

mailto:sales@menus4ALL.com

Thank you,

Helen Fernety,  

Menus4ALL, CEO & Founder

https://www.menus4all.com

Changing lives one meal at a time for folks 

with blindness and visual impairments

How Has the ADA Made a Difference in Your Life?

2020 marks the 30th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush’s signing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. Throughout this 30th anniversary year, the Civil Rights Division of the U. S. Department of Justice is publishing a monthly blog post highlighting the impact that recent ADA enforcement efforts have made in people’s everyday lives. We celebrate the many ways in which the ADA has transformed American society and enabled a generation of Americans with disabilities to thrive.

To read the January blog post, please click here

https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/americans-disabilities-act-30th-anniversary-furthering-promise.

For more information on the ADA, please call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800.514.0301, TDD: 800.514.0383

Help Amazon.com Improve the Quality of Audio Description!

Amazon.com is continuing to expand their library

of Audio described movies and TV Shows, and your feedback on the survey found at the following link will ensure we provide high quality audio described content.  The survey is open

to you if you meet the following conditions:

1. You must be 18 years or older.
2. You must use a streaming video service like Amazon Prime Video or Netflix.
3. You must have watched an audio described movie or television show within the last month.

The survey should take, at most, 15 minutes to complete. Your time and feedback will help us, not only expand the library of quality audio described content in the U.S.A., but also expand our library worldwide as well. 

You can access the survey using this link:

https://aiv.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0IHfp7VtKAX6pPD

New Hotline Promises an Easier Experience Identifying Accessible Products!

Consumers with vision loss may no longer have to spend hours searching for products that fit their unique accessibility  needs, thanks to the launch of the first-of-its-kind Accessible Products Hotline by Envision, Inc. The hotline will be operated by the William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center, connecting callers with professional advice about purchasing and operating the top home, office and personal-use products on the market today. The BVI Workforce Innovation Center is part of Envision Inc. with the objective to train and employ individuals with visual impairments, place them into skilled positions and provide accessibility inclusion expertise to businesses around the United States.

The new hotline, 316.252.2500, is staffed by trained customer service representatives who are blind or visually impaired.

Learn more at:  https://www.workforceforall.com/Accessible-Products-Hotline

What Do the Laws Say? Finding Legal Resources that can Help when Access is Denied

Tom Hanson

[Editor’s Note: Tom is president of our GDUI affiliate, Guide Dog Users of Florida. Thank you, Tom, for sharing this very useful information.]

When we are out and about with our guides, we sometimes encounter situations where our right of access is challenged.  These occasions often cause responses such as, “My guide does not need to wear a vest,” or “You are not allowed to require me to sit outside,” or even, after you are totally frustrated with the lack of cooperation, “I’m going to sue you if you refuse to let us in.”  But what is really out there in the legal arena that may assist us in following through with our efforts to obtain full accessibility? If only there would be a place where we can go to learn if legal information exists and to have access to this legal information, including laws pertaining to service dogs, the rights of business owners, the differences between service dogs and emotional support animals, and the ADA rules on service animals.

Well, there is such a place!  It is the digital law library at Michigan State University.

The following are excerpts from a letter I received from the Animal Legal & Historical Center at MSU.

Thank you for writing to our digital law library. I would be happy to provide further research information for your project.

Our site does have a collection of Florida laws on service and assistance animals. The collection of these laws can be found at

https://www.animallaw.info/statute/fl-assistance-animal-floridas-assistance-animalguide-dog-laws

This page includes driving laws, equal accommodation laws, and discrimination laws that mention service animals.

We also have a table that compares assistance animal/service animal laws for all 50 states. The table also has links to other state laws on service and/or assistance animals. You can find it at

https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-assistance-animal-laws  

We have a map that links to all state laws with fraudulent representation of service animal laws. This can be found at

https://www.animallaw.info/content/fraudulent-service-dogs

Also on our website is a page dealing with assistance animals in housing under the Fair Housing Act. The title of the page implies that it focuses on emotional support animals, but under the FHA, the reasonable accommodations for both types of assistance animals are the same. You can see this page at

https://www.animallaw.info/article/faqs-emotional-support-animals

In terms of case law, most of the cases we have posted are from federal courts under the ADA. The broad search term we use in our navigation is “Disability and Pets” so that it encompasses all issues involving service, assistance, or facility dogs. You can find a table of all these cases by selecting the “Search Materials” link in the purple navigation bar at the top, and then “Disability and Pets” under “Topics” and “Cases” under “Material Type.” This search yields the following results:

https://www.animallaw.info/filters?topic=14619&species=All&type=case&country=All&jurisdiction=All&combine_op=contains&keyword=

Some of the cases may relate to public service dogs and facility/courthouse dogs. The rest of the cases would involve service animals or emotional support animals.

You may find this scholarly article on non-traditional service animals informative as well:

https://www.animallaw.info/article/monkeys-and-horses-and-ferretsoh-my-non-traditional-service-animals-under-ada

Additionally, one of our contributing editors and his colleague have written an extensive article that details many of the evolving functions service animals perform. You can find this at

https://www.animallaw.info/article/evolving-functions-service-and-therapy-animals-and-implications-public-accommodation-access

 https://www.animallaw.info/article/why-context-matters-defining-service-animals-under-federal-law  

We have an article that focuses specifically on the ADA and Air Carrier Access Act as well:

https://www.animallaw.info/article/why-context-matters-defining-service-animals-under-federal-law  

Finally, we have a law review article dealing with students using service animals in post-secondary institutions:

https://www.animallaw.info/article/cujo-goes-college-use-animals-individuals-disabilities-postsecondary-institutions

I hope this research information is helpful in the creation of your piece. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best of luck,

Rebecca Wisch

Associate Editor

Animal Legal & Historical Center

If you would like to contact Rebecca Wisch, her email is:

mailto:animallaw@law.msu.edu  

This is a wonderful site for laws, and Ms. Wisch is an excellent person to work with.

Enjoy your researching and reading!

Blind woman asks public, pet owners to be aware of service animals

[From:

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/woman-asks-fo-caution-bringing-dogs-in-public/512-f564f5ec-8fb4-4bc6-a947-8b57a4bfd94f?fbclid=IwAR34-NbbRyBj2ulXBwLNzU1yrj3xCpqkAe5qaPoNakICTwFTJI2bB2l5JUY]

PERRYSBURG, Ohio — A Waterville woman who needs a service dog to navigate her daily life left a message on Facebook that garnered hundreds of comments about where dogs should or should not be allowed in public.

Sara Soper is blind and relies on her dog, Vivi. 

In the past, she has had two guide dogs attacked in public by other people’s pets and now, she wants people to know what kind of training pets should have, to go in public places. 

At only two years old. Vivi navigates the grocery store with Soper close behind. She’s focused, watching people and objects making sure Sarah can safely get her groceries and get home.

“There is a time and a place for dogs. Like I said, I’m not going to know if you have your dog in the store, there could be five dogs in the store and I wouldn’t know unless they were reacting to my dog,” Soper said.

Soper and her dog work as a team. Vivi is trained not to respond to everyday distractions such as food and people. 

Soper says she has noticed a lot more dogs out that don’t give Vivi space to work, which creates a dangerous environment for both of them.

“I’m not the dog police. I’m not going to come up to you and see if your dog has the right to be in a store, I am going to go after you if your dog comes after my dog because what you’re doing is making it dangerous for service dog handlers,” Soper said.

Professional dog trainer Melissa Jarrett says socialization is important and she has noticed more places allowing dogs, but there are things you need to do before taking your dog out.

“I need to know that I have control over my dog, that if a situation arises I can re-gain control of my dog before it escalates into something bad,” Jarrett said.

Even as a professional trainer with 15 dogs, Jarrett still has one dog she knows, despite its training,  shouldn’t be going out, even to dog-friendly stores.

“They’re still dogs, I still don’t know if a person in a wheelchair or a child running up to them is going to do to them, and I think I know my dogs pretty well and I’m really careful about where I take them and I’m always similar with my surroundings when I go in,” Jarrett said.

Soper realizes that these days, she and Vivi are going to come into contact with other dogs day-to-day. She says she wants people to be educated about why dogs like Vivi are allowed where other people’s pets might not be.

“My dog does more for me than I can ever repay her for or do for her. She’s closer to me than about anything in my life,” Soper said.

How Super Sniffer Dogs Are Helping Detect Disease Around The World

[From:https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/25/799404129/how-super-sniffer-dogs-are-helping-detect-disease-around-the-world]

 January 25, 20206:11 AM ET

John Henning Schumann

As the owner of a yellow lab named Gus, author Maria Goodavage has had many occasions to bathe her pooch when he rolls around in smelly muck at the park.

Nevertheless, her appreciation for his keen sense of smell has inspired her to write best-selling books about dogs with special assignments in the military and the U.S. Secret Service.

Her latest, Doctor Dogs: How Our Best Friends Are Becoming Our Best Medicine, highlights a vast array of special medical tasks that dogs can perform – from the laboratory to the bedside, and everywhere else a dog can tag along and sniff.

Canines’ incredible olfactory capacity – they can sniff in parts per trillion – primes them to detect disease, and their genius for observing our behavior helps them guide us physically and emotionally.

Goodavage spoke with NPR contributor John Henning Schumann, a doctor and host of Public Radio Tulsa’s #MedicalMonday about what she has learned about dogs in medicine

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

What led you to look into dogs in medicine?

I’ve been reading and writing about military dogs and Secret Service dogs for many years now, and it was sort of a natural next step. These are dogs on the cutting edge of medicine. They’re either working in research or right beside someone to save their life every day. And really, doctor dogs are, for the most part, using their incredible sense of smell to detect diseases. And if they’re paired with a person, they bond with that person to tell them something that will save their life.

You reported on dogs doing this kind of work all over the world.

Yes, I did go around the world. The first doctor dogs I learned about were in Japan. There’s a village about five hours north of Tokyo where scientists were doing some research among a population that has a very high level of stomach cancer. And I wanted to find the best of the best, cutting-edge medical dogs around the world. It was really fun to see these service and research dogs working with their people and how good they are. They’re incredibly good at detecting disease.

You also report on dogs that can detect ovarian cancer, which is personal for you.

I do have skin in this game, actually, because unfortunately, we have ovarian cancer in the family. My mom died of it. With ovarian cancer, there’s not much great testing for early detection. I heard about these dogs at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Working Dog Center that are able to smell ovarian cancer. They’re able to detect it as early as stage one. We’re not even talking tumors here. They’re able to detect ovarian cancer in one drop of plasma from a woman with ovarian cancer.

The fact that the dogs can do this is exciting to me, and I think for so many people who have hard-to-detect cancers in the family. What the dogs are doing now is remarkable and it’s because their sense of smell is so keen. They can sniff in parts per trillion. They can detect a tablespoon of a substance, like a packet of sugar, in two Olympic-sized swimming pools. Humans have six million olfactory receptors and dogs have up to 300 million. So their noses are really primed.

Another area in which dogs excel in the clinical world is for patients with diabetes.

Yeah. It’s amazing. We don’t know what the dogs are smelling, but the trainers are training the dogs on the scent of hypoglycemia and also hyperglycemia. The dogs are somehow able to put it together and tell the person 15 or maybe 20 minutes before the person’s devices even say, ‘Hey, you’re going into the low range!’ because the dogs detect this in real time. So the person has an extra bit of time to do what they need to do, take glucose or whatever.

I was fascinated to learn that doctor dogs may also have a role in detecting so-called “superbugs,” that is, antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Yes. Actually, there are three or four of these dogs working in a hospital in Vancouver who are sniffing out C. diff, which is one of those superbugs that can easily spread in vulnerable populations in hospitals and manifests in diarrhea and all kinds of issues that can actually kill people. And these dogs are stopping it in its tracks.

Researchers have found that where these dogs work, the rates of C. diff really diminish. I hung out at this hospital one day and I just watched one of the dogs do his rounds, and he found what seemed to be C. diff — and before I knew it, they had a whole cleaning team.

How do dogs help people suffering from PTSD?

There are people from the military, war veterans and active duty soldiers even who are suffering from PTSD and who have gotten service dogs who, again, have been game changers. They save lives. One of the dogs I learned about was placed with a soldier who had been to Iraq twice. He had PTSD and his life was falling apart. His marriage, his health, everything. He was on a cocktail of drugs. It made him a zombie. He hated that feeling. And one day someone told him about doctor dogs for PTSD. He ended up getting one. Now if he’s feeling anxious, he’ll say, like, “snuggle” and the dog will just come in for a big hug, or another of various commands. His life changed dramatically for the better. His marriage is really good now. He’s a stable dad and he’s working. He’s down to only one or two meds.

You write about doctor dogs helping people with autism. Can you share an example?

Yeah, it’s really beautiful. Sometimes these dogs may be using their nose. Sometimes they’re just being highly observant. And dogs are. They watch our body language all the time. But there are now more dogs being used for children on the autism spectrum, and they are remarkable. They can usually tell ahead of time when a child is about to have a tremendous amount of anxiety, panic, meltdown or what have you. When there’s too much stimulation for a child with autism and the dog is there, they’ll lean into the child.

Dogs change lives not just of these children, but of the whole family. There is a family I wrote about in Minnesota, with a sweet boy who waited for four years to get a service dog for his autism. He was not able to go to restaurants. The family, therefore, couldn’t go to restaurants. He couldn’t travel. He could barely leave the house. He did go to school, but that was tough, too. And so they waited four years. They tried to get a regular pet dog in the meantime, thinking, “Oh well, you know, it’s a dog. It’ll work.” But it was a disaster. It did not work at all as a service dog.

So they got a service dog named Lloyd. He’s a big black lab. As the boy met him, he started crying. His mother had never seen him cry. Tears of joy. And right there, boom, everything changed. Lloyd is the super calming presence. He’s able to be with the boy and change his behavior. The boy could not go to the barber and get a haircut before Lloyd. Now all he has to do is just have his hand on Lloyd’s head. And the boy and Lloyd like to have their own table at restaurants!

John Henning Schumann is an internal medicine doctor and serves as president of the University of Oklahoma’s Tulsa campus. He also hosts Studio Tulsa: Medical Monday on KWGS Public Radio Tulsa. You can follow him on Twitter: @GlassHospital.

The Spirit of Dog 

Ann Chiappetta

[From: http://www.thought-wheel.com/the-spirit-of-dog/]

January 30, 2020

This is a post written for, in part, the puppy raising and guide dog community. It explains what a real service dog is and how it develops. Indulge me for one more paragraph before we get to the subject line of the post. There is an ongoing issue here in the United States regarding people posing pets as emotional support or service animals to ride in airline cabins. It is called the ACAA, or the Airline Carrier Access Act. I am not going to explain the actual FAA and TSA notices and the rule making discussion, but I will say that a genuine, trained service dog will do it’s best to behave in places of public accommodation. For example, a hearing alert dog will sit quietly on its handler’s lap and not disrupt anyone’s experience. A PTSD service dog will lie quietly between its handler’s feet during a train ride. Any dog brought into the public that barks, lunges, urinates, is unkempt, is not under its handler’s control or is not tethered is not a real service dog and can be asked to leave. It’s all in how the dog and the handler behave and interact. I hope this helps folks understand what is at stake and the real service dog handlers are at risk of being negatively effected by those who break the law.

Okay, back to the original post.

Once a puppy reaches an appropriate age, usually around 18 months, the dog is returned for advanced training. By this time, the puppy raiser has imparted all the socialization, love, obedience, care and discipline to allow the dog to continue the rigorous and challenging harness training and hopefully exhibit the required qualifications to become a guide dog.

Yup, folks, it is canine college and the dog will graduate with an advanced degree in intelligent disobedience. What this means is a dog will disobey a command given by the blind handler if it is unsafe. Think of a car coming out of a driveway as the team is walking toward it. The dog will see the car pulling out and stop, then continue when it has judged it to be safe. If the handler tries to give the command to proceed before the dog judges it safe, the dog will ignore the command.

This is, of course, after months of formal harness training with a qualified GDMI – during which time the dog learns how to guide and learn other commands, like directions (left, right, forward) and targeting (to the door, steps, bus, elevator,) among others.

One time Bailey even stopped to show me a fiber optic wire hanging from the ceiling in the hallway leading to our office. Avoiding an overhead obstacle is the most difficult to teach a dog, I was impressed, for sure.

But, for the second time in this post, I digress.

Today we made the hour-long bus ride to visit Guiding Eyes For the Blind’s main campus and visit Bailey’s first Mom, Pat Bailey Webber. He just about lost his mind, spinning and doing some excited barking. He carried on, yodeling, rubbing, and licking Pat for at least ten minutes. This is the person who he bonded with, who saw him through all stages of puppyhood, some of it pretty gross and annoying, if I must say so. 😊

Witnessing the bond with Pat is just so special, so rewarding, I believe it makes my bond with Bailey even stronger. While he loves Pat and would go with her, he also willingly comes to me and does his job. He switches his attention, applies his training, and has the adaptability to get it done.

I have written before about the Spirit of Dog, what it means contextually; this is an example. The Spirit of Dog is loyal, adaptable, and talented. How could a person not admire these qualities in an animal? How could I deny Bailey the pleasure of visiting with his first family? I am honored and humbled after these visits. I am a recipient of  a very special gift; it is the spirit of dog that brings people together.

[Editor’s Note: To subscribe to Annie’s blog, ”Thought Wheel From the mind of Ann Chiappetta,” visit this link: http://www.thought-wheel.com/subscribe/]  

Thank you for reading and sharing our Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! We welcome your feedback and your involvement in our organization. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

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A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

 

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

Welcome to our first-ever issue of Paws for GDUI News You Can Use. This publication will include timely announcements, like the ones we have been sharing once or twice a month via GDUI e-mail discussion lists and our web site, as well as the kinds of articles, columns, and opinion pieces you could expect to find in our quarterly magazine, PawTracks.

We are making this change for several reasons, the most pressing of which is to adjust to the alterations that the internet has made in our lives.

We are sure you have noticed that, over the last couple of decades, nearly all surviving print publications have shrunk dramatically in size, while their online digital equivalents appear more often and with expanding content in social media, on the web sites we frequent, and the e-mail discussion lists we inhabit during the 24-hour news cycle we have come to take for granted and depend upon. A quarterly magazine like PawTracks simply cannot fit into this new paradigm of publication. By the time the magazine reached your in box, you had often already read or been made aware of the news it contained. It wasn’t practical for an editor to solicit information and cajole writers to contribute to a publication that simply couldn’t meet readers’ 21^st Century expectations.

PawTracks has been one of GDUI’s benefits of membership of which we were most proud and to which our members have felt a great deal of loyalty. I remember asking Jane Sheehan to mail me a PawTracks audiocassette when I was first thinking about getting a guide dog. I became so engrossed in that audio magazine, listening to it on my MetroRail commute into D.C., that I completely missed my subway stop and, four or five stops beyond where I usually left the train, had to get off, figure out how to cross to a different platform, and, white cane in hand, find my way back to my regular stop. Yes, I was about 20 minutes late for work that day! And, the first thing I did when I got to the office was to join GDUI. Shortly after that, I completed my Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation application!

We are proud and pleased to bring you our own audio publication. It’s called the GDUI Juno Report. Deb Lewis and friends expect to produce a new pod cast every month, and we are grateful to ACB Radio for making it so easy for you to listen and subscribe. With smart phone or Victor Reader Stream in hand, you too can find yourself lost among Metro stops while you listen to our latest version of an audio magazine that fascinates, informs and entertains us all!

The announcements we have distributed over the past several years are another, timelier aspect of sharing GDUI and blindness-related news and information, they are well received, and forwarded – Yes, we happily notice! – to lots of blindness venues, so it just makes sense for us to combine our announcement format with the longer-form kinds of articles one would expect to find in PawTracks and to share those magazine articles with you more frequently.

Andrea Giudice, PawTracks (now Paws for GDUI News You Can Use) editor, welcomes your contributions to this longer-form collection. Send articles, poems, essays, or whatever you enjoy writing and sharing to Andrea at this e-mail address: editor@guidedogusersinc.org.

One final aspect of our new publications direction that we are most excited about is that we will be sharing Paws for GDUI News You Can Use with anyone in the blindness community who has access to NFB’s NewsLine. We are eager to introduce our organization to a wider audience, and we are excited to share the kind of support, empathy, advocacy news, advice, and information you have come to expect from our announcements, our GDUI Juno Report, and our quarterly magazine, with the larger blindness community. If you are a NewsLine user who is just discovering GDUI, we encourage you to spend some time on our web site, read and listen to our publications, tell friends and colleagues who are blind and visually impaired and who are committed to the guide dog lifestyle we all enjoy about this latest GDUI publication, and if you want to join in our mission of advocacy, empathy, support, and education, we welcome your membership and involvement! Here’s a link to join: https://guidedogusersinc.org/join/. Happy reading!

Penny Reeder, President

Now, it’s time for some Announcements!

We are excited to bring you the January issue of our GDUI Juno Report.

This month we begin with Guide Dog school Tails, a summary of what’s happening at most of the major guide dog schools in North America as told at the GDUI summer convention. And we wrap up with an announcement from GDUI reminding all of us that it’s time to pay 2020 dues.

The Juno report airs on ACB Radio Mainstream on Thursdays at 4 and 7 AM/PM and on Sunday at 9PM and Monday at 12AM, 9AM, and 12PM. All times are eastern.

The podcast comes out about two weeks after the program first airs.

Subscribe in Itunes at:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gdui-juno-report/id1107836850

Wags to all of you for the new year.

Deb Lewis

Host, The GDUI Juno Report

The Next GDUI Board Meeting will take place next Saturday, January 25, at 1:00 p.m., ET.

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting Time: Jan 25, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/562675137

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,562675137# US (New York)

+16699009128,,562675137# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

Find your local number:

https://zoom.us/u/adkoW2kadE

Regards,

Maria Kristic

GDUI Board Member and Zoom Guru

Pick of the Litter on Disney +

Before I share an update on the continuing escapades of those adorable puppies we met last year in the film so many of us watched and enjoyed, I want to apologize for a mistake I made when I shared this announcement with you in December. Although I knew very well that the guide dog school that produced “Pick of the Litter” was Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), in my haste to send out the announcement before year’s end, I got the name of the school completely wrong and didn’t catch my error when proofing. I sincerely apologize to GDB and thank Jane Flower, Youth Outreach Specialist for GDB, for gently pointing out my error. We in GDUI have nothing but great things to say about the film, the six-part docudrama now appearing on Disney+, and the wonderful guide dogs and amazing training programs at Guide dogs for the Blind! If you haven’t yet tuned into the new series, we encourage you to check it out!

If you have tuned in, you might recognize a familiar name associated with one of the potential guide dog handlers featured on the show, Claire Stanley. Claire is ACB’s very own Advocacy and Outreach Specialist at their office in Alexandria, VA! Tune in to Pick of the Litter (available with audio description) on Disney+ to watch Claire’s experience and join six adorable puppies on their journey to become guide dogs! To learn more about Disney+, please visit:

https://www.disneyplus.com/

Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs Announce Merger

[Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guide-dogs-of-america-and-tender-loving-canines-assistance-dogs-announce-merger-300982399.html]

SYLMAR, Calif., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs (TLCAD) today announced the merger of their organizations. This merger combines their respective service dog programs into a single organization operating under the Guide Dogs of America umbrella. The merger is effective immediately.

Founded in 1948, Guide Dogs of America empowers people who are blind and visually impaired to live with greater independence, confidence and mobility by providing expertly matched guide dog partners. TLCAD gives the gift of independence to veterans and individuals with autism by providing highly skilled service dogs. TLCAD also pairs facility dogs with professionals who serve populations that benefit from animal assisted intervention or therapy. Their prison-based dog training program also helps rehabilitate incarcerated individuals.

“TLCAD shares our goal to transform the lives of people through partnerships with highly trained assistance dogs,” said Russell Gittlen, President of Guide Dogs of America. “This merger will allow us to put more dogs into the hands of people who need them — which is our ultimate mission.”

“TLCAD is very excited to join the Guide Dogs of America family and we look forward to the new opportunities our combined efforts bring to those in need of service dogs,” said Victoria Cavaliere, Executive Director of TLCAD.

Although TLCAD will maintain its name and local offices in San Diego, California, the newly merged organization will be headquartered in Sylmar, California, on Guide Dogs of America’s 7.5-acre campus.

All programs and services are provided at no cost and are available to individuals throughout the United States and Canada.

SOURCE Guide Dogs of America

Related Links

http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/

A Prize to Help You Fulfill Your Dreams! Apply for the Holman Prize!

Are you blind or visually impaired? Will you be over the age of 18 on October 1, 2020? Are you creative and entrepreneurial, with ambitious, far-reaching dreams? Submissions are open for the Holman Prize, Lighthouse for the Blind’s annual competition to win up to $25,000 for blind adventurers and creators to complete their most ambitious projects!

How to apply to the Holman Prize? The initial application is a 90-second YouTube video describing the project, what the prize money would fund and a brief application form. Semifinalists will later be asked to provide in-depth written proposals. Later, finalists will be interviewed by Lighthouse staff in order to select a winner. All the information you need, including terms and conditions, can be found here:

https://holman.lighthouse-sf.org/

Now in its fourth year, the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s

Holman Prize for Blind Ambition is an international competition that is awarded annually to three blind individuals who wish to push their limits. It is named for James Holman, a nineteenth century blind explorer and author, who was the most prolific traveler before the era of modern transportation.

Past winners have completed feats like traversing the Bosporus Straight via solo kayak, hosting the first conference in Mexico for blind children and their families led by blind professionals, and creating an app to enable blind citizen scientists to participate in the search for exoplanets by listening to space/

The nine winners so far have come from five countries on four continents and have all found unique ways to forever change the world’s perception of blindness.

2020 Application information is available here:

www.holmanprize.org/apply

If you have any questions, please contact the Holman Prize team at

holman@lighthouse-sf.org

Applications close March 15 at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

REAL ID

REAL ID starts in less than a year. If you haven’t secured your official “Real ID,” now is definitely the time to take action! Beginning October 1, 2020, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

To learn more about REAL ID, visit this link:

https://www.tsa.gov/real-id

Below you will find information about two surveys. We in GDUI – believing in “Nothing about us without us!,” urge our members to contribute to data collection efforts like these. Various researchers use surveys to learn about who we are, what we need, and how our needs and goals can best be met by the communities in which we are included (i.e., the community of humanity!).

University of Kansas Survey

The NIDILRR-funded Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (CHRIL) 

at the University of Kansas is looking for adults with disabilities to complete an online survey about health insurance and health care services. The survey is open to Adults, 18 and over, with any disability, chronic illness/disease, mental or physical health condition. Whether you have private insurance, insurance from an employer, TRICARE, Medicaid, Medicare or no insurance at all right now, we want to hear from you. Survey submissions must be received by January 30, 2020.

This survey may look familiar to you. It was first posted in 2018 and is being posted for a second time. We welcome participation from those who completed it in 2018 and those who have never participated in our research before.

The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous.

To complete the survey, go to: https://tinyurl.com/NSHD2019

Whether or not you complete the survey, you can choose to enter a drawing to win one of ten $100 gift cards. If you prefer to take the survey over the phone or have any questions about participating, please call toll-free 1.855.556.6328. (Voice/TTY) or email healthsurvey@ku.edu

WBU Employment Survey

The World Blind Union (WBU) Employment Committee has developed a short survey designed to identify employment patterns of people who are blind or partially sighted and of working-age throughout the world.

ACB and GDUI urge as many of you as possible to please take the survey. It is very comprehensive and we believe worth your time and effort to complete. Even if you are retired or have never worked, the Employment Committee needs your participation. The deadline for submitting the survey is Tuesday, March 31.

To take the survey, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/8ZP2KW3

Thank you,

Mitch Pomerantz, Vice President

North America/Caribbean Region, World Blind Union

American Council of the Blind

Are you thinking of making a career change, or improving your skills to pursue that dream job?

Here are announcements regarding three interesting job vacancies, as well as scholarship opportunities for Guiding Eyes grads, through Friends in Art, and from several American Council of the Blind donors!

A Job Announcement from Sprint!

Link to job posting:

http://careers.sprint.com/ShowJob/Id/397009/Customer%20Relationship%20Manager

Job Summary

Performs account maintenance responsibilities in a non-quota-bearing environment. Responsible for Pre/Post sales support for assigned large accounts according to department strategy. Account set-up and on-going contract management to include registration and maintenance of accounts and subsidiaries, account structure definition. Monitors and resolves order status. Conducts and project manages product/solution demonstrations, conducts quarterly account presentations for customer and identifies sell up opportunities and position value assessed services. Distributes and maintains implementation documents. Initiates and conducts first bill review with customer. Provides training as needed to sales teams and clients. Provides monthly account reports which identifies opportunities for additional sales. Prepares information for monthly and quarterly meetings with customer.

This position may be located anywhere in the US.

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and two years related work experience or six years related work experience post high school;

Two years account maintenance or sales experience;

Two years project management experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with and in the Blind, Low Vision Community;

Experience working with and communicating with diverse populations.

ACB Seeks Director of Development

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is seeking a full-time Director of Development to work in its national office in Alexandria, VA.

The Director of Development will report to the Executive Director and work in conjunction with the ACB team in the areas of fundraising, resource development, and public relations.

The primary responsibilities of this position will include:

Direct fundraising activities including major giving, grants, special events, and direct mail appeals.

Develop, implement, and monitor progress toward short- and long-term fundraising strategy and goals.

Create a gift program including identification, cultivation and solicitation of major donors.

Develop relationships with new foundations and grow the number of individual donors.

Engage new donors and build their awareness on ACB.

Communicate and build relationships with prospective donors and supporters on a continual basis.

Maintain long-term relationships with existing donors.

Generate new ideas that increase revenue and donor loyalty.

Research new income streams.

Research and identify foundations to engage in development-related conversations.

Keeping engaged in the fundraising community and staying on top of fundraising trends

Preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports as requested by the Executive Director and Board.

Partner with the CFO and support the development of the annual budget.

Attend the ACB annual convention and connect with donors.

Oversee research of prospects and grant seeking.

Oversee the Angel Wall Donation Program.

Lead the Development Committee meetings.

Work with a third party to design and complete direct mailings.

Work with the Executive Director in development related projects.

Understanding media and more modern avenues as a method to gain support or donations.

Document connection with donors in Donor Perfect.

Understanding media and more modern avenues as a method to gain support or donations.

Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

A successful candidate must have the following skills and abilities:

Driven to take initiative with limited guidance.

Strong attention to detail.

Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.

Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.

Ability to effectively direct and manage the performance of direct reports.

Ability to respond promptly and meet deadlines.

Ability to travel as circumstances require.

Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed, including participating in meetings and conference calls with ACB committees and affiliates.

Ability to work with diverse groups of people.

Demonstrates accountability and a results-oriented culture.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, donor tracking systems, and social media.

Resourceful, creative, and strong problem-solving skills.

Past fundraising including major gift experience preferred.

Some knowledge of the connections to the funding community in Washington D.C. and nationally.

Experience with collaborating, planning, and delegating program development is preferred.

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business administration, nonprofit administration, or public administration.

Applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample by e-mail to

jobs@acb.org

Applications must be received by Monday, February 10, 2020.

The American Council of the Blind, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. At the American Council of the Blind, we strive to develop an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse make-up of the blind and visually impaired community. Blindness touches people from all walks of life; ACB embraces this diversity. ACB works to bring in members of all nationalities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities, ages, genders, and other minority groups to fully represent the blind and visually impaired community in all the advocacy work we do.

Job Vacancy: Director of Outreach and Engagement

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind

 The Pennsylvania Council of the Blind (PCB) is a grassroots organization of individuals with vision loss. As a peer network PCB strives to promote the independence of and opportunities for all individuals with vision loss by advocating for legislative change, accessible technology solutions, and inclusive social and business practices. At the heart of its efforts is providing mutual support through peer sharing and encouragement.

PCB currently seeks a full-time Director of Outreach and Engagement to take on the following responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain relationships with legislators, policy changemakers, service providers, and disability stakeholders
• Work with affiliate chapters and individual volunteers to promote advocacy efforts and to develop outreach opportunities
• Monitor and report on current and potential issues of relevance to the vision loss community
• Serve as the organization’s voice at public meetings and outreach events

Key Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to initiate, prioritize, and complete projects with little oversight
• Ability to work with and report back to PCB leadership
• Good writing, oral, and phone communication skills
• Familiarity with blindness/disability related issues and the provision of services
• Grasp of basic Accounting principles
• Competency in basic Microsoft office products
• Ability to effectively utilize the internet and software applications
• Proficiency with basic office equipment
• Demonstration of an overall professional work ethic and demeanor

Background/Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Public Administration, community Outreach or related field
• Five years of experience in corporate or non-profit setting may be substituted for education

Additional Details:

• This can be a remote position, but regular travel to the Harrisburg area is required.
• Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
• PCB is an equal opportunity employer.

Interested applicants should post a letter of interest and resume to: hr@pcb1.org

by February 1, 2020

Arthur and Phyllis Milton Foundation Scholarship

The Arthur and Phyllis Milton Foundation, Inc has reinstated the Arthur Milton Scholarship Fund in honor of the late Arthur Milton, a well-known, retired insurance executive, consumerist, author and consultant. A $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to outstanding graduates of Guiding Eyes for the Blind to assist each individual’s pursuit of higher education.

Initially awarded in 2000 Arthur Milton commented, “I selected Guiding Eyes for this special gift because the courage of their students in choosing a guide dog, to open up new horizons for themselves, made a deep impact upon me.”

Contact Becky Barnes Davidson to receive a copy of the application and to submit the completed form. Applications are due by April 1, 2020. Applications may be submitted in all formats- email, Braille or large print. The Milton Award Committee will select the winners of the Scholarship and inform the applicants by June 15th.

Becky Barnes-Davidson

bbarnes@guidingeyes.org

Manager, Consumer Outreach & Graduate Support

Guiding Eyes for the Blind

611 Granite Springs Road

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

Call: 914.243.2210

Or, toll-free: 800.942.0149 ext. 2210

Text: 914.705.1626

www.guidingeyes.org

Apply for the Friends in Art Scholarship

Friends-in-Art (FIA), a nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing accessibility and opportunity for artists and audience members who are visually impaired, offers an annual $1500 scholarship to college students who are legally blind and live in North America.

If you are a high school senior or a college student planning to, or are currently majoring in the field of music, art, drama, or creative writing, and are blind or visually impaired, we encourage you to apply!

Note: Legal blindness is defined as an individual who has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the corrected eye and/or 20 degrees or less visual field in the corrected eye. Only individuals who are legally blind in BOTH eyes are eligible to receive this scholarship.

To apply, please go to

www.friendsinart.com , and complete the application. You will need to upload or e-mail the required supporting materials, including documentation of visual impairment from a medical professional, per the directions on the form, by May 15, 2020.

Please direct any questions to Peter Altschul, FIA’s scholarship chair, via email at searchforcommonground@outlook.com

The Deadline is Approaching to Apply for ACB Scholarships!

Don’t Miss This Opportunity!

The American Council of the Blind’s (ACB) Scholarship Program was established in 1982. The American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) have now partnered together to offer educational scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for those attending a technical college or as an entering freshman, undergraduate or a graduate student.

This program awards students with scholarships to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as tuition, fees, room and board and other additional costs associated with adaptive technology.

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants need to be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for most scholarships, be a full-time student (as well as students who work 32 or more hours per week and attend college part time), and be involved in their school/local community.

Applications for the 2020-2021 school year can be submitted online from Friday, November 1, 2019 to Friday, February 14, 2020 11:59pm (CST).

All interested candidates must register for a new ACB account prior to submitting a scholarship application online. Visit this link to register:

https://acb.org/scholarships

Candidates will receive an email containing a link to complete the scholarship application after their account request has been approved. Please note – the approval process could take up to three business days.

Scholarship winners will experience firsthand ACB’s National Conference and Convention in July, where you will meet other students who share the same life experiences, create lasting friendships and network with individuals who understand what you are going through and can help you with your journey. There are also many sessions where you can learn about new technology and what is happening in our community.

For more information, please contact Nancy Feela in the ACB National Office at 612.332.3242 or 800.866.3242. We look forward to receiving your application materials.

From Your Editor: a new decade, and a new vision for Pawtracks!

This is Andrea your new editor. As is the case with any successor, I am both excited about this new partnership and extremely aware of the excellence of my predecessor. Will guided with skill and dedication for which we all thank him. Now it is my turn to pull into the harness and guide this publication forward. Just like other successors, I ask for your patients, and when necessary your forgiveness with any miss-steps, as we settle into this new partnership. Now about that new vision I mentioned… Pawtracks has a new name and look!

Going forward, you will receive Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! The new publication will still have announcements from our president, news you can use and interesting articles. However, it will not be a quarterly publication any more. Rather, Paws for GDUI News You Can Use will be a hipper, happening streamlined version of its former self, striding forth much more often keeping the contents fresh and pertinent, current, and timely! Now, enough of the lecture portion for today; lets step out and work this new route!

How to Calculate Your Dog’s Real Age

[This article originally appeared on The Conversation, and is republished under a Creative Commons license. Source URL: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200106-how-to-calculate-your-dogs-real-Age]

Your pet clearly ages faster than you do, but new research is giving us a much clearer idea of just how old your dog really might be.

By Christian Yates

6th January 2020

If your dog has been alive and kicking its paws about for a decade, the widely held belief is it has aged as much as a human would have done over 70 years. This conversion factor – each year of a dog’s life accounting for seven human years – comes from dividing human life expectancy of around 77 by the canine life expectancy of around 11.

The underlying assumption is that each calendar year a dog lives through is equivalent to seven human years at any stage of a dog’s life. But new research suggests that things aren’t so simple. And if we look at some basic developmental milestones, it’s clear why.

For example, most dog breeds reach sexual maturity between the ages of six and 12 months – the upper end of that range corresponding, by the traditional conversion, to a human age of seven. And at the other end of the spectrum, although unusual, some dogs have been known to live for over 20 years. Under the “factor-of-seven” conversion rule, this would equate to an unfathomable 140 human-equivalent years.

New insights into how dogs age suggest our pets move into middle age more rapidly than most owners might suspect.

To make matters more complicated, dogs’ life expectancy depends significantly on the breed. Smaller dogs tend to live significantly longer , suggesting that they age more slowly than bigger dogs.

All of this raises the question of what exactly we mean by age. The most obvious way to describe it is simply the length of time that has passed since birth. This is known as the chronological definition of age.

When it comes to comparing animal ages across species, the biological definitions of age are far more useful than their chronological counterparts

However, there are other descriptions. Biological age, for example, is a more subjective definition, which relies on assessing physiological indicators to identify an individual’s development. These include measures like the “ frailty index” – surveys that take into account an individual’s disease status, cognitive impairments and levels of activity.

Then there are the more objective ageing biomarkers, such as levels of gene expression (genes produce proteins at differing rates at different stages of life) or numbers of immune cells. The rate at which biological age increases depends on genetically inherited factors, mental health and lifestyle.

Rather than celebrating chronological age, looking at the levels of methylation on a dog’s DNA is a much more accurate measure of aging

For example, if you’ve spent a lot of time eating junk food and smoking cigarettes instead of taking exercise and eating healthily, the chances are your biological age will exceed your chronological age. Or, you might be a 60-year-old with the body of a 40-year-old if you’ve looked after yourself well.

A dog’s life When it comes to comparing animal ages across species, the biological definitions of age are far more useful than their chronological counterparts. Knowing a hamster is six weeks old doesn’t give you a good picture of that animal’s life stage, even if you know the life expectancy of a hamster is only three years. Learning that a hamster has reached an age where it can reproduce gives a much better picture of its level of maturity.

The authors of the new ageing study suggest that a sensible way to measure biological age is though so-called “epigenetic clocks” – changes to the packaging of our DNA that accumulate over time in all mammals.

In their first year of life, puppies grow up so quickly that they age the equivalent of 31 human years. In particular, “methylation” – the addition of methyl groups (a carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms) to DNA – seems to be a good indicator of age. Many prominent physiological markers, such as the development of teeth, seem to occur at the same levels of methylation across different species. So by matching the levels of methylation in Labrador retrievers and humans, the researchers derived a formula to map dog age to its human equivalent.

That formula is: human equivalent age = 16 x ln(dog’s chronological age) + 31.

Here “ln” represents a mathematical function known as the natural logarithm. The logarithm function is well-known in the non-linear scales for energy released during earthquakes (Richter) or for measuring sound (decibels). It comes in useful for measuring quantities whose sizes vary over many orders of magnitude. It’s even possible that a logarithmic experience of the passing of time might explain why we perceive time speeding up as we get older.

A handy short cut is to remember that the first dog year counts for 31 human years. Then, after that, every time the dog’s chronological age doubles, the number of equivalent human years increases by 11. So eight calendar years represents three “doublings” (from one to two, two to four and then four to eight) giving a dog age equivalent of 64 (that’s 31 + 3×11).

In eight calendar years a dog will approximately age the equivalent of 64 years.

Most dog lovers will already have suspected that the human-to-dog age relationship is non-linear, having noticed that, initially, their pets mature much more quickly than the linear factor-of-seven rule suggests.

A more sophisticated refinement to the factor-of-seven rules has suggested that each of the dog’s first two years correspond to 12 human years while all subsequent years count for four human equivalents.

In practice the new molecular insights into human-to-dog age conversion encapsulated by the logarithmic law suggest that dogs move into middle age even more rapidly than most dog-owners would have suspected. It’s worth bearing in mind, when you find that Rex is reluctant to chase the ball like he once did, that he’s probably got more miles on the clock than you’ve been giving him credit for.

Christian Yates is a senior lecturer in mathematical biology at the University of Bath. He is also the author of The Maths of Life and Death

Weimaraner Tales

Peter altschul

[From: http://www.peteraltschul.com/weimaraner-tales/]

Around forty years ago, I was sitting with eleven other adults with visual impairments in the lounge at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization that trains dogs to be guide dogs, matches humans to the dog most likely to meet their needs, and nurtures the starting phase of the relationship. We were each waiting to find out which dog had been assigned to become our travel guardian.

“Peter,” the instructor told me. “Your dog is a Weimaraner—”

“A what?” I squawked.

“A Weimaraner.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll find out!”

The Weimaraner named Heidi became the best-behaved dog in class. She led me through increasingly complex routes without making a mistake, and didn’t even dive for a pork chop that another dog handler accidentally dropped during dinner.

Even though Heidi was ten months old.

Five hours after returning home with Heidi, we went on our first walk together, my dad trailing several feet behind. On our return home, I heard a kid squeal and run towards us, but Heidi kept right on going.

“Good girl!” I said.

When my dad caught up with us as we were turning into our driveway, he told me that Heidi had snatched an entire ice cream cone out of that squealing child’s hand.

“Why didn’t the kid scream or something?” I asked.

“It happened so fast she was too shocked to,” he explained.

Heidi became a superb guide dog, swerving me around obstacles on New York City sidewalks, streets, subways, busses, and office buildings while walking at a four – to five-mile-and-hour clip. She yanked me out of the path of an ambulance that silently cut in front of us when the light was in our favor. She slept through endless meetings and recording sessions. When I got my first real job, she was the best-behaved dog among five other service dogs in the office.

But in order to benefit from Heidi’s strengths, I needed to provide accommodations for her Weimaraner disability.

Heidi was food-driven. But her palate was much broader than most Labradors. She snatched paper cups, napkins, cigarette butts, and candy wrappers from sidewalks and subway stairs as we prowled Manhattan streets. “No!” I would shout, sticking my hand in her mouth to remove whatever she had found. She also crunched on dead fish as my Mom and I walked on the sandbars on a Cape Cod bay beach. One Christmas night, she drained the glass of an unsuspecting guest of a cocktail that my stepmom had made in his honor.

Heidi hunted. She spent hours stalking birds in my stepmom’s fenced-in backyard and seagulls on a Cape Cod beach. She nearly caught a deer in the woods of Aspen, Colorado.

I occasionally felt Heidi’s body bend low to the ground through her harness handle as we walked those Manhattan streets. This time, pigeons were her prey. She didn’t slowed down very much, and never ran me into anything. But she once tried to climb the wall of a building in hot pursuit as a pedestrian from across the street shouted “you get that damn bird!”

Heidi hated getting wet. On rainy days, she howled as I dragged her into the rain, but assisted me in arriving at a dry destination, pawing the ground while waiting for a traffic light to change and poking pedestrians out of the way with her nose. On icy sidewalks, she picked up the pace, scattering pedestrians as we jogged past them.

Heidi had a large repertoire of barks, howls, purrs, and grunts. At the Aspen Music festival, she snapped at a mosquito throughout a performance of a piece I had written for soprano and bassoon. During a picnic for composers, she tried to persuade the wife of my composition teacher through impassioned barks, snaps, and howls in the spirit of a Wagnerian contralto to give her the hot dog the woman was holding.

For the past forty years, Guiding Eyes training staff has never trained another Weimaraner to be a guide dog, deciding that Labradors, golden retrievers, and the occasional German shepherd could get the job done with less drama. After Heidi retired eight years since we were connected, each of my Guiding Eyes-trained dogs have been Labs with ornery streaks. Each has worked well with me.

But for those eight years, Heidi was the perfect dog.

My spirit dog.

Sundance Partnership Extends Accessibility for Attendees With Disabilities

[Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sundance-film-festival-partnership-extends-accessibility-attendees-disabilities-1270602]

A new alliance with the Ruderman Family Foundation will improve the accessibility of closed captioning, audio description and assisted listening devices, among other resources, at the 2020 event.

The Sundance Film Festival is making changes to improve accessibility for attendees with disabilities.

The Ruderman Family Foundation on Wednesday announced a partnership with the Sundance Institute to provide more resources for attendees with disabilities and to include a greater amount of programming featuring people with disabilities, including an opening-weekend film.

The disability organization is helping to improve the accessibility of closed captioning (CC) at the fest with CaptiView devices and Feature Film Captioning Service. It will also be expanding Audio Description (AD) and Assisted Listening Devices (ALD) with headsets for AD and ALD and Feature Film Audio Description Service. American Sign Language interpretation will additionally be available at all official Sundance events and official panels at the festival’s Filmmaker Lodge.

All Sundance theaters have CC, AD and ALD devices that can be requested from theater staff at the start of an event and retrieved by them afterward. All theaters are additionally wheelchair-accessible and offer seating for attendees with disabilities and companions. Wheelchair-accessible shuttles are available on festival transit roads, and staff and volunteers have been trained to work with attendees with mobility devices if they ask for them.

In terms of programming, the upcoming festival is set to screen Crip Camp, a documentary about a summer camp for teenagers with disabilities and its effect on the disability rights movement, on the Friday of the event’s opening weekend (Jan. 24), followed by a Q&A. Additionally, the Ruderman Family Foundation is partnering with The Atlantic to host a panel on disability in entertainment and disability inclusion on Sunday, Jan. 26.

“The generous partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation allows us to expand accessibility resources in theatres and official venues, providing audiences with disabilities the much needed capabilities to enjoy and experience our Festival programming, and activating all of our Artist Programs to deepen our creative and professional development engagement with artists with disabilities,” a Sundance spokesperson said in a statement.

The move follows Sundance’s announcement that a quarter of the recipients of 2020’s Press Inclusion Initiative, which offers cash stipends to 51 freelance critics from underrepresented communities, were people with disabilities. 

The Ruderman Family Foundation also put pressure on the entertainment industry to improve inclusion last month when it published an open letter asking studios, network and production executives to open up more casting opportunities for talent with disabilities. Signatories of the letter included Ed Norton, Bryan Cranston, Mark Ruffalo, Glenn Close, Eva Longoria, Orlando Jones and Peter Farrelly, among others.

“We are excited that Sundance shares our commitment to advancing the rights of those who have been historically underrepresented in film, media, theater and other artistic platforms,” Ruderman Family Foundation president Jay Ruderman said in a statement. “Our partnership will enable Sundance to infuse themes of inclusion of people with disabilities and diversity throughout the festival and its year-round programming, while casting a crucial spotlight among the festival’s 120,000-plus attendees on our work to pioneer a culture of greater inclusion in the entertainment industry.”

This year’s Sundance Film Festival is set to run through Feb. 2.

A Little Extra Convention Enticement, Especially for Baseball Fans!

As you know, the GDUI Convention occurs concurrently with the ACB Conference and Convention, which will be in Schaumburg, Ill in early July 2020! Soon our GDUI Convention Page will be coming to our web site, and convention related announcements will increase during coming months in this publication. Just to whet your appetite, though, we want to share this intriguing ACB Tour News which will surely be exciting for all of you who are baseball fans! What a great way to top off Wednesday of GDUI Convention Week – First, our fabulous awards Luncheon, then a trip to Wrigley Field!

If you like baseball you don’t want to miss this tour! Join the American Council of the Blind at the 2020 Conference and Convention for an interleague game between the Cubs and White sox! We will visit Wrigley Field on Wednesday, July 8th for a 7:05 PM game. Whether you wear blue or white, root for the north or southside this game is for you!

We will arrive in plenty of time for you to grab some food or sit back and enjoy the pregame action.

We are hoping to arrange a tour of Wrigley Field earlier in the day, if that happens you will have the option of attending the tour plus the game or just the game.

Here’s basic information about next summer’s convention, to help you begin searching for transportation, booking rooms, and making plans:

Convention dates are July 3rd through 10^th, 2020. The location is Schaumburg, Illinois. The hotel is the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. Room rates are $94 per night for up to four people in a room. This room rate does not include tax, which is currently 15 percent.

For telephone reservations, call 800.468.3571. This is a central reservations number, so please indicate that you are with the American Council of the Blind 2020 conference and convention at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Ill. Rooms must be booked by June 10, 2020 to guarantee the convention rate.

Registration will cost $25 for pre-registration, $35 for on-site. This fee will include all general sessions, the exhibit hall, some affiliate programming and the many sessions offered by our sponsors and business partners. But wait, there’s more! All committee sessions that do not involve food functions will be provided free of charge. That means the transportation seminar, legislative boot camp, information access programming and so much more will all be included in the cost of registration.

Convention Contacts

2020 exhibit information: Michael Smitherman, 601.331.7740,

amduo@bellsouth.net

2020 advertising and sponsorships: Margarine Beaman, 512.921.1625,

oleo50@hotmail.com

For any other convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at

651.428.5059, or via email,

janet.dickelman@gmail.com

Or for specific GDUI Convention Information, contact Andrea Giudice, through our Secretary, Sarah Calhoun: 866.799.8436, or by e-mail:

DawgMawm@gmail.com

This room rate does not include tax which is currently 15.0%. For telephone reservations call (800) 468-3571, this is a central reservations number so please indicate you are with the American Council of the Blind 2020 conference and convention at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg IL.

Thank you for reading and sharing our Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! We welcome your feedback and your involvement in our organization. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

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Our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/.

Our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.

Download or subscribe to the GDUI Juno Report pod cast here: http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

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