Blog

President: Sarah Calhoun

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder

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 editor: Hello fellow GDUISters

GDUI Convention 2021 is over and, as for Mr. A and I, much rest did ensue! 

I am taking this opportunity to recognize people, without whom, this convention would not have happened, or been so successful!

To the Convention Program Planning team- Deb Trevino, co-coordinator, Sarah Calhoun, GDUI President, Lynn Merrill, Maria Hansen, Maria Kristic, and, last but very much not least, my anonymous (name withheld to protect the innocent) Planning Partner- unnamed but eternally thanked!!! Ladies you made me look clever, creative- like all that and a Kit Kat!! “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!” To Steve our wonderful web master, you always rise to whatever challenge I throw at you. As a result of your expertise, and prompt response to any and all requests updates and changes to gdui.org happen quickly and accessibly. I am forever grateful for the Steveafacation of the content I send your way! To all of the presenters for giving up time during their summer to share with us and be interesting, informative, and enlightening. To Hava who provided plush guides, Pawz and Rezoom, so beautifully appointed in their hand-crafted gear! To everyone who purchased tickets for the drawing and registered for GDUI at the time of overall conference registration helping raise much needed funds for GDUI to continue the life changing work we do. To the people who hosted each session, making certain untrained people such as myself didn’t derail the doings. To everyone behind the scenes at ACB for making the virtual experience so terrific and unforgettable. To all of you who attended the sessions, causing all the time, energy, and work necessary to make GDUI Convention 2021 happen fade in to a distant memory, replaced with a feeling of having hit one all the way out of the park!

I really enjoyed the program this year! I found it interesting, informative, and thought provoking. It was great fun being part of the team that put it together!

While it was not the intention to create a program that was thematic, that is what happened. Our author, Christie Bane, talked about her book, Forward Together: An Inside Look at Guide Dog Training, which delves in to the raising, training and placement of guide dogs. Dr. Giudice and Paul Fink describe some of their current research and talked about the future of autonomous vehicles (Avs; the many benefits and huge potential of this newest form of transportation, and highlighted some of the challenges that need to be addressed. 

We learned of a collaborative video, created to educate TSA, airport, and airline employees. Chelsea White- The Seeing Eye and Rabih Dow- Guide Dogs for the Blind, partners in the video, explained who is the target audience and urged all of us to share it with anyone we know, or anyone we know who knows someone, connected to TSA and airports and airlines.

Find the video here:

https://vimeo.com/547734281

David Locklin- Leader Dogs for the Blind, Lukas Franck- The Seeing Eye, and Diane Bergeron- CNIB Guide Dogs discussed the importance of knowledge sharing between guide schools. Whether helping each other through the pandemic or with the challenges faced establishing guide dog programs around the world. Additionally, we had more guide dog schools than ever before at the school update session; filling us in on how they have weathered the past year, and the creative, innovative way they have met the unusual circumstances of the pandemic. Of course, let’s not forget, the amazing, inspiring award winners!

So, focus on travel you ask? Yes, each session focused on some aspect of the guide dog world… how they grow and learn, the fabulous lives people lead and things they do while partnered with a guide dog, how the programs that breed and train them are working, individually and together, to meet the needs of their graduates and applicants, how those same guide dog programs are dedicated to bringing the freedom and independence of the guide dog life style to the whole world, we received a new tool, the video, to make air travel less frustrating,  and finally, what it might look like for us to be able to “drive” ourselves, and our guides, to a favorite local business and get a celebratory treat or beverage.

Well, space, and your attention, runs short. “Madame President, I apologize, my rhapsodizing has left no room for your usual greetings! “

Enjoy this issue and stay safe and cool!

Sending cyber hugs and wags, Andrea and Mr. A

Announcement: Want to help drive the future of driving?

Contact Dr. Nicholas Giudice to get involved with his research

nicholas.giudice@maine.edu,

Announcement: News from National Braille Press

Massive Downloadable Braille Sale!

Download and store these books before they disappear on August 31st!

Though National Braille Press moved exclusively into using the Unified English Braille code (UEB) back in 2016, we still have a handful of useful and/or fun books in downloadable electronic braille format (BRFs) in the old, English Braille American Edition code (EBAE). To help us clean up our database, we plan to remove these older BRFs, but not before we give you a chance to download them at a huge discount!

We’re offering these books as downloads only for $5.00 each between now and August 31, 2021. From cookbooks to kids book, get them now!

Take a look here: https://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/download-sale

Announcement: Totally cool source for accessible games

64 Ounce Games 

3911 Greenwood Drive

Pearland TX 77584

Richard@64ouncegames.com

https://64ozgames.com

Announcement: Hadley presents

Two interesting items from Hadley:

Now There’s a Magazine Website Specifically for You

Dorrie Rush, OE’s Chief Content Officer, joins us for a chat about this wonderful online resource chock full of tips for living well with vision loss.

You’ll find great articles on using tech tools, tips for health and well-being, stories from others living with vision loss, a terrific podcast, and more.

Audio Described National Parks

Audio Describe the World! That’s the mantra of UniDescription: a free smartphone app that provides audio descriptions and navigation tips for US National Parks and other public places.

Downloadable transcripts are available at: hadley.edu

Article: Important news about traveling with a guide dog, from the CDC

As of July 14, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began requiring that people traveling back to the U.S. from countries where rabies is a high risk obtain a permit to return to the country with their dogs. The CDC urges people to apply for the permit 6 weeks before they intend to return to the country with their dogs. This permit requirement does apply to service dogs and you must have the permit even if your dog was vaccinated in the U.S. and you have proof of vaccination. Below is the list of countries the CDC considers to be high risk. If your travel destination is not on this list, you do not need to apply for the permit. You should review the list carefully as you make your travel plans.

Below is a link to detailed information about how to apply for the permit, including information about where to email your completed permit application.

How to Apply for a CDC Dog Import Permit

You must already have the permit when you return from the high-risk country to the U.S. You cannot apply for the permit upon your return to the U.S. If you return without a permit, your dog can be denied entry into the country.

If you have questions about this information, please reach out directly to the CDC either by email at cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov or call (800)-232-4636.

Beginning July 14, 2021, there is a temporary suspension for dogs imported from high-risk countries for dog rabies. CDC has the authority to issue a CDC Dog Import Permit for US citizens and lawful residents relocating from high-risk countries to bring their dogs into the United States. Such permits will be issued on an extremely limited basis.

First 90-Day Transition Process

From July 14 through October 14, 2021, dogs coming from high-risk countries with CDC Dog Import Permits can enter the United States at one of these 18 airports: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago (ORD), Dallas, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York (JFK), Newark, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle, and Washington, DC (Dulles).

After October 14, 2021, dogs coming from high-risk countries with CDC Dog Import Permits must enter only at approved ports of entry.

High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies:

Updated July 14, 2021

Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti

Egypt (Temporary importation suspension of dogs from Egypt until further notice)

Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,

Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya

Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria

Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa

South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara

Zambia, Zimbabwe

Americas & Caribbean: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil

Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador

El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras

Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela

Asia and the Middle East, Eastern Europe:

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei

Cambodia, China (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan)

Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq

Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan

Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia

Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Oman

Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia

Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand

Timor-Leste (East Timor), Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine

United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

If a country or political unit is not listed above, it is not considered high risk for importing dog rabies into the United States. Therefore, if the country is not listed, CDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccine certificate, but it is not required to enter the United States.

Editor’s note: I sent an e-mail requesting more detailed information about how this CDC Dog Import Permit and the restricted entry airports pertains to guide dogs. I did receive an answer, just today, and I am pasting in one line from that message: “At this time, service dogs may travel through the approved airports.” I am no expert; however, it seems careful research needs to be done if your travel includes any of the above-mentioned countries.

Article: Prevent these five common summer paw problems

(https://vcahospitals.com/shop/home/articles/prevent-these-five-common-summer-paw-problems)

Spending time outside in the fresh air and sunshine is one of the many joys of summer, but sometimes outdoor play can end up being a bit rough on dog paws. Nothing puts the kibosh on outdoor fun as fast as a paw injury. Keep the good times going by taking these steps to ensure your dog’s feet remain unharmed throughout all their summertime shenanigans. While some cuts and bruises may be unavoidable, these five classic summertime paw problems are perfectly preventable.

Burnt and torn pads:

If you’ve ever run across the street barefoot as a kid, then you undoubtedly remember just how hot and uncomfortable that blacktop can get. Walking or, even worse, running on its scorching and rough surface can easily burn and tear your dog’s paw pads. Protect those tender toes by restricting your walks and runs to the cooler hours of the day and the smoother sidewalk surfaces.

Metal edging injuries:

Metal edging is a common fixture in many backyards, which is probably why it’s also one of the most common causes of cut dog paws. Although it may seem blunt, it’s as good as a knife when a running dog lands on it at high speed. Remove the risk from your yard by opting for pet-friendly edging options like brick or poured concrete.

Torn nails:

A toenail that gets snagged during rambunctious play or a full-tilt run can end up getting pulled right off—ouch! Keep your dog’s nails trimmed short to prevent them from catching on things. If you’ve been avoiding this task because your dog isn’t a fan of nail trims, check out our tips to de-stress your pet’s pedicures.

Grass awn foreign bodies:

Grass awns, also known as foxtails, may look harmless as they barely cling to your dog’s coat, but these problematic seed pods have the uncanny ability to penetrate the skin and then slowly work their way deeper into the tissue. They often end up between dog toes, making their way into the paw itself. Keep grass awns off your dog by mowing your lawn regularly and avoiding tall grasses on walks.

Ticks:

These crafty parasites like to burrow in tricky places, and one of their common hard-to-find spots is between the toes (in the ears is their other super sneaky hideout). Because finding them can be so difficult, the best way to protect your pet from ticks is to use year-round parasite preventives.

Article: Guide Dog Raised by NHL Team Is Ready to Head to the Paralympics with His New Swimmer Owner

(Article link: https://people.com/pets/guide-dog-raised-by-nhl-team-paired-with-paralympic-swimmer/)

Anastasia Pagonis, 16, and Radar the guide dog are currently at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado

September is National Service Dog Month, but that’s not even the biggest news in Radar’s life.

The Labrador retriever guide dog was recently matched with his owner Anastasia Pagonis, a blind 16-year-old who quickly succeeded at competitive swimming after losing her eyesight two years ago. Two weeks after being introduced, Radar and Pagonis are residing at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Pagonis, one of the top athletes on the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team, is training for a chance to compete in the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo — now rescheduled to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Even though the pair only knew each other for 4 days ahead of the trip from Pagonis’ home in Long Island, New York to Colorado, the swimmer says that Radar handled travel “really well.” Having Radar by her side was a welcomed change for Pagonis, who had to “rely on other people” for almost everything before being paired with the guide dog. 

“Honestly, I couldn’t be like my own person and so now that I have him, I feel so independent,” the teen tells PEOPLE about how Radar has already rapidly reshaped her life. 

“I’m gonna conquer the world with him,” she adds.

Pagonis already conquered quite a bit before meeting Radar. At 11, Pagonis, then playing soccer, was starting to lose her vision due to a genetic disease, and while she could see “pretty well at the time” she had a blind spot that caused her to ” get kicked in the face too much with the ball.” Dedicated to keeping athletics as part of her life, Pagonis spoke to her doctor about a different sport she could try that was better suited to her vision loss. Her doctor suggested swimming. 

“When I got in the water, I fell in love with it,” Pagonis says of starting the sport. “It was a place where I felt free, where I didn’t need any help getting around, and I didn’t need anything.”

Unfortunately, in 2018, Pagonis’ vision “completely blew” suddenly, leaving her only able to distinguish some variations in light.

“We didn’t understand why this was happening or what was going on,” Pagonis says of the overwhelming moment. “I went back to the doctor and I came back with autoimmune retinopathy, which is another disease on top of my genetic disease. How lucky am I?”

The sudden loss of her vision understandably rattled Pagonis who stopped swimming and went through “a really dark time” as she grappled with what this change meant for her future. With help from her supportive family, Pagonis focused on her mental health and got the help she needed to be ready to start swimming again.

“Then, we could not find a coach that wanted to train me because nobody wanted to train the blind girl,” she says of trying to restart swimming. “Nobody had faith in me.”

Until Marc Danin of Islander Aquatics happily agreed to train Pagonis, even blacking out his goggles to get a better understanding of how Pagonis experiences swimming.

“I figured it out and I got back into it and now it’s my happy place. I love it so much again. It’s honestly my favorite time of the day. My favorite time of everything. It’s my life now,” Pagonis shares.

This passion, and the support of Coach Danin and her team, has helped Pagonis rise to the position she is in now: training for a potential spot in the Paralympics. Pagonis has also embraced her vision loss and has become an advocate for blind people and everything they can achieve, using her Instagram (@anastasia_k_p) to show her support and enthusiastically educate others on what living life as a blind person is really like.

Pagonis says it is not uncommon for followers to slide into her DM to question if she is really blind because of her appearance and everything she has achieved, an impressive amount for any 16-year-old. She relishes replying to these doubters, explaining to them how real blind people, like her, rarely match the helpless stereotypes many have in their heads.

“I get put in a box all the time. I get put in a box that I can’t do this. I can’t do that,” she says. “I just feel like blindness has such a stereotype where you have to look a certain way, and act a certain way, and you can’t be an elite athlete, and you can’t wear makeup, and you can’t dress up.  You just have to be what they want you to be.”

Having Radar by her side only makes her feel more fierce and unstoppable.

“He is literally amazing and he is the smartest dog in the world,” she says of the pooch, who goes with her everywhere, including the pool. 

“He’ll just sit on the side of the deck and he’ll just chill there.”

If Pagonis heads to Tokyo in 2021 for the Paralympics, Radar will be there too, and he is uniquely prepared for the crowds, sounds, and chaos that comes with big events.

Radar, a guide dog trained by the Guide Dog Foundation, was raised by the New York Islanders hockey team. While Radar was born at the Guide Dog Foundation’s campus in Long Island, New York, and was later trained by their professionals and matched with Pagonis free of charge, the non-profit relies on volunteers to help raise and socialize their puppies before they return to campus for more advanced training.

The New York Islanders, who had partnered with the Guide Dog Foundation before to raise funds for their efforts, decided to take their support one step further by helping the foundation raise puppies, and Radar was their first. The precious pup attended Islanders games, met fans, pawed around the office, and was regularly immersed in all the sounds and sensations that come with a major sports game.

“Essentially a huge portion of what the first few months of guide dog training are is socializing the puppy and introducing them to new things,” says Ann Rina, the senior director of community relations for the Islanders.  “And what better way to do that? We have a captive audience of 15,000 fans in our arena, so why not?”

Radar quickly became a team favorite during his puppy raising period with the Islanders, and Rina says the team, and their fans, are overjoyed to see the dog grown up and already making an impact on his owner’s life. The NHL team was so smitten with being part of the process, the are in the process of raising another service puppy, this time for the Guide Dog Foundation’s sister organization, America’s VetDogs.

To keep track of Pagonis’ Paralympics journey, which hopefully ends with a gold medal for her and Radar, follow her on Instagram.

Article: Judge David Tatel’s lack of eyesight never defined him, but his blindness is woven into the culture of the influential appeals court in D.C.

By: Ann E. Marimow

The Washington Post July 8, 2021

When Judge David S. Tatel informed President Biden of his plan to step back from the federal bench this year, he closed his letter on a personal note: “My guide dog, Vixen, is pleased to know that First Dogs Champ and Major are also German Shepherds.”

In nearly three decades on the appeals court in Washington, Tatel’s lack of eyesight has never defined him. But his blindness — and more recently the attentive German shepherd at his side — is now woven into the culture of the courthouse where Tatel has been at the epicenter of consequential cases affecting major aspects of American life.

The latest formal portrait of the court’s black-robed judges features Vixen in the front row.

“For a judge who can’t see, he sees everything. Not just what is going on in the case before him, but how it matters in the future,” said Steve Vladeck, a constitutional law professor at the University of Texas and close observer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.

Circuit. “It’s hard to think of a judge who is more highly respected on the federal appellate bench even by those who disagree with him.”

His plan at age 79 to take a lighter caseload or “senior status” once Biden installs his successor winds down the career of a leading, liberal-leaning voice on the bench that has shaped laws affecting voting rights, the environment, Internet regulations and press freedoms.

Biden’s first slate of judicial nominees aims to quickly boost diversity in federal courts Tatel’s tenure on one of the most influential courts in the country has often thrust him into high-profile disputes involving the

government: New York Times reporter Judith Miller’s battle to protect a confidential source; the troubled military trials at Guantánamo Bay; and more recently, his unsuccessful attempt to block the Trump administration from reviving the federal death penalty.

“After so many years in D.C. in the thick of a lot of controversies, it would be easy to be cynical. But he’s never wavered in his faith in the system he’s a part of,” said Goodwin Liu, one of Tatel’s former law clerks who is a justice on the California Supreme Court. “He has always believed he could persuade his colleagues with rational argument and is open to persuasion himself.”

During oral arguments in the wood-paneled fifth-floor courtroom, it is easy to forget that Tatel is blind. He asks penetrating questions and often has a better handle on details from the dregs of thick case files than some of the attorneys arguing before him. The signs are subtle — an elbow from a colleague guiding him to his seat or the request from a fellow judge to the arguing attorney to read a specific statute out loud.

Retired judge Thomas B. Griffith, who served with Tatel for 15 years, never considered Tatel’s blindness a limitation, but rather envied how his work seemed enhanced by technology. On the bench,

Tatel uses a small Braille computer, listening through one earpiece as he clicks through his meticulous notes.

“Our joke in chambers was, I want one of those little black boxes because it’s got all the right answers, it asks all the right questions and has all the right record citations,” Griffith said.

“It’s just amazing.”

‘The brain adapts’

Tatel’s vision first posed a problem when he played baseball as a kid in Silver Spring. Diagnosed with a retinal disease at the National Eye Institute at 15, he stopped driving his third year of law school at the University of Chicago. His eyesight deteriorated dramatically during a family ski trip when he was nearly 30.

Tatel’s wife Edie, and later the couple’s four children, became his “audible artists” — reading to him, describing the world and guiding him on hikes and down ski slopes.

But after Tatel lost his eyesight, his memory improved prodigiously.

The system of workarounds and network of support he developed, in addition to advances in technology and his superior memory, gave Tatel something akin to a superpower.

Early on, when he was a lawyer in private practice in Washington, Tatel needed everything read to him — newspapers, the mail, legal briefs. Now his desk is a tangle of cords for devices that include the Braille computer that converts text to speech and an oversized iPod-like audio reader.

The computer speaks to him in a robotic, male voice that reads everything including Roman numerals and punctuation marks while mispronouncing certain words. The judge listens at a clip four, sometimes five, times the normal speed, and tears through three newspapers daily and at least half a dozen books a month.

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“The brain adapts,” he said.

By necessity, Tatel’s law clerks read drafts of opinions out loud and make edits as they go before he does light edits on his own computer.

“If a clerk read the wrong word or missed a comma, he would know and say, ‘Isn’t there a comma there or isn’t that a different word?’”

recalled Michelle Friedland, a former clerk who is now a judge on the 9th Circuit.

Tatel’s writing is sparse and not prone to rhetorical flourishes. He detests passive voice and considers footnotes clutter. Anything worth saying should be fully explored in the text of the opinion, he says.

“He has tremendous ability to think in complete paragraphs and a great command of the overall picture of what a draft looks like,” Liu said.

President Bill Clinton picked Tatel in 1994 to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg. By then, he’d had a long career as a prominent civil liberties lawyer working to desegregate public schools throughout the country. Tatel honed his judicial style in more than 700 opinions and has collaborated with more than 100 clerks, whose photos are prominently displayed in the hallway of his chambers.

Some include college debate champions who Tatel first hired as his human readers before they went on to law school and returned to his chambers. Travis Crum, his first, gave Tatel a pipeline to what Crum jokingly calls “fast talking nerds who want to go to law school.”

“With all due respect to Yale Law School,” said Crum, now a law professor, “it was the best legal education I got.”

‘He plays it straight’

Even as technology has evolved, what has not changed is Tatel’s analytical, energetic approach to the law and appreciation for the real-world impact of his decisions.

In 2012, a significant case landed with Tatel and his colleagues over a central provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that required states with a history of discrimination to seek federal approval before changing voting laws. Proponents said it was needed to protect minority voting rights, but the Supreme Court had already signaled skepticism.

“I’ve read the briefs, and I realize the Supreme Court has hinted where it’s headed,” Judge Stephen F. Williams, a nominee of President Ronald Reagan, wrote in an email to Tatel. “But I remain uncertain.

What’s your view, David?”

What followed were memos, phone calls and meetings in Tatel’s chambers overlooking the National Gallery of Art in which the judges grappled over the law and the issues in a collaborative back-and-forth.

“You can’t predict how he’s going to decide based on who the plaintiff is or what the issue is. He plays it straight,” said Griffith, the third judge on the panel.

Tatel could not persuade Williams, his close friend who died last summer. But Griffith, a nominee of President George W. Bush, joined Tatel’s majority opinion upholding the law. The courts had no reason, Tatel wrote, to second guess Congress when it came to ensuring that “the right to vote — surely among the most important guarantees of political liberty in the Constitution — is not abridged on account of race.”

But, as Williams predicted, the Supreme Court reversed Tatel the next year in a 5-to-4 decision written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

Republican-led state legislatures have since passed a flurry of new voting restrictions.

Geoffrey Stone, a professor and former dean of the University of Chicago Law School, said Tatel’s opinion “captured perfectly the reasons why the act was constitutional, why it was sensible and why we as a nation needed it.”

Tatel’s work has also impacted major environmental policies and shaped the future of the Internet. He was initially on the losing side when the full D.C. Circuit refused to rehear a lawsuit from Massachusetts and other states saying George W. Bush’s administration was not doing enough to fight global warming.

“If global warming is not a matter of exceptional importance, then those words have no meaning,” Tatel wrote, after delving into climate science.

He was vindicated in 2007 when the Supreme Court embraced his view and said in a 5-to-4 decision that the Clean Air Act empowers the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases.

A few years later, Tatel ended up reviewing a trio of critical cases affecting the Internet. In 2016, he and Judge Sri Srinivasan wrote a rare joint opinion upholding strict rules banning Internet providers from blocking or slowing traffic to consumers.

“Given the tremendous impact third-party Internet content has had on our society, it would be hard to deny its dominance in the broadband experience,” the judges wrote. “Over the past two decades, this content has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from profound actions like choosing a leader, building a career, and falling in love to more quotidian ones like hailing a cab and watching a movie.”

‘What a good dog’

On the back roads of rural Virginia, where the Tatels relocated during the pandemic, the judge and his dog log many miles exploring together. Tatel firmly grasps Vixen’s harness as she gently steers him to the side of the road, standing guard between him and the large trucks that rumble by. And during virtual court hearings or while Tatel edits an opinion, Vixen collapses on an oversized pillow awaiting the judge’s next move.

Tatel was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 1957 as a teen attending Montgomery Blair High School. As he studied political science at the University of Michigan and later met Edie, his vision problems did not initially interfere with biking, skiing, reading or work.

After law school, he became an investigator for the Chicago mayor’s commission to study the 1968 riots, which cemented his commitment to civil rights and education. He would go on to lead the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the national committee in D.C. During the Carter administration, he revived the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

By his early 30s, Tatel had lost his eyesight.

He learned to use a mobility cane from a woman who taught tap dancing at the Chevy Chase Community Center. But for years, he resisted getting a guide dog in part because he thought it would require a lengthy training period away from court. Some in his family were also reluctant — partly fearing they would be displaced by a dog.

“All these years, we’ve walked together,” Tatel said of Edie. “My children, too. We never walk anywhere without holding on.”

But Tatel’s thinking changed as his movements became more prescribed.

Edie walked with him from their apartment in Friendship Heights to the Metro. Law clerks took turns meeting him at Judiciary Square to walk with him to the gym to swim laps and then on to court.

Tatel first met Vixen in the summer of 2019, after his grandson shared a podcast describing a guide dog program with on-site, at-home training.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said Tatel, who has run three marathons. “You have to give up all the techniques you’ve learned to get around and turn them over to a dog.”

Commands, hand signals, listening to traffic. Tatel engaged in two weeks of around-the-clock, painstaking work with a trainer and Vixen.

The communication slowly began to feel more instinctive as they practiced walking city streets. But it would take six months to click and they are still learning from each other.

There were minor mishaps. When Vixen took a wrong turn during an early visit to the courthouse, the U.S. marshals had to steer the judge in the right direction.

During a recent trip to the courthouse, Tatel stood with Vixen on the Metro platform in Friendship Heights and waited. The double doors of the rail car slid open and Vixen guided the judge inside.

“What a good dog,” Tatel said, patting her head as she sat at his feet for the ride.

In his letter to Biden in February, Tatel characterized his tenure on the bench as “the highest honor of my professional life. But he said after 27 years, it was time to “make room for a new generation.”

After their Metro ride to Judiciary Square, Vixen took Tatel past a homeless encampment and then slowed down to signal caution as she expertly navigated between two cylindrical jersey barriers to arrive at the courthouse doors.

Even after more than a year away, Vixen needed no prompting from the judge.

She took him into the elevator and then trotted through the warren of private hallways until they reached Tatel’s light-filled chambers with a view of the Mall.

The judge exuberantly greeted his legal assistant, Amanda Grace, and with his hand on Vixen’s head, said: “Guess who knew the way?”

Article: Fabulous weekly e-newsletter full of great stuff!

Top Tech Tidbits. The world’s #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology.

https://www.toptechtidbits.com

(Excerpted from https://www.toptechtidbits.com/tidbits2021/07292021/.)

Here are examples of the range of content found each week:

Two New NVDA Add-ons

A.) Advanced Phonetic Reading:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q75mnyttr34zjpm/EnhancedPhoneticReading_0.5a2_Gen.nvda-addon?dl=1

B.) Clock:

https://github.com/hkatic/clock/releases/download/v21.07/clock-21.07.nvda-addon

Exploring Tech Webinar with David Woodbridge

All about Smart Speakers with and without screens, and some 3rd party devices, on YouTube:

 

Intro to Grade 3 Braille, Braille with JAWS, and Braille in iOS

These are some of the recorded masterclasses available from the Braillists Foundation:

https://www.braillists.org/media/

Case For Not Using Accessibility Overlays, With Added Privacy Concerns

A.) A lot of accessibility professionals have endorsed or contributed to this document explaining why AccessiBe and similar products harm accessibility efforts:

https://overlayfactsheet.com/

B.) This post from respected authority L’onie Watson is clear about the unwelcome privacy consequences of AccessiBe:

https://tink.uk/accessibe-and-data-protection/

Using Picture Smart in JAWS and Fusion to Describe Image Files or Pictures on Web Pages

This is a short TikTok video:

https://bit.ly/3gZYFrz

Game On | 1 New Endorsement | Top Tech Tidbits BVI Technology Game Directory | 10 Games Listed

If you are a blind or visually impaired gamer and you play a game that you would like to tell other blind or visually impaired gamers about, please submit your game to the Top Tech Tidbits BVI Technology Game Directory today. And remember, if you come across a game in the Directory that you agree is awesome, please be sure to endorse it by submitting it yourself so that it moves up the list where more people will notice it:

https://www.toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-game-directory.html

Paid Research Project | Exploring the Experiences and Needs of People with Visual Impairments in a Kitchen | Closes: August 3rd 2021

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is conducting a research project to explore how blind and low-vision people cook in the kitchen so that we can understand their challenges, and design technologies to support cooking activities. In a study session, we will be observing participants cooking, and interviewing them about their cooking experiences. You may qualify if you are: 18+ years old AND blind or low vision for at least one year AND a US resident. (We can only offer research compensation to US residents for now due to tax requirements. Sorry for that!). We will provide a $15 Amazon gift card per hour as compensation. The study will last about 2 hours, so the total compensation will be $30. If you are interested in our study, please fill in the questionnaire in the link to sign up:

https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81FUiBOLXrZe8Yu

Game-Changing iPhone Features That Make Life with a Disability Easier

The accessibility mode may just be the greatest ally in maintaining your autonomy:

https://www.greenwichtime.com/business/article/Game-Changing-iPhone-Features-That-Make-Life-With-16340633.php

A Controversial Tool Calls Out Thousands of Hackable Websites

Say Yes To The Dress: Who is Shaela Warkentin? Meet TLC’s blind bride on Instagram

“Say Yes to The Dress” featured the second episode of its brand-new season on Saturday, July 24th 2021. The episode took many viewers by surprise as it featured the blind bride, Shaela Warkentin, whom Randy Fenoli and the other store managers assisted to find a bridal gown:

https://www.realitytitbit.com/celebrity-gossip-and-news/shaela-warkentin-say-yes-to-the-dress

 

New Award-Winning App Helps the Visually Impaired Manage Their Wardrobe

Two Industrial Design students from Carleton University have won an Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA) student competition award from Universities Canada for their concept Closet, a label system that enables people with visual disabilities to independently manage their clothes:

New Award-Winning App Helps the Visually Impaired Manage Their Wardrobe

 

H&M Tops List of Accessible Websites, As Most Retailers Fail to Cater for The Visually Impaired

Clothing retailer H&M’s homepage topped the table for accessible websites, registering a perfect score of 100 on Google Lighthouse — the only site to cater for all types of visual impairments:

https://internetretailing.net/customer/customer/hm-tops-list-of-accessible-websites-as-most-retailers-fail-to-cater-for-the-visually-impaired-23469

Deaf-Blind Swimmer Withdraws From Paralympics After Being Denied Access To Personal Care Assistant

Becca Meyers, a six-time medallist, has been forced to withdraw from the competition after officials denied her access to have her Personal Care Assistant with her in Japan:

https://www.sportbible.com/australia/news-deaf-blind-swimmer-becca-meyers-withdraws-from-paralympic-games-20210722

Blind YouTube Star Molly Burke Wants To Help Young Disabled People Navigate Wellness

Molly Burke has been on YouTube for six years, sharing her life as a young blind woman to nearly two million people on a regular basis — including daily routines, unique challenge videos and anecdotes about losing her sight as a result of an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. With her recent partnership with Schick, however, the 27-year-old aims to do more than to share her life experiences on her platform, but also to use it to make wellness more accessible:

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/blind-youtube-molly-burke-wellness-192223773.html

Introduction to Audio Description from 3Play Media

August 12th 2021 | 11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 6PM GMT | This webinar will cover the basics of how to add audio description to online video, legal requirements for audio description, video player compatibility, examples and demos, how to create audio description, and benefits of audio description outside of accessibility:

https://go.3playmedia.com/wbnr-08-12-2021-ad

Technology User Group Helps You Prepare for the Changes Coming to Your iDevice and Computer

August 14th 2021 | 7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 2PM GMT | On Saturday, August 14th 2021 the Technology User Group helps you prepare for the changes coming to your iDevice and computer. This September, iOS 15 will be released. Is your phone eligible for the upgrade? What new features can you expect? Is Siri going to have added skills and abilities? Also, we will look at the expected changes to Jaws and Zoomtext as they move toward a new Beta version debuting in October. You do not have to RSVP for this event. The presentation will last about 90 minutes. We look forward to meeting with you virtually and hope that you will join us for other exciting events we have planned for 2021. This presentation will be virtual and may be joined by calling:

319-527-4994

Editor’s note:

Material for GDUI- News You Can Use, is culled from a variety of sources; Hence inclusion herein does not imply GDUI endorses, supports or verifies its contents. Information, ideas, or expressed opinions are not advice, therefore should not be treated as such. Factual errors are the responsibility of the listed source.

Sincerely,

Sarah Calhoun, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Penny Reeder, Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President

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: Sarah Calhoun

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder

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 editor: Hello fellow GDUISters

Well, it has been busy and this is coming out a bit later than anticipated so I will let the content speak for itself. There is lots to this issue, studies to participate in, tips for taking better pics, a good idea for your next read, and really interesting information about recycling. Stay tuned, another Paws for GDUI News You Can Use is coming very soon full to bursting with all things convention!

Until then, keep your leash loose and our shoulders back!

Sending cyber hugs and wags, Andrea and Mr. A

From the President: Greetings everyone!

I hope this note finds you well! It has been nice getting out and about more with our guide dogs, those working with a new four-legged partner, and just enjoying the ability to visit family and friends!

Thank you to all who voted! We certainly have a wonderful, secure and easy to use system through VoteNow!

With summer just around the corner and outdoor activities being available to everyone this year, I hope you and your guide dog enjoy the sun and fresh air! If you have any fun and interesting encounters, please let us know by sending them to the GDUI chat list!

We are still compiling experiences completing the Department of Transportation forms prior to traveling by air with your guide dog. Whether you have a positive or negative encounter, please let us know! You can send your story to:

president@guidedogusersinc.org

Remember to register for the GDUI convention presentations on the ACB convention registration form. To be eligible to win a door prize during one of GDUI’s convention presentations, you need to pay the registration fee of $15.00.

Thank you for being a valued member, friend and supporter of GDUI! Not only are you supporting this wonderful organization, but the schools and people who afford us the opportunity to travel with these spectacular guide dogs! Wishing you fun, enjoyable and safe travels, four paws at a time!

Fondly,

Sarah Calhoun & Lakota

Announcement: The market research company, Eye Square, is currently conducting a new nation-wide project to help improve map and search apps for visually impaired users.

We are looking for visually impaired map and search app users to talk to us via Zoom and give us their feedback. We are especially interested in finding people who use Android mobile phones. Interviews will last about an hour, and participants will be compensated for their time.

The basic qualifications to participate are that individuals be 18 years or older and that they use a screen reader on their smartphone. Those interested will be required to go through a short screening process by phone to determine if they meet the study’s eligibility criteria

Contact Katie, if you are interested in the project or have any questions.

accessibility@eye-square.com

Announcement: Be My Eyes Introduces New Partners!

We have great news for Verizon customers! You can now connect directly with Verizon through Be My Eyes to get your questions about accessibility features for Verizon products and services answered. As one of the leading telecom providers in the US, we’re thrilled to be partnering with Verizon to help you get the most out of your phone plan and all the accessibility features.

The Verizon service is already available through the Be My Eyes app – just enter the Specialized Help menu in the Be My Eyes app, locate Verizon in the Technical category and give them a call. To start, the Verizon Accessibility Support team is available to answer your Be My Eyes calls Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5 to 7 PM ET.

But wait, there’s more! To make things even more exciting, we’ve announced our first Careers partner, Jobs for Humanity. With the launch of their new job board, blind.jobs, they already have more than 1,000 positions available around the world, where employers have committed to interviewing the top visually impaired candidates. This is pretty amazing stuff, and they’re holding open office hours on Specialized Help a few hours per week to help people get familiar with the service they provide.

Announcement: Study relating to face coverings and mobility

COVID-19 has introduced many new barriers. This study explores the impact of face masks on echolocation and the ability to draw on other environmental cues during independent travel. We want to hear from you, even if you have not encountered barriers. You will have the opportunity to share strategies that have worked for you, which will contribute to the development of recommendations. We invite you to participate and share widely!

Mobility with Face Masks Study – Need Participants!

Attention to all persons who are blind, deafblind or who have Low Vision! We are seeking individuals 18 years or older to complete a short online survey about your experience with face masks or facial protection and with independent travel during COVID-19. This research has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Montreal. Results from this survey will inform important recommendations to address barriers related to orientation and mobility during COVID-19. Visit https://communications.guidedogs.com/e/896181/835673-lang-en/p69q/137262015?h=MVodVDWyS5PBY_PBrW4WF8e4ijt3lsQ_zHO6R19fglw to learn more or to participate! If you encounter difficulties, you may also call (514) 343-7962 to request assistance by phone.

Announcement: Book by guide dog handler Nominated for an Audio Book Award!

BY: Betsy Folwell with Hartlyn

“Short Carries: Essays from Adirondack Life” was my pandemic project says Betsy Folwell, a GDB graduate working with Hartlyn an eight-year-old black Lab. The book is a collection of articles on nature, outdoor recreation, local history and small-town life that was published as a paperback in 2009. “After visiting some GDB folks in Montreal in January 2020 I realized that my book is just not accessible to my new friends, nor, for that matter, to me as a blind person.”

“Using the Audible Creative Exchange, a platform that connects authors and narrators, I selected a price range for production and posted samples for auditions. I was blown away when 60 MP3 files came in, all women reading the same sample I chose,” Linda Jones, who has narrated scores of books for major publishers had just the right delivery for the book, which runs 8 hours and 18 minutes.

In April Jones notified the author that Short Carries is a finalist for the Independent Audiobook Awards in the nonfiction category. The winner will be announced at the Hear Now Festival in June.

The Independent Audiobook Awards website: https://communications.guidedogs.com/e/896181/2021-05-06/p68x/137262015?h=MVodVDWyS5PBY_PBrW4WF8e4ijt3lsQ_zHO6R19fglw

The HEAR Now Festival website: https://communications.guidedogs.com/e/896181/2021-05-06/p68z/137262015?h=MVodVDWyS5PBY_PBrW4WF8e4ijt3lsQ_zHO6R19fglw

The original Facebook announcement: https://communications.guidedogs.com/e/896181/kAwards-posts-3709836569069370/p692/137262015?h=MVodVDWyS5PBY_PBrW4WF8e4ijt3lsQ_zHO6R19fglw

To purchase the audiobook visit Audible.com or https://communications.guidedogs.com/e/896181/-books-toolbox-ign-itscg-30200/p696/137262015?h=MVodVDWyS5PBY_PBrW4WF8e4ijt3lsQ_zHO6R19fglw 

For a sample of Linda Jones reading from Short Carries visit https://communications.guidedogs.com/e/896181/watch-v-NoFbv6JNqHk/p698/137262015?h=MVodVDWyS5PBY_PBrW4WF8e4ijt3lsQ_zHO6R19fglw 

Article: Capturing Picture Paw-fect Moments

 BY: The GDB Marketing Team

(Excerpted from: Guide Dogs for the Blind ALUMNI NEWS- Volume 29 – Number 2)

Are you itching to capture those perfect, post-pandemic memorable moments with your dog back out at a favorite spot? Here are some pro tips from GDB’s marketing team and photo maven, Morry Angell.

Photograph people and dogs in close proximity; eg: rather than have a person standing next to a dog (where the person is tall, and the dog is short), get the dog and person’s faces in closer proximity – it may mean having the person kneel or the dog get on a bench.

Photograph dogs at their eye level, rather than from above.

If appropriate, get the dog’s attention so that they look alert. Particularly in the case of Labradors, they look best in photographs when their ears are “up” or flagged. If their ears are lying back on their head, they can look sad, nervous or scared – even if that is not the case.

While the gear- leashes, bait bags, leash luggage, etc.-   serves valid purposes, it can clutter up photographs. When it is safe to do so, consider discreetly tucking said items off to the side or behind the dog. Remember- Safety first- Always!

Be aware of the surroundings in your photographs. What is in the background and foreground? Can you move your subject or your camera to get a cleaner background or foreground? Can you remove clutter (garbage cans, odd furnishings, etc.)? Are there people in your background that shouldn’t be?

Be aware that taking your photo in front of an open window or door where the light is behind the subject can create a backlight effect where everyone looks like a shadow and is difficult to see in the image. Instead, try switching the positioning so your subject is facing the window, door or light source.

Most important, be safe and live in the moment with your dog while having fun.

Editor’s note: I included these tips because, unlike many of you, I am a total novice at taking pictures of my guide. Mr. A is tired of me prominently featuring his toes, the tip of his tail, or one nostril in my photos. When I read the above tips recently I found them helpful and thought others might too. Please remember they are simply suggestions and, while originally published by Guide Dogs for the Blind, I have excerpted the original

Article: Sustainability Through an Inclusive Lens

BY: Hillary Scanlon

(Excerpted from: Guide Dogs for the Blind ALUMNI NEWS- Volume 29 – Number 2)

When I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my vision in 2016, I felt that I was thrown into a world that I had never known before. Certainly, this world has always existed, but I did not have the time or desire to notice it until I needed to. This world, the world of inaccessibility and exclusion, is full of hurdles and hoops for people with disabilities to navigate, understand, fight against.

When I first lost my vision, I was extremely frustrated with my inability to complete seemingly simple tasks such as reading a book, texting a friend, putting toothpaste on a toothbrush, and throwing out my waste when I was in public. I never imagined that being able to dispose of waste properly in public spaces was tied to a certain level of privilege and ability. If I went to grab tea on my university campus, I had to think about what I was going to do with the cup, the lid, the tea bag, and the cardboard sleeve that I had now acquired. Should I walk up and down the hallway with my cane to see if I can into anything that feels like a waste container? If I happen to find one, should I try and determine the proper waste stream for each of the cup components? This would require me to touch and feel the containers and try to decipher which waste stream was which. If I went this route, I often ended up touching something sticky, and was then tasked with finding a hand sanitizing station and/or a washroom. If I was determined and had time that day, I would do what I described above. If I didn’t, I had a few options. First, I could just try and find the waste unit and throw out my cup in whichever stream I could find. The second option was to litter. The third option was to put my cup in my bag (which often resulted in a mess), bring it home with me, and dispose of it at home where I am familiar with the locations of the garbage, organics, and recycling. All of these options are not only inconvenient, but they are also unacceptable.

In 2019, I received my first guide dog, Margarita. She is a 60lb Yellow Lab who is the perfect combination of a co-worker, a friend, and a dog. When her harness is on, she has her game face on. When her harness is off, I usually have to convince people that she is indeed a guide dog because she is so silly and goofy. The perfect combination. I would do anything for her, and I know she would do anything for me.

As all guide dog users are aware, one of our responsibilities as a handler is to clean up after our dogs, “do their business.” Picking up waste and keeping spaces clean is part of being a community member and a steward of the environment. Properly disposing of this waste, however, is a barrier. Whether you have a bag of poop, a cup of tea, a tissue, etc., you are asked and expected by society to dispose of this waste properly. Unfortunately, society has not provided all of its members with the tools necessary to do this. That is why I developed STIL Solutions (Sustainability Through an Inclusive Lens).

At STIL Solutions, we aim to bridge the gap between sustainability and accessibility by making waste disposal more accessible to people with vision loss and other disabilities. We do this by providing communities, institutions, business, etc. with a product known as the WasteFinder. The WasteFinder is a two-part system that uses a technology similar to tactile walking surface indicators (i.e., similar to what you may interact with at a crosswalk or at the top of stairs). The first component, the Vicinity Indicator, goes on the ground (like a large mat), surrounding the waste container and alerts individuals who pass over it that they are in the vicinity of a waste container. The Vicinity Indicator is light blue and contains raised outlines of flat triangles. This unique colour and texture make it easy for individuals of all abilities to determine that they are in the vicinity of (or close to) a waste container.

The second component of the WasteFinder is the Stream Indicators. Stream Indicators are also placed on the ground, however, they are located directly in front of the appropriate waste stream, thereby enabling people with vision loss, and those of all abilities, to identify which waste stream they are directly in front of without having to touch the waste container. This is done by seeing or feeling the unique design of each Stream Indicator under your feet, mobility device, etc. STIL currently provides 3 types of Stream Indicators, the Recycling Stream Indicator, the Garbage Stream Indicator, and the Organics Stream Indicator.

The Recycling Stream Indicator

The Recycling Stream Indicator is a royal blue 12” x 12” indicator that is placed on the ground directly in front of the recycling stream. It contains a large, raised outline of a equilateral triangle, a shape that resembles the recycling symbol. If the tip of the triangle is pointed towards you (i.e., away from the waste unit), that indicates that you are directly in front of the plastics and containers waste stream. If the tip of the triangle is pointed away from you (i.e., towards the waste unit), that indicates that you are directly in front of the paper and cardboard waste stream.

What does it feel like?

If you were to stand on the Recycling Stream Container or move your mobility device over it, it may feel somewhat like a Toblerone (a pyramid-like candy bar). In other words, the top surface of the raised outline of the triangle is not flat, but rather, it is triangular.

The Garbage Stream Indicator

The Garbage Stream Indicator is a black or dark grey 12” x 12” indicator that is placed on the ground directly in front of the garbage stream. It contains a large, raised outline of a square.

What does it feel like?

If you were to stand on the Garbage Stream Container or move your mobility device over it, it may feel somewhat like a miniature step. The top of the raised outline of the square is smooth and parallel with the ground.

The Organics Stream Indicator

The Organics Stream Indicator is a forest green 12” x 12” indicator that is placed on the ground directly in front of the organics stream. It contains a large, raised outline of a circle, a shape that is often used to represent the Earth or organic materials. The circle also resembles the letter “O,” which is a great way to remember that “O” is for “organics.”

What does it feel like?

If you were to stand on the Organics Stream Container or move your mobility device over it, it may feel like you are interacting with a solid hose that has been cut in half lengthwise and placed in a circular formation. In other words, the top surface of the raised outline of the circle is not flat, but rather, it is rounded.

Product characteristics

• AODA compliant
• ADA compliant
• Weather resistant – whether you are in California or Ottawa…
• 7 Principles of Universal Design
• The use of shapes, textures, colours, rather than text, makes the product usable/accessible to people whose first language may not be English, to young children who cannot yet read, to individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, to people with developmental disabilities who often rely on shapes and colours to understand and communicate with their environment.

If you are interested in the WasteFinder and would like to implement it in your space, we invite you to visit our website at www.stilsolutions.ca. We are always open to feedback and we welcome your contributions to the development of a more sustainable and accessible world.

Sincerely,

Sarah Calhoun, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Penny Reeder, Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President

Paws for GDUI News You Can Use

Visit our website: 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: Sarah Calhoun

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder

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 editor: Hello fellow GDUISters

Alas, my hope for March going out like a lamb has not come to fruition. Well, Spring is officially here so consistently warmer days should be ahead- no joke!

Turning to this issue…, there is a wide range of topics to keep you engaged- including, but not limited to, more audio description on HBO, an opportunity to give your input on autonomous vehicles, Webinars offered in April, words from GDUI’s President and more.

Sending cyber hugs and wags, Andrea and Mr. A

From the President: Hello GDUI members and friends!

Welcome to spring, nice weather and long walks with your guide dog!  

It has been a challenging year dealing with the pandemic, isolation, lack of activity and keeping our guide dogs happy, healthy and keen on their training! Now we can grab the harness, leash and start traveling around again!

GDUI will be holding two candidate forums for members to meet the candidates before voting begins in May. The dates, time and Zoom information will be shared on the email lists.

The GDUI program committee is working hard on the 2021 virtual convention! A list of the programs will be announced shortly after the committee has finalized their schedule. I know for sure we will have the Guide Dog School Update! This is one of the favorite programs GDUI has each year.  Don’t miss the update, it will be spectacular!

Please share with your fellow GDUI members your thoughts, adventures, traveling tips or anything you and your guide dog happen upon! You can post to the GDUI chat list; If you have a story, poem or a guide dog related article you want to have published in, “Paws for GDUI- News You Can Use” please send it to:

editor@guidedogusersinc.org

Lakota and I wish everyone very happy holidays and a wonderful spring!

Sarah Calhoun, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Announcement: (short notice) Audio Described Performance

Saturday, April 3 at 4 PM.

The American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) is presenting an of their live, online show, The Conjuror’s Club.

This multi-magician event is presented live, online, via Zoom. You don’t need any special equipment beyond a computer that is Zoom compatible. All description users will gather in one Zoom breakout room, where Cori Couture will provide description. Once you’ve booked your ticket, you will receive detailed instructions via email in the days leading up to the show.

Also, a recorded pre-show description will be available on the A.R.T. website toward the end of the week.

To reserve your spot, visit:

americanrepertorytheater.org

call: 617-547-8300

Tickets are $58 per Household, but to increase accessibility, a limited number of discounted tickets are available for $25 per household!

More About the Show… Join us for an intimate and interactive multi-magician experience, performed live nightly.

For the first time in 100 years, the secretive magic society, The Conjurors’ Club, pulls back the curtain for an interactive experience that redefines the face of modern magic. Take a front-row seat and immerse yourself in the arcane and mysterious with three different magicians. Physical distance can’t keep the amazing mind-reading, reality-bending illusions, and extraordinary transformations from reaching through the screen and directly into your home. As honorary members of the Club, you’ll receive your own secret package for use during your visit that is guaranteed to surprise and delight all of your senses—but you must promise to keep the secrets… (Visual details of the secret package and its contents will be included in the recorded pre-show description.)

Learn even more about the show, read reviews, and further explore the world of magic at:

https://americanrepertorytheater.org/shows-events/the-conjurors-club/

Announcement: Dr. Nicholas Giudice and the VEMI Lab at the University of Maine are seeking input on their research to make autonomous vehicles (AVs) accessible and usable for blind and visually impaired people and older adults.

In their ‘AVs for all’ initiative, they will be conducting a range of studies, focus groups, and interviews and are seeking input, feedback, and guidance from blind and visually impaired folks on the research. This user-driven approach is critical to ensure that their work, and future AV development, is based on real needs and addresses actual concerns of blind and older adult end-users. As such, they invite you to become involved and hope you will consider signing up as a potential participant in their research.

More about the Autonomous Vehicle Research Group, which Giudice leads, can be found at: https://umaine.edu/vemi/av-research-group/

If you are interested in participating in future research, you are invited to fill out the information intake survey at the URL below. Your data will be kept confidential and you will only be contacted when openings in experiments, focus groups, interviews, or other types of research become available in the future. We hope you make your voice heard and are willing to give your input. If interested, please fill out the voluntary intake survey at:

https://umaine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6F44v1o5kyXjvtI

Announcement: HumanWare Live Webinars

We are proud to present our next series of HumanWare Live webinars for the month of April. This month, it’s all about braille. Our experts, Andrew Flatres and Peter Tucic, will guide you through our Brailliant BI X series of braille displays and the benefits of using the BrailleNote Touch Plus for teaching blind students.

A discovery of our intelligent braille displays

Date: Tuesday, April 6th

Time: 8 PM (EST)

Intended for: Braille device users

During this webinar, you will gain an insight into product features and explore the software and hardware that set the new Brailliant BI 20X and the Brailliant BI 40X apart from any other stand-alone braille displays available today.

Register in advance for this webinar

Teaching and monitoring the progress of students learning braille

Date: Thursday, April 8th

Time: 3 PM (EST)

ACVREP approved continuing education hour: 1 CE credit

Intended for: Teachers for the visually impaired, assistive technology specialists, parents, BrailleNote Touch Plus students and users.

This HumanWare Live webinar will focus on the Take Off Unified English Braille (UEB) curriculum that teachers can use to teach braille. Participants will learn how to use this free braille curriculum that is integrated into the BrailleNote Touch Plus via the Duxbury Learning Tables. Participants will then take a tour of the HumanWare Buddy App to learn how to track student progress through personalized and pre-determined lessons.

Register in advance for this webinar

If you have any questions about our live webinars, contact us at:

humanwarelive@humanware.com.

The HumanWare Team

Announcement: Verizon Media Announces Media Donation for ACB and Other Disability Organizations

On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Verizon Media announced that they will be donating $5 million in media to a number of disability organizations, including the American Council of the Blind (ACB). ACB is excited to further our mission driven brand and message through the generous support of Verizon Media. Along with other nonprofits committed to expanding opportunity and equality for individuals with disabilities, the advertising grant provided through Verizon Media will allow ACB to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities at a time when the hardships of social isolation born out of the global pandemic have reverberated throughout our community. We wish to thank Verizon Media for their continued support as ACB fosters voice, choice, and community for people who are blind and visually impaired. For more information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/2ev7juyu.  

Announcement: ACB Quoted in WSJ Article on Accessible Currency

We thought you may find interesting an article published this Friday in the Wall Street Journal, which announced Britain’s newest tactile currency and reported on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s continued failure to provide accessible currency in the United States.

ACB’s own Executive Director Eric Bridges was quoted in the article, and we think it did an excellent job highlighting the issue we continue to struggle with in the U.S. as other countries move forward with recognizing the value in producing accessible currency for people who are blind and visually impaired.

We hope you, too, will enjoy the article, and please share through your own social networks if possible.

Team ACB

American Council of the Blind: www.acb.org

Announcement: Our Space Our Place, Inc. workshop

How do they do that? How do they audio describe a show?

Please pass along –

A unique opportunity for blind and low vision middle and high school students. Come and learn. For middle and high school students who are blind and low vision, learn a dance from the Nutcracker and the techniques to describe the dance.

Date/time details:

April 20 – 24 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm(EST.)

Phone number: (617) 459-4084

Register: President@ourspaceourplace.org

Website: www.ourspaceourplace.org

Article: HBO Max Rolls Out Audio Described Content: Customers Who are Blind Will Notice Many New Features, With More on the Horizon

March 26, 2021 – Advocates for people who are blind applaud WarnerMedia’s first delivery date of significant upgrades in the landmark agreement signed last October by WarnerMedia; the American Council of the Blind (ACB); the Massachusetts-based Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB); and individual claimants Kim and Brian Charlson. These blind individuals and advocacy organizations were represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a national non-profit legal center, and Disability Law Center, the Protection & Advocacy agency for Massachusetts.

WarnerMedia has pledged to increase the accessibility of HBO Max, and in the first phase of delivering on that promise, the streaming platform rolls out major enhancements this week, including:

• Nearly 1,500 hours of audio described content on Web and Mobile platforms including select HBO originals, Max Originals, Warner Bros films, and some acquired content. Audio description is a separate audio track that, when activated, provides a verbal description of visual elements on screen. For more on audio description, visit ACB’s Audio Description Project.
• An Audio Description category will be prominently featured in the navigation menu. This prominent browse location will also increase awareness about the importance of audio description and accessibility.
• Improvements to the accessibility of the HBO Max website and mobile applications for individuals who are blind or have low vision and use screen reader software to navigate and interact with digital content. Screen reader software enables people who are blind or have low vision to access online services by rendering the content displayed visually on the screen as large print, synthetic text-to-speech, or as digital braille on a braille display. Programming for compatibility with these types of assistive technologies is something website and app developers need to keep in mind.
• Addition of articles to the HBO Max help site specifically supporting customers with disabilities, including detailed instructions on how to perform certain tasks that may be unclear for some users.
• Training for HBO Max customer service specialists to help them better support customers with disabilities, including sensitivity training and training on assistive technology.

Providing 1,500 hours of audio described content is a major commitment to access for WarnerMedia. Select programming released in the launch with audio description includes His Dark Materials, Genera+ion, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Dunkirk, Euphoria, Love Life, Sesame Street and many more titles.

WarnerMedia will continue building on these improvements in the months and years to come. Later this year, HBO Max plans to make audio description available across all supported Internet-connected TVs. Furthermore, audio description is now being created for all new HBO and Max Original programming, and customers can expect 3,000 hours of described content to be available by the end of March 2022, doubling again to at least 6,000 hours in total by the end of March 2023.

In addition, over the next few months, accessibility of the HBO Max website, mobile apps, and applications for supported Internet-connected TVs will continue to be improved for individuals who are blind or have low vision and use screen reader software to navigate and interact with digital content. While screen reader users may still experience difficulties with setting up an account following this week’s updates, those problems should be resolved in coming months.

Dan Spoone, President of the American Council of the Blind, commented, “This process has been extremely positive, and will open many doors for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to both enjoy what HBO Max has to offer in terms of entertainment and education, while also allowing our community to share equally with family and friends in the truly universal pastime of viewing television and movies. By working together to bring thousands of additional hours of audio description content to HBO Max, along with the improved accessibility of the website, mobile apps, and smart TV interfaces, WarnerMedia and blind advocates are providing meaningful access to a significant aspect of our modern-day world.”

“At HBO Max, our goal is to let storytelling take center stage, and for each and every subscriber to be able to enjoy world-class content, regardless of how they access the platform,” said Sarah Lyons, Executive Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer Global Product Management. “This month’s initial accessibility improvements are only the first of many steps we plan on taking to improve the experience for all users. We encourage continual consumer feedback, as it is critical to evolving the product and supporting all of our valued customers.”

Staff Attorney Meredith Weaver of Disability Rights Advocates said, “We are excited to see the fruits of WarnerMedia’s investment in accessibility over the last year and are encouraged by their demonstrated commitment to creating an exceptional experience for all customers.”

Tatum A. Pritchard of the Disability Law Center, said, “WarnerMedia’s commitment to these improvements is a welcome and significant step towards greater accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired to streaming content that serves as an important source of both entertainment and information for our society.”

Blindness community members are encouraged to reach out to HBO Max customer service representatives with feedback and questions. The HBO Max Help Center has been made accessible and all feedback about audio description and screen reader access will make its way to HBO Max’s accessibility team to guide them in prioritizing their work.

Contacts

Meredith Weaver, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Advocates: 510-665-8644, mweaver@dralegal.org

Tatum A. Pritchard, Director of Litigation, Disability Law Center: 617-723-8455,

tpritchard@dlc-ma.org

Kim Charlson, Immediate Past President, American Council of the Blind: 617-501-5752, kimcharlson@acb.org

Article: Exciting News!!

The Helen Keller National Center is excited to announce:

FeelingThrough, the first film ever to star a deafblind actor has made the OSCARS shortlist in the category of best live action short film!   It went from 179 films to the top five! 

FeelingThrough is written and directed by Doug Roland.  Doug worked with HKNC to produce the film.  If you have not seen it already we invite you to enjoy the short 18-minute film.  It is captioned for persons interested.  Just click to watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1CqzntEZZ8&t=2s

Do you need audio description of the film?  Use this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM_7_BofpPQ&feature=youtu.be

Finally, “Connecting the Dot” is a short documentary that shares the story behind the scenes, the filmmaking in progress and authenticates the partnership between Doug Roland and the Helen Keller National Center.  We invite you to enjoy the documentary, the link and password are below.   This film is also captioned. 

Connecting the Dots: The Story of FeelingThrough

Link: https://vimeo.com/465975419

Password: CTD_Doc_2020

Finally, more exciting news.  Award winning actress and producer Marlee Matlin has partnered with Doug Roland to produce a feature length film of FeelingThrough.  More to come on this exciting development.  You can find fascinating interviews and discussion every Friday by viewing the FeelingThrough FaceBook page.  https://www.facebook.com/feelingthrough

Sincerely,

Sarah Calhoun, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Penny Reeder, Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President

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: Sarah Calhoun

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder

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 editor: Hello fellow GDUISters

Here in Connecticut, March has come in like a lion and, one can hope, will go out like a lamb. While the wind howls and the temperatures make me glad for a parka, there is a new issue of “Paws for GDUI- News You Can Use” to enjoy along with a cup of tea or cocoa. Yes, if you are from one of those hot places you can make it an ice tea or a frozen “hot” chocolate.

This month we have announcements, sometime sensitive, interesting articles, information about open GDUI board positions (last article) and words from our president.

Sending cyber hugs and wags, Andrea and Mr. A

From the President: Greetings GDUI members and friends!

I hope this newsletter finds you well! We have been thinking about our Texas members and friends, everyone across the country who have suffered a terrible snowy winter, lack of water and electric for several days to weeks. Hopefully, our friends have been able to recover and return to their day to day living.

We hope you and your four-legged loveable furry guide dog celebrated a wonderful Valentine’s Day! Our dogs love getting that extra treat or toy to join in on the human special events! Don’t forget March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day! Think green!

GDUI has a busy schedule on our calendar with elections, Membership renewal and the 2021 virtual convention! To keep up to date, please visit the GDUI website at www.guidedogusersinc.org

Please consider running for a position on the board of directors. This is a wonderful way to get involved, learn more about GDUI and be a part of keeping this organization terrific!

Coming up soon will be an announcement of several exciting fundraising events! They will be announced on GDUI email lists, social media platforms and of course, our website!

Spring is just around the corner and we can begin to plan those enjoyable long walks outside with our guide dogs as we soak up the sun, get exercise and breathe the fresh air!

Lakota and I hope you and your families and friends are well! Hopefully this year will not be as challenging as last year.

From our house to your house, Lakota and I wish you and your guide dog many happy tails and trails!

Sarah Calhoun, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Announcement: March 10, GDUI Community Call

Getting a Guide Dog During COVID-19: PM ET, PM PT, PM HT

Thinking about getting your first or successor guide dog but unsure whether now might be the best time because of COVID-19? Come hear from clients of several guide dog schools who will share their experiences of training with new guides in these most unique of times.

Sponsored by Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Join the Call:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85774922866?pwd=TDZFOVRBUFplanYwdlZpZGdOT042Zz09

One tap mobile: +13126266799,,85774922866#,,,,*447373#

Phone: 312-626-6799

Meeting ID: 857 7492 2866

Passcode: 447373

Announcement: Ann Chiappetta books free on smashwords (from March 7 until March 13)

Hi folks-

Smashwords is having a big book sale on all eBook titles. From March 7 to March 13 all   my titles on www.smashwords.com are free.

Go to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnChiappetta

To download all or any of my titles. To make this guide dog related, my memoir, Follow Your Dog a Story of Love and Trust, is free.

I hope you come along for the word journey with me and share this link, it’s only free from March 7 until March 13, 2021.

#smashwords #ebookweek21

Ann Chiappetta, Author

Announcement: Patient Safety Week Webinar by En-Vision America

March 18, 2021 11 am PT/PM ET

What does it take to Make Change Happen??? Join us during Patient Safety Week for a conversation about advocating for medical error prevention and effective communication at the pharmacy counter. This will be a great opportunity for anyone who is planning a visit to the hospital, patient advocates, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, English as a second language advocates, and anyone working a grassroots legislation campaign looking for ideas and encouragement!

Register today!  Registration gives you access to the webinar the day of the event and the recorded version and resources afterward.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1116125579759/WN_3JW24HNPSp63bPh8kN-mEg

Announcement: AFB turns 100!

For information about 100 years of AFB and our ongoing series of Centennial Conversations, visit: afb.org/100

Announcement: Hadley presents – Painting Blind with Artist John Bramblitt

Painting Blind

We are so excited to welcome world-renowned artist John Bramblitt to the podcast! In this episode, John shares how vision loss has shaped his painting and his life.

A downloadable transcript is available on our site, hadley.edu.

Have a suggestion for a future episode? Email us:

podcast@hadley.edu

call the Hadley Presents podcast line:

(847) 784-2870

Announcement: 2020 was most definitely a year to remember.

Join us for an audio described flashback to 2020 at the American Council of the Blind by visiting: https://youtu.be/Si_XcKIPB0U.  

Article: Visually impaired accessible technology – BingNews – Friday, January 29, 2021

David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist

WWW.DavidGoldfield.info

App will help visually impaired, seniors enjoy ride-sharing with self-driving cars

Self-driving cars will offer access to ride-sharing and ride-hailing with their suite of modern conveniences. However, many people with visual impairments who use these services rely on a human driver to safely locate their vehicle.

A research group led by the Virtual Environments and Multimodal Interaction Laboratory (VEMI Lab) at the University of Maine is developing a smartphone app that provides the navigational assistance needed for people with disabilities and seniors to enjoy ride-sharing and ride-hailing, collectively termed mobility-as-a-service, with the latest in automotive technology. The app, known as the Autonomous Vehicle Assistant (AVA), can also be used for standard vehicles operated by human drivers and enjoyed by everyone.

AVA will help users request, find and enter a vehicle using a multisensory interface that provides guidance through audio and haptic feedback and high-contrast visual cues. The Autonomous Vehicle Research Group (AVRG), a cross institutional collective led by VEMI lab with researchers from Northeastern University and Colby College, will leverage GPS technology, real-time computer vision via the smartphone camera and artificial intelligence to support the functions offered through the app.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $300,000 to AVRG for the AVA project through its Inclusive Design Challenge. The initiative sought proposals for design solutions that would help people with disabilities use autonomous vehicles for employment and essential services. AVRG was one of the semifinalists.

“This design challenge was exciting to us as it falls so squarely in our wheelhouse” says Nicholas Giudice, a professor of spatial Computing at UMaine. “We have worked in the areas of multimodal information access and navigation for visually impaired people and older adults for years, and have recently started a research program investigating human-vehicle collaborations for increasing the trustworthiness and accessibility of autonomous vehicles. This development project connects the dots by allowing us to bridge several areas of expertise to ensure that the technology of the future is ‘accessible for all.'”

Users will create a profile in AVA that reflects their needs and existing methods of navigation. The app will use the information from their profiles to find a suitable vehicle for transport, then determine whether one is available.

When the vehicle arrives, AVA will guide the user to it using the camera and augmented reality (AR), which provides an overlay of the environment using the smartphone by superimposing high-contrast lines over the image to highlight the path and verbal guidance, such as compass directions, street names, addresses and nearby landmarks. The app also will pinpoint environmental hazards, such as low-contrast curbs, by emphasizing them with contrasting lines and vibrating when users approach them. It will then help users find the door handle to enter the vehicle awaiting them.

“This is the first project of its kind in the country, and in combination with our other work in this area, we are addressing an end-to-end solution for AVs (autonomous vehicles) that will improve their accessibility for all,” says Giudice, chief research scientist at VEMI Lab and lead on the AVA project.

“Most work in this area only deals with sighted passengers, yet the under-represented driving populations we are supporting stand to benefit most from this technology and are one of the fastest growing demographics in the country.”

AVRG studies how autonomous vehicles can meet various accessibility needs. VEMI lab itself has explored tactics for improving consumer trust in this emerging technology.

AVA advances both groups’ endeavors by not only providing another means for people with visual impairments and other disabilities and seniors to access self-driving vehicles, but also increases their trust in them. The project also builds on a seed grant-funded, joint effort between UMaine and Northeastern University to improve accessibility, safety and situational awareness within the self-driving vehicle. Researchers from both universities aim to develop a new model of human-AI vehicle interaction to ensure people with visual impairments and seniors understand what the autonomous vehicle is doing and that it can sense, interpret and communicate with the passenger.

The app will offer modules that train users how to order and locate rides, particularly through mock pickup scenarios. Offering hands-on learning provides users confidence in themselves and the technology, according to researchers. It also gathers data AVRG can use during its iterative, ongoing development for AVA and its integration into autonomous vehicles.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to create accessible technology which will help the transition to fully autonomous vehicles for all. The freedom and independence of all travelers is imperative as we move forward,” says VEMI lab director Richard Corey.

VEMI Lab, co-founded by Corey and Giudice in 2008, explores different solutions for solving unmet challenges with technology. Prime areas of research and development pertain to self-driving vehicles, the design of bio-inspired tools to improve human-machine interaction and functionality, and new technology to improve environmental awareness, spatial learning and navigational wayfinding.

Article: Social distancing while blind takes dogged perseverance

Jake Koch works to socially distance during the pandemic with the help of a guide dog, white cane

Everyone has had to adapt at a rapid pace over the past year because of the COVID-19 crisis. Many adults are working from home while students school from home; many go-to pastimes are on pause and we’ve all had to learn to make masking and social distancing second nature.

But for those with visual impairment or blindness, social distancing is no easy task.

Jake Koch, Gresham resident and community outreach specialist for Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Boring campus, has experienced this first-hand. Even with his guide dog, Koch, who has bilateral microphthalmia — a physical disorder of the eyes, resulting in small, partially developed eyes, which renders him legally blind — Koch says he sometimes has to rely on other people to help him keep his distance.

“Apart from being a professional in the industry, I do also travel with a guide dog and am visually impaired myself,” Koch explained. Koch travels with a 6-year-old black lab named Forli. “Pretty quickly, I realized that (socially distancing would be a challenge). I’m an avid traveler. I travel both for work and for pleasure, whether it’s local, regional, national, so I’m out and about. I’m an extrovert. I enjoy being out and about in the city and around friends and in public places, so at first it was a bit overwhelming. (At first) nobody really knew anything about the novel coronavirus, including myself.”

 What also became quickly and overwhelmingly apparent was that guide dogs would not be able to perceive all of the safety precautions humans have in place during the pandemic.

“In the past 10 months of traveling through public spaces, what I’ve learned is the dogs, unfortunately, don’t understand the concept of social distancing,” Koch said. “I think the primary reason for that, in my personal and professional opinion, is social distancing is a social construct; it’s a social norm. It’s not black and white; it’s not factual like a curb or a set of stairs that are really obvious (obstacles that signal) you need to stop here or you’re going to get hurt. The way a dog perceives social constructs is they go ‘what is the safest, easiest path of least resistance that I can get my handler and myself through the environment.'”

“Our guide dogs don’t understand directional arrows, signage and taped-off measurements to ensure social distancing, and our white canes don’t feel them,” added Dorianne Pollack, alumni board member for Guide Dogs for the Blind. “Unlike sighted people who have learned to navigate in a socially distanced world, we’ve been left to fend for ourselves.”

An added challenge that makes navigating social spaces during the pandemic even more difficult for those with visual impairment, is because everything has evolved so quickly, yet the ADA hasn’t been able to catch up. This has led to inconsistencies in markings and signs for distancing in public places like grocery stores and to Koch, seeking supplemental ways to better get around and safely.

 “I’ve ended up taking a hybrid approach,” Koch said, explaining that he has been using both Forli and a white cane to navigate. While guide dogs see and avoid objects, white canes can help the user detect and avoid would-be obstacles and people. This way, Koch has the dog to get him to his destination and the cane helps him orient himself to other people.

“The average cane offers 4 to 5 feet of detectable space,” Koch explained. To achieve 6 feet of separation, he added, sometimes he will simply ask someone around him if he is distanced enough. He also always wears a mask for safety when he has to be in public places.

For the most part though, like many who are immunocompromised, have other conditions that make them at greater risk or are simply trying to help slow the spread, Koch has grown accustomed to using things like grocery delivery instead of shopping in the store. He has also taken to walking, when he can, to avoid public transportation where it is harder to make sure others are keeping their distance.

“The people moving around me is where it gets tricky,” Koch said.

In “normal” times, Koch says he typically gets quite a few people who come up to him and want to pet Forli, offer help or ask questions. Nowadays, while petting Forli is discouraged, Koch said: “Pandemic or not, if anybody wants to help, I appreciate people asking: ‘May I assist you?’ and self-identifying.”

Koch explains that while saying “How can I help you?” tends to sound somewhat ableist, implying the person with visual impairment needs help, asking “May I assist you?” is a more empowering offer of help.

Folks who wish to help someone with visual impairment in public spaces might be of assistance by kindly approaching the person and saying “I just wanted to inform you that you aren’t six feet away. May I help you?” Use specific directions such as “take two steps left” and never touch the person.

At Guide Dogs for the Blind, staff have worked very hard to ensure clients who must visit are safe and also offer guidance and assistance to their 2,200 graduates out navigating similar circumstances to Koch.

“We use video conferencing to help navigate people,” Koch explained. He added that Guide Dogs for the Blind has also partnered with the ‘Be My Eyes’ app, which offers assistance to those with visual impairment to do everyday things like reading labels and navigating.

“My normal is managing my blindness in a sighted world,” said Guide Dogs for the Blind client Bruce Gilmour. “However, COVID-19 has imposed big changes and adjustments to my normal. Aspects such as curbside pick-ups, online ordering, social distancing, language barriers, using touch to see in a no touch world, knowing where to stand appropriately at a transit stop, etc., have challenged my normal. Consequently, daily affairs developed around being independent and self-reliant have resulted in isolation, increased anxiety, and some really compromising scenarios where the public have lacked a complete sense of civility. Yes, indeed, we are all in this pandemic together which has put a lot of pressure on the nice values of normal like being kind, calm, and patient.”

“Change is hard for everybody,” Koch said. “Things changed very quickly. I think that’s what was very overwhelming. Be kind, be compassionate and offer assistance if it is needed. Also, feel free to step back or forward (from a person with visual impairment) to keep distance.”

Article: GDUI is SEEKING NOMINATIONS

GDUI 2021 Election Announcement

Do you know someone who has made significant contributions to dog guides and their handlers?  Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) wants to hear from you.

Each year at its annual convention with the American Council of the Blind (ACB), GDUI recognizes three outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the lives of guide dog teams through their dedication, work, advocacy, and support.  Each award is given to honor the individuals for which they are named, and to recognize the outstanding recipient of the year.

The Ethel Bender Award.  This award is presented each year to honor a sighted person who has provided significant service to the cause of enhancing the well-being of the guide dog and handler community.

The Moffitt-Gleitz Award.  The Moffitt-Gleitz Award is presented to a person who is blind and has significantly contributed to the well-being of the guide dog handling  community, and who by his or her contributions, has earned the gratitude and recognition of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

The Lieberg-Metz Award.  This award recognizes an individual who has advance the well-being of guide dog and handler teams through the writings or media presentations.

If you know someone whom you believe is deserving of such recognition, please submit your nomination to Margie Donovan, Awards Committee Chair at margie.donovan1@outlook.com, no later than April 1, 2021.  Please put in the subject line “GDUI Award Nomination”. If you need assistance in writing your nomination, you may contact Margie as well.

Your nomination should include the following information:

The name of the award you are nominating for.

Give the person’s name and contact information that you wish to nominate, and the reason why you believe he/she is deserving of an award.

All nominations should be no more than 350 words.

Article: Announcing the GDUI 2021 Elections

Interested candidates should submit an application, resume and cover letter to the Nominations Committee Chair, Margie Donovan at elections@guidedogusersinc.org by the deadline of March 31, 2021 

The 2021 GDUI Elections will commence on Saturday, May 29 at 12:01 a.m. EDT and run through Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

GDUI is seeking candidates for the following positions in our upcoming 2021 elections.

1 Interim Secretary ending in 2022

1 Interim Director ending in 2022

2 Director Seats (3-Year Term) ending in 2024

The two open director positions will be filled by the two candidates who receive the largest and second-largest number of votes for director. The Interim Director position will be filled by the candidate receiving the third-largest number of votes for director.

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, Margie Donovan at elections@guidedogusersinc.org by the deadline of March 31, 2021.

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, 2021 will be eligible to vote in the upcoming 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/, 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 2021 GDUI election your 2021 GDUI dues must have been received on or before the record date of April 9, 2021.

We will hold two Candidate Forums prior to the election.  Phone numbers for these calls will be publicized closer to the dates. 

Candidate Forum 1.  Thursday, May 6, 2021 7:30 p.m. EDT

Candidate Forum 2.  Saturday, May 15, 2021 1:00 p.m. EDT

Between the dates of April 1, 2021 and April 15, 2021, we encourage members to submit questions for your candidates.  Please submit your questions to the Nominations Chair, Margie Donovan at elections@guidedogusersinc.org and include “Candidates Forum” in the subject line of your message.

Election period: Saturday, May 29 12:01 a.m. EDT through Sunday, June 6, 2021 11:59 p.m. EDT

Amendments: Any questions relating to Constitutional Amendments should be sent to Maria Hansen at Byalaws@guidedogusersinc.org by March 15, 2021.

Application for Candidacy:

GDUI has three major responsibilities:

1. To promote the acceptance of guide dog teams by all agencies, employers, educational institutions, commercial establishments, and the general public;
2. To work for the expansion, standardization, and enforcement of legal provisions, both civil and criminal, governing the rights and responsibilities of guide dog users in the areas of public access, employment, housing, personal injury to dog and handler, transportation, and recreation; and
3. To work in cooperation with guide dog training providers by contributing constructive input concerning selection, training, health care, and accommodations for both canine and human students, and providing constructive suggestions that will improve the quality of the training experience.

With these goals in mind, please answer the following questions.

Date: 

Position for which you wish to be a candidate:

Applicant’s Name:

Street Address:

City/State/zip code:

Phone numbers:

Home:

Cell:

E-mail Address:

Are you a guide dog user?

Describe your background (Educational, occupational and general experience).

Why do you wish to serve on the GDUI Board?

Which of your skills and experiences would most support Board activities? Please describe a time when a group of which you were a part accomplished its goal(s).

What caused the group to be successful?  How did you contribute to this success?

The GDUI Board of Directors uses e-mail to communicate with one another.  Are you able to communicate effectively using this medium and do you have access to e-mail?

The GDUI Board of Directors meets every other month by telephone. Meetings last from two to three hours.  Other ad hoc telephonic meetings are sometimes called as well.

Board Members are often asked to chair and serve on committees and perform tasks on behalf of GDUI as directed by the officers and committee chairpersons. Will you be able to find time to perform the tasks described above?

Candidates, please note: Your cover letter, application and resume will be sent in its entirety to the GDUI members eligible to vote in this election. 

GDUI Officer and Director Position Descriptions

All GDUI officers and Directors must:

Be willing and able to participate in regularly scheduled meetings and e-mail discussions.

Always act in a dignified manner and interact respectfully with fellow directors and Officers and agree to abide by GDUI’s current code of conduct for board members.

Work as a team member to maintain and protect GDUI and its mission.

Become well versed with GDUI’s By-Laws.

Respect the authority of the GDUI By-Laws and work within their guidance and the requirements of the GDUI Articles of Incorporation.

Be a collaborative participant in the democratic process–respecting the outcome of votes of the membership and votes of the board.

Possess sufficient computer skills to participate in e-mail work.

Be flexible for scheduling meeting times. (The GDUI Board meets by phone conference bi-monthly for two or more hours, with committee meetings or other special meetings scheduled separately.)

Responsibilities and criteria for GDUI Secretary Position

The GDUI Secretary must be willing and able to accept the legal, fiduciary and ethical responsibilities of an organizational secretary, in accordance with standard nonprofit practices and procedures.

The Secretary must:

Record (in document-form) meeting minutes for business meetings of the GDUI Board of Directors.

Arrange for the audio-recording of meetings if it is the secretary’s desire to take minutes from an audio-recording.

Possess thorough and quick note-taking skills in case an audio-recording of a meeting fails.

Have the ability to use notes, memory, and/or recordings to reproduce accurate accounts of meetings for minutes.

Use writing skills and discretion to summarize (or write in detail when appropriate) to create informative meeting minutes.

Submit drafts of meeting minutes in time frames which allow other board members to submit suggestions/corrections before a final draft is submitted for approval/ acceptance at the subsequent board meeting.

Send minutes and attachments to the Web Master for posting to the GDUI Web Site.

Assist GDUI by researching and reproducing content from previous minutes as is practical.

The secretary is expected to attend all board meetings. If the Secretary is unable to attend a board meeting, after informing the President, the Secretary will arrange for a competent recorder for the meeting which the Secretary will miss.

The Secretary may not miss three (3) or more meetings in any twelve month period without being excused.

Responsibilities and criteria for GDUI Board of Director position

Each member of the GDUI Board of Directors must be willing and able to accept the legal, fiduciary and ethical responsibilities of an organizational director, in accordance with standard nonprofit practices and procedures.

Board members are expected to attend all board meetings.

Members of the GDUI Board of Directors shall inform the President, in advance, if unable to attend a particular board meeting.

A GDUI board member shall not miss three (3) or more meetings in any twelve-month period without being excused.

A majority of Board members will be guide dog users.

GDUI Code of Ethics – revised June 20, 2017 Code of Ethics of Guide Dog Users, Inc. This board of directors code of ethics was adopted by the Guide Dog Users, Inc. Board of Directors on June 20, 2017.

Preamble:

Guide Dog Users, Inc., (hereinafter, “GDUI”) or “organization” is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization formed to promote, develop, educate, and otherwise further the guide dog team community as listed in its Articles of incorporation and bylaws. GDUI’s principal membership class consists of individuals and affiliates engaged in advocacy, legislative and civil rights. The business of the organization is managed under the direction of the GDUI board of directors. The board’s code of ethics serves as a code of conduct for organization volunteers in their capacity as board members. Code violations may result in sanctions imposed under the Procedures for Review of Board Member Conduct. The principles and requirements that comprise the code and procedures are based on and are designed to ensure full compliance by GDUI and its officers, directors, and volunteers with the fiduciary duties imposed on such individuals by Washington, D.C. non-profit code, the federal tax code’s prohibition on private inurement and private benefit, and other requirements of federal tax exemption, common law due process requirements, federal and state antitrust and unfair competition law, state tort law, and other legal precepts and prohibitions. At the same time, the code and procedures are not designed to supplant courts of law in the resolution of disputes within non-profits. Moreover, the checks and balances built into the code and procedures are designed to strike the proper balance between ensuring full compliance with the legal obligations described here and ensuring the integrity and efficacy of the code on the one hand and, on the other, the protection of board members, through the use of reasonable due process procedures, against patently false, malicious, or groundless accusations that could result in significant business or personal harm if not properly handled. Members of the board affirm their endorsement of the code and acknowledge their commitment to uphold its principles and obligations by accepting and retaining membership on the board.

Board of Directors Code of Ethics

Members of the board (including ex officio members of the board) shall at all times abide by and conform to the GDUI bylaws and the following code of conduct in their capacity as board members:

1. Each member of the board of directors will abide in all respects by the GDUI Members’ Code of Ethics and all other rules and regulations of the organization (including but not limited to the organization’s articles of incorporation and bylaws) and will ensure that their membership (or the membership of the entity for which they serve as officer, director, employee, or owner, as the case may be) in the organization remains in good standing at all times. Furthermore, each member of the board of directors will at all times obey all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and will provide or cause to provide the full cooperation of the organization when requested to do so by those institutions and their persons set in authority as are required to uphold the law.
2. Members of the board of directors will conduct the business affairs of the organization in good faith and with honesty, integrity, due diligence, and reasonable competence.
3. Except as the board of directors may otherwise require or as otherwise required by law or the organization’s bylaws, no board member or member subscribed to the Board list shall share, copy, reproduce, transmit, divulge or otherwise disclose any confidential information related to the affairs of the organization and each member of the board will uphold the strict confidentiality of all meetings and other deliberations and communications of the board of directors.
4. Members of the board of directors will exercise proper authority and good judgment in their dealings with organization members, suppliers, and the general public and will respond to the needs of the organization’s members in a responsible, respectful, and professional manner.
5. No member of the board of directors will use any information provided by the organization or acquired as a consequence of the board member’s service to the organization in any manner other than in furtherance of his or her board duties. Further, no member of the board of directors will misuse organization property or resources and will at all times keep the organization’s property secure and not allow any person not authorized by the board of directors to have or use such property.
6. Each member of the board of directors will use his or her best efforts to regularly participate in professional development activities and will perform his or her assigned duties in a professional and timely manner pursuant to the board’s direction and oversight.
7. Upon termination of service, a retiring board member will promptly return to the organization all documents, electronic and hard files, reference materials, and other property entrusted to the board member for the purpose of fulfilling his or her job responsibilities. Such return will not abrogate the retiring board member from his or her continuing obligations of confidentiality with respect to information acquired as a consequence of his or her tenure on the board of directors.
8. The board of directors dedicates itself to leading by example in serving the needs of the organization and its members and also in representing the interests and ideals of the guide dog user community at large.
9. No member of the board of directors shall persuade or attempt to persuade any employee of the organization to leave the employ of the organization or to become employed by any person or entity other than the organization. Furthermore, no member of the board of directors shall persuade or attempt to persuade any member, exhibitor, advertiser, sponsor, subscriber, supplier, contractor, or any other person or entity with an actual or potential relationship to or with the organization to terminate, curtail, or not enter into its relationship to or with the organization, or to in any way reduce the monetary or other benefits to the organization of such relationship.
10. The board of directors must act at all times in the best interests of the organization and not for personal or third-party gain or financial enrichment. When encountering potential conflicts of interest, board members will identify the conflict and, as required, remove themselves from all discussion and voting on the matter. Specifically, board members shall follow these guidelines:
    o    Avoid placing (and avoid the appearance of placing) one’s own self-interest or any third-party interest above that of the organization; while the receipt of incidental personal or third-party benefit may necessarily flow from certain organization activities, such benefit must be merely incidental to the primary benefit to the organization and its purposes;
    o    Do not abuse board membership by improperly using board membership or the organization’s volunteers, services, equipment, resources, or property for personal or third-party gain or pleasure; board members shall not represent to third parties that their authority as a board member extends any further than that which it actually extends;
    o    Do not engage in any outside business, professional or other activities that would directly or indirectly materially adversely affect the organization;
    o    Do not engage in or facilitate any discriminatory or harassing behavior directed toward organization staff, members, officers, directors, meeting attendees, exhibitors, advertisers, sponsors, suppliers, contractors, or others in the context of activities relating to the organization;
    o    Do not solicit or accept gifts, gratuities, free trips, honoraria, personal property, or any other item of value from any person or entity as a direct or indirect inducement to provide special treatment to such donor with respect to matters pertaining to the organization without fully disclosing such items to the board of directors; and
    o    Provide goods or services to the organization as a paid vendor to the organization only after full disclosure to, and advance approval by, the board, and pursuant to any related procedures adopted by the board.

Respectfully Submitted,

The GDUI Nominations Committee

Margie Donovan (Chair)

Robert Acosta

Dixie Sanderson

Sincerely,

Sarah Calhoun, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Penny Reeder, Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President

Paws for GDUI News You Can Use

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

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

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

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