Application for Candidacy 2020

GUIDE DOG USERS, INC.

C/O Sarah Calhoun

3603 Morgan Way

Imperial, MO 63052

TOLL FREE: 1-866-799-8436

www.guidedogusersinc.org

Announcing the GDUI 2020 Elections

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

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

President (2-year Term)

1^st Vice President (2-year Term)

2^nd Vice President (2-year Term)

Secretary (2-year Term)

Treasurer (2-year Term)

2 Director Seats (3-Year Term)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Important dates to remember:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Application for Candidacy:

GDUI has three major responsibilities:

To promote the acceptance of guide dog teams by all agencies, employers, educational institutions, commercial establishments, and the general public;

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

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 H: C:

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 meet every other month by telephone. Meetings last from 2 to 3 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.

GDUI Officer and Director Position Descriptions

Responsibilities and criteria for GDUI President position

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

The GDUI President must be a GDUI member in good standing.

The GDUI President must be a guide dog user.

The GDUI President shall:

Preside over all meetings; Appoint a Vice President to preside over any meeting for which the president’s absence is unavoidable; Propose policies and practices to fulfill the mission of GDUI; Serve as an ex-officio voting member of GDUI committees (with the exception of the Nominating Committee) in compliance with the GDUI Bylaws; Monitor the performance of Directors and Officers; Submit various reports to the board and to other “stakeholders” as necessary;

Propose the creation of committees or task forces to accomplish needed work; appoint chairpersons for committees and task forces; perform other duties as the need arises and/or as defined in the GDUI Bylaws.

In the event that serious circumstances make it impossible for the President to attend any meeting of the GDUI Board, the president must inform the First Vice President, in advance, and must arrange for either the First or Second Vice-President to take on presidential duties for that meeting.
The GDUI President shall not miss three (3) or more meetings in any twelve month period.

The President ensures that an agenda is planned in advance for board meetings.
(This may involve periodic meetings with committee chairpersons to draft meeting agendas and reporting schedules.)

The President presides over meetings of the Board of Directors. In this capacity, the President:

Chairs meetings according to accepted rules of order for the purposes of encouraging all members to participate in discussion;

Facilitates the board’s work of arriving at decisions in an orderly, timely and democratic manner;

Votes as prescribed in the GDUI Bylaws.

The President is responsible for ensuring, on behalf of the membership, that the Board of Directors and officers of GDUI:

Are aware of and fulfill their governance responsibilities;
Comply with applicable laws and bylaws;
Conduct board business effectively and efficiently in accordance with standard nonprofit policies and procedures;
Are accountable for their performance.

The President is accountable to the Board of Directors or Members as specified in the GDUI Bylaws.

The President may delegate specific duties to Board members and/or committees, and to the office manager and the webmaster, as appropriate; however, the accountability remains with the President. For this reason, the president may take appropriate action to safeguard the interests of GDUI.

According to the GDUI Bylaws, the president’s involvement in the proceedings of the Nominating Committee is specifically limited; therefore, the President’s accountability, in the specific case of the recommendations or actions of the nominating committee, is accordingly limited.

The President serves as an ex-officio voting member of all board committees (with the exception of the Nominating Committee). In this capacity, the President’s role is to:

Negotiate reporting schedules;
Identify problems and assist the committee chairperson to resolve them,
To bring such matters, if necessary, to the attention of the Board of Directors.

The President ensures that GDUI maintains positive and productive relationships with organizations related to the mission of GDUI, media and donors.

In this capacity, the President serves as primary spokesperson for GDUI, and Duties may include:

Representing GDUI to the media;
Representing GDUI on governmental or nongovernmental organizations and committees;
Timely and appropriate reporting of Board decisions and actions to members and/or donors.

The President is normally designated by the Board of Directors and/or bylaws as one of the signing officers for certain documents. In this capacity, the President may be authorized or required to sign or countersign bank checks, correspondence, applications, reports, contracts or other documents on behalf of GDUI.

The President ensures that structures and procedures are in place for effective recruitment, training, and evaluation of GDUI board members.

The President ensures that structures and procedures are in place for securing the resources required by GDUI.

The GDUI President is the primary liaison between the Board and all GDUI staff. In this capacity, the President:

Meets periodically with these individuals, no less than once a quarter;
Ensures that annual performance reviews of these staff members are conducted;
Participates in the hiring and evaluation of all staffers (presently: the webmaster).

Responsibilities and criteria for GDUI First Vice President position

The GDUI First Vice President is required to be willing and qualified to take over as President if necessary, in accordance with the GDUI Bylaws.

*Important: Please refer to “Responsibilities and Criteria for GDUI President Position” for specific details.

The first vice president must be willing and able to accept the legal, fiduciary and ethical responsibilities of an organizational vice president, and of President, in accordance with standard nonprofit practices and procedures.

The First Vice President is expected to attend all board meetings, and to preside over any board meeting for the president, if necessary.

The First Vice President shall inform the President, in advance, if unable to attend a particular board meeting.

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

The First Vice President must be a member in good standing of GDUI.

The First Vice President must be a guide dog user.

Responsibilities and criteria for GDUI Second Vice President position

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

The Second Vice President must be willing and able to take on the role and duties of First Vice President as prescribed by the GDUI Bylaws.

*Important: Please refer to “Responsibilities and Criteria for GDUI First Vice President Position” for specific details.

The Second Vice President Must Be a GDUI-member in good standing.

The Second Vice President must be a guide dog user.

The Second Vice President is expected to attend all board meetings and must be willing and able to run regularly scheduled Board meetings, if called upon by the President to do so (in the event that the President or First Vice President cannot be in attendance).

The Second Vice President shall inform the President, in advance, if unable to attend a particular board meeting.

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

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 Treasurer Position

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

The Treasurer must:

Assist in the preparation of all budgets including GDUI’s annual budget,

Be a bondable individual,

Monitor the budget on a monthly basis, or more frequently if needed,

Ensure that the financial policies (as set by the Board, and recommended by the finance committee) are being followed,

Report to the Board of Directors and general membership on finances on a monthly basis,

Prepare, in a timely manner, any required financial reporting forms to be submitted to the general membership, accountants, auditors or any such other entity as required for standard accounting procedures and policies,

Maintain all bank accounts in a fiscally prudent manner in keeping with standard accounting practices,

Oversee all financial transactions while ensuring all fiduciary responsibilities are met and inure to the benefit of GDUI.

Is a member of the finance committee.

The Treasurer’s signature should appear on all checks of the organization with the second signature from any of the board’s other directors or staff with signing authority for amounts exceeding $1500.

The Treasurer is expected to attend all board meetings.

The Treasurer 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.

Respectfully Submitted,

The GDUI Nominations Committee

Dixie Sanderson (Chair)

Cynthia Hawkins

Pauline Lamontagne

Deb Trevino

Download: Word doc.

Paws for GDUI – News You Can Use! – VOL. I, NO. 2, January 2020 – A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

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

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

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

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

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

Meeting Recording:

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

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

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

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

Zoom Info:

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

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

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

call in number: 1.669.900.6833

meeting ID: 634304501

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

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

https://zoom.us/j/634304501

One tap mobile

+1.669.900.6833,, 634304501# US (San Jose)

Program Description

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

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

Susan Glass email: Susan Glass

mailto:susancglass@att.net

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

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

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

http://weblink.donorperfect.com/DCLeadershipmeeting

2020 DC Leadership Meetings Schedule:

Saturday, February 22: Board Meeting

Sunday, February 23: Affiliate Presidents’ Meeting

Monday, February 24: Legislative Seminar

Tuesday, February 25: Meeting with Legislators on Capitol Hill

Hotel Information:

Holiday Inn & Suites Alexandria – Old Town

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

Address: 625 First Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone number: 703.548.6300

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To find the LDB Alumni Group:

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

To join the LDB Alumni Group:

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

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

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

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

If you have any questions, please contact

mailto:clientservices@leaderdog.org

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

Congratulations!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

mailto:michele@aerbvi.org

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

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

To learn more, please watch our

Employment Program Video, here:

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

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

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

https://www.blindandbeyondradioshow.org/

If you have questions please contact Stephanie Jones at

mailto:sales@menus4ALL.com

Thank you,

Helen Fernety,

Menus4ALL, CEO & Founder

https://www.menus4all.com

Changing lives one meal at a time for folks

with blindness and visual impairments

How Has the ADA Made a Difference in Your Life?

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

To read the January blog post, please click here

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

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

Help Amazon.com Improve the Quality of Audio Description!

Amazon.com is continuing to expand their library

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

to you if you meet the following conditions:

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

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

You can access the survey using this link:

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

New Hotline Promises an Easier Experience Identifying Accessible Products!

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

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

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

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

Tom Hanson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best of luck,

Rebecca Wisch

Associate Editor

Animal Legal & Historical Center

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

mailto:animallaw@law.msu.edu

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

Enjoy your researching and reading!

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

[From:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Super Sniffer Dogs Are Helping Detect Disease Around The World

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

January 25, 20206:11 AM ET

John Henning Schumann

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

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

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

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

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

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

What led you to look into dogs in medicine?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How do dogs help people suffering from PTSD?

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Spirit of Dog

Ann Chiappetta

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

January 30, 2020

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

Okay, back to the original post.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

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

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.

Paws for GDUI – News You Can Use! – VOL. I, NO. 1, January 2020 – A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

President: Penny Reeder

Editor: Andrea Giudice

Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)

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

https://guidedogusersinc.org/

Toll-Free: 866.799.8436

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Penny Reeder, President

Now, it’s time for some Announcements!

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

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

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

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

Subscribe in Itunes at:

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

Wags to all of you for the new year.

Deb Lewis

Host, The GDUI Juno Report

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

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

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/562675137

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,562675137# US (New York)

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Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

Find your local number:

https://zoom.us/u/adkoW2kadE

Regards,

Maria Kristic

GDUI Board Member and Zoom Guru

Pick of the Litter on Disney +

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

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

https://www.disneyplus.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOURCE Guide Dogs of America

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

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

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

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

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

Holman Prize for Blind Ambition is an international competition that is awarded annually to three blind individuals who wish to push their limits. It is named for James Holman, a nineteenth century blind explorer and author, who was the most prolific traveler before the era of modern transportation.

Past winners have completed feats like traversing the Bosporus Straight via solo kayak, hosting the first conference in Mexico for blind children and their families led by blind professionals, and creating an app to enable blind citizen scientists to participate in the search for exoplanets by listening to space/

The nine winners so far have come from five countries on four continents and have all found unique ways to forever change the world’s perception of blindness.

2020 Application information is available here:

www.holmanprize.org/apply

If you have any questions, please contact the Holman Prize team at

holman@lighthouse-sf.org

Applications close March 15 at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

REAL ID

REAL ID starts in less than a year. If you haven’t secured your official “Real ID,” now is definitely the time to take action! Beginning October 1, 2020, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

To learn more about REAL ID, visit this link:

https://www.tsa.gov/real-id

Below you will find information about two surveys. We in GDUI – believing in “Nothing about us without us!,” urge our members to contribute to data collection efforts like these. Various researchers use surveys to learn about who we are, what we need, and how our needs and goals can best be met by the communities in which we are included (i.e., the community of humanity!).

University of Kansas Survey

The NIDILRR-funded Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (CHRIL)

at the University of Kansas is looking for adults with disabilities to complete an online survey about health insurance and health care services. The survey is open to Adults, 18 and over, with any disability, chronic illness/disease, mental or physical health condition. Whether you have private insurance, insurance from an employer, TRICARE, Medicaid, Medicare or no insurance at all right now, we want to hear from you. Survey submissions must be received by January 30, 2020.

This survey may look familiar to you. It was first posted in 2018 and is being posted for a second time. We welcome participation from those who completed it in 2018 and those who have never participated in our research before.

The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous.

To complete the survey, go to: https://tinyurl.com/NSHD2019

Whether or not you complete the survey, you can choose to enter a drawing to win one of ten $100 gift cards. If you prefer to take the survey over the phone or have any questions about participating, please call toll-free 1.855.556.6328. (Voice/TTY) or email healthsurvey@ku.edu

WBU Employment Survey

The World Blind Union (WBU) Employment Committee has developed a short survey designed to identify employment patterns of people who are blind or partially sighted and of working-age throughout the world.

ACB and GDUI urge as many of you as possible to please take the survey. It is very comprehensive and we believe worth your time and effort to complete. Even if you are retired or have never worked, the Employment Committee needs your participation. The deadline for submitting the survey is Tuesday, March 31.

To take the survey, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/8ZP2KW3

Thank you,

Mitch Pomerantz, Vice President

North America/Caribbean Region, World Blind Union

American Council of the Blind

Are you thinking of making a career change, or improving your skills to pursue that dream job?

Here are announcements regarding three interesting job vacancies, as well as scholarship opportunities for Guiding Eyes grads, through Friends in Art, and from several American Council of the Blind donors!

A Job Announcement from Sprint!

Link to job posting:

http://careers.sprint.com/ShowJob/Id/397009/Customer%20Relationship%20Manager

Job Summary

Performs account maintenance responsibilities in a non-quota-bearing environment. Responsible for Pre/Post sales support for assigned large accounts according to department strategy. Account set-up and on-going contract management to include registration and maintenance of accounts and subsidiaries, account structure definition. Monitors and resolves order status. Conducts and project manages product/solution demonstrations, conducts quarterly account presentations for customer and identifies sell up opportunities and position value assessed services. Distributes and maintains implementation documents. Initiates and conducts first bill review with customer. Provides training as needed to sales teams and clients. Provides monthly account reports which identifies opportunities for additional sales. Prepares information for monthly and quarterly meetings with customer.

This position may be located anywhere in the US.

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and two years related work experience or six years related work experience post high school;

Two years account maintenance or sales experience;

Two years project management experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with and in the Blind, Low Vision Community;

Experience working with and communicating with diverse populations.

ACB Seeks Director of Development

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is seeking a full-time Director of Development to work in its national office in Alexandria, VA.

The Director of Development will report to the Executive Director and work in conjunction with the ACB team in the areas of fundraising, resource development, and public relations.

The primary responsibilities of this position will include:

Direct fundraising activities including major giving, grants, special events, and direct mail appeals.

Develop, implement, and monitor progress toward short- and long-term fundraising strategy and goals.

Create a gift program including identification, cultivation and solicitation of major donors.

Develop relationships with new foundations and grow the number of individual donors.

Engage new donors and build their awareness on ACB.

Communicate and build relationships with prospective donors and supporters on a continual basis.

Maintain long-term relationships with existing donors.

Generate new ideas that increase revenue and donor loyalty.

Research new income streams.

Research and identify foundations to engage in development-related conversations.

Keeping engaged in the fundraising community and staying on top of fundraising trends

Preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports as requested by the Executive Director and Board.

Partner with the CFO and support the development of the annual budget.

Attend the ACB annual convention and connect with donors.

Oversee research of prospects and grant seeking.

Oversee the Angel Wall Donation Program.

Lead the Development Committee meetings.

Work with a third party to design and complete direct mailings.

Work with the Executive Director in development related projects.

Understanding media and more modern avenues as a method to gain support or donations.

Document connection with donors in Donor Perfect.

Understanding media and more modern avenues as a method to gain support or donations.

Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

A successful candidate must have the following skills and abilities:

Driven to take initiative with limited guidance.

Strong attention to detail.

Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.

Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.

Ability to effectively direct and manage the performance of direct reports.

Ability to respond promptly and meet deadlines.

Ability to travel as circumstances require.

Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed, including participating in meetings and conference calls with ACB committees and affiliates.

Ability to work with diverse groups of people.

Demonstrates accountability and a results-oriented culture.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, donor tracking systems, and social media.

Resourceful, creative, and strong problem-solving skills.

Past fundraising including major gift experience preferred.

Some knowledge of the connections to the funding community in Washington D.C. and nationally.

Experience with collaborating, planning, and delegating program development is preferred.

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business administration, nonprofit administration, or public administration.

Applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample by e-mail to

jobs@acb.org

Applications must be received by Monday, February 10, 2020.

The American Council of the Blind, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. At the American Council of the Blind, we strive to develop an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse make-up of the blind and visually impaired community. Blindness touches people from all walks of life; ACB embraces this diversity. ACB works to bring in members of all nationalities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities, ages, genders, and other minority groups to fully represent the blind and visually impaired community in all the advocacy work we do.

Job Vacancy: Director of Outreach and Engagement

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind

The Pennsylvania Council of the Blind (PCB) is a grassroots organization of individuals with vision loss. As a peer network PCB strives to promote the independence of and opportunities for all individuals with vision loss by advocating for legislative change, accessible technology solutions, and inclusive social and business practices. At the heart of its efforts is providing mutual support through peer sharing and encouragement.

PCB currently seeks a full-time Director of Outreach and Engagement to take on the following responsibilities:

Develop and maintain relationships with legislators, policy changemakers, service providers, and disability stakeholders
Work with affiliate chapters and individual volunteers to promote advocacy efforts and to develop outreach opportunities
Monitor and report on current and potential issues of relevance to the vision loss community
Serve as the organization’s voice at public meetings and outreach events

Key Competencies:

Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
Ability to initiate, prioritize, and complete projects with little oversight
Ability to work with and report back to PCB leadership
Good writing, oral, and phone communication skills
Familiarity with blindness/disability related issues and the provision of services
Grasp of basic Accounting principles
Competency in basic Microsoft office products
Ability to effectively utilize the internet and software applications
Proficiency with basic office equipment
Demonstration of an overall professional work ethic and demeanor

Background/Educational Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Public Administration, community Outreach or related field
Five years of experience in corporate or non-profit setting may be substituted for education

Additional Details:

This can be a remote position, but regular travel to the Harrisburg area is required.
Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
PCB is an equal opportunity employer.

Interested applicants should post a letter of interest and resume to: hr@pcb1.org

by February 1, 2020

Arthur and Phyllis Milton Foundation Scholarship

The Arthur and Phyllis Milton Foundation, Inc has reinstated the Arthur Milton Scholarship Fund in honor of the late Arthur Milton, a well-known, retired insurance executive, consumerist, author and consultant. A $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to outstanding graduates of Guiding Eyes for the Blind to assist each individual’s pursuit of higher education.

Initially awarded in 2000 Arthur Milton commented, “I selected Guiding Eyes for this special gift because the courage of their students in choosing a guide dog, to open up new horizons for themselves, made a deep impact upon me.”

Contact Becky Barnes Davidson to receive a copy of the application and to submit the completed form. Applications are due by April 1, 2020. Applications may be submitted in all formats- email, Braille or large print. The Milton Award Committee will select the winners of the Scholarship and inform the applicants by June 15th.

Becky Barnes-Davidson

bbarnes@guidingeyes.org

Manager, Consumer Outreach & Graduate Support

Guiding Eyes for the Blind

611 Granite Springs Road

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

Call: 914.243.2210

Or, toll-free: 800.942.0149 ext. 2210

Text: 914.705.1626

www.guidingeyes.org

Apply for the Friends in Art Scholarship

Friends-in-Art (FIA), a nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing accessibility and opportunity for artists and audience members who are visually impaired, offers an annual $1500 scholarship to college students who are legally blind and live in North America.

If you are a high school senior or a college student planning to, or are currently majoring in the field of music, art, drama, or creative writing, and are blind or visually impaired, we encourage you to apply!

Note: Legal blindness is defined as an individual who has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the corrected eye and/or 20 degrees or less visual field in the corrected eye. Only individuals who are legally blind in BOTH eyes are eligible to receive this scholarship.

To apply, please go to

www.friendsinart.com , and complete the application. You will need to upload or e-mail the required supporting materials, including documentation of visual impairment from a medical professional, per the directions on the form, by May 15, 2020.

Please direct any questions to Peter Altschul, FIA’s scholarship chair, via email at searchforcommonground@outlook.com

The Deadline is Approaching to Apply for ACB Scholarships!

Don’t Miss This Opportunity!

The American Council of the Blind’s (ACB) Scholarship Program was established in 1982. The American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) have now partnered together to offer educational scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for those attending a technical college or as an entering freshman, undergraduate or a graduate student.

This program awards students with scholarships to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as tuition, fees, room and board and other additional costs associated with adaptive technology.

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants need to be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for most scholarships, be a full-time student (as well as students who work 32 or more hours per week and attend college part time), and be involved in their school/local community.

Applications for the 2020-2021 school year can be submitted online from Friday, November 1, 2019 to Friday, February 14, 2020 11:59pm (CST).

All interested candidates must register for a new ACB account prior to submitting a scholarship application online. Visit this link to register:

https://acb.org/scholarships

Candidates will receive an email containing a link to complete the scholarship application after their account request has been approved. Please note – the approval process could take up to three business days.

Scholarship winners will experience firsthand ACB’s National Conference and Convention in July, where you will meet other students who share the same life experiences, create lasting friendships and network with individuals who understand what you are going through and can help you with your journey. There are also many sessions where you can learn about new technology and what is happening in our community.

For more information, please contact Nancy Feela in the ACB National Office at 612.332.3242 or 800.866.3242. We look forward to receiving your application materials.

From Your Editor: a new decade, and a new vision for Pawtracks!

This is Andrea your new editor. As is the case with any successor, I am both excited about this new partnership and extremely aware of the excellence of my predecessor. Will guided with skill and dedication for which we all thank him. Now it is my turn to pull into the harness and guide this publication forward. Just like other successors, I ask for your patients, and when necessary your forgiveness with any miss-steps, as we settle into this new partnership. Now about that new vision I mentioned… Pawtracks has a new name and look!

Going forward, you will receive Paws for GDUI News You Can Use! The new publication will still have announcements from our president, news you can use and interesting articles. However, it will not be a quarterly publication any more. Rather, Paws for GDUI News You Can Use will be a hipper, happening streamlined version of its former self, striding forth much more often keeping the contents fresh and pertinent, current, and timely! Now, enough of the lecture portion for today; lets step out and work this new route!

How to Calculate Your Dog’s Real Age

[This article originally appeared on The Conversation, and is republished under a Creative Commons license. Source URL: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200106-how-to-calculate-your-dogs-real-Age]

Your pet clearly ages faster than you do, but new research is giving us a much clearer idea of just how old your dog really might be.

By Christian Yates

6th January 2020

If your dog has been alive and kicking its paws about for a decade, the widely held belief is it has aged as much as a human would have done over 70 years. This conversion factor – each year of a dog’s life accounting for seven human years – comes from dividing human life expectancy of around 77 by the canine life expectancy of around 11.

The underlying assumption is that each calendar year a dog lives through is equivalent to seven human years at any stage of a dog’s life. But new research suggests that things aren’t so simple. And if we look at some basic developmental milestones, it’s clear why.

For example, most dog breeds reach sexual maturity between the ages of six and 12 months – the upper end of that range corresponding, by the traditional conversion, to a human age of seven. And at the other end of the spectrum, although unusual, some dogs have been known to live for over 20 years. Under the “factor-of-seven” conversion rule, this would equate to an unfathomable 140 human-equivalent years.

New insights into how dogs age suggest our pets move into middle age more rapidly than most owners might suspect.

To make matters more complicated, dogs’ life expectancy depends significantly on the breed. Smaller dogs tend to live significantly longer , suggesting that they age more slowly than bigger dogs.

All of this raises the question of what exactly we mean by age. The most obvious way to describe it is simply the length of time that has passed since birth. This is known as the chronological definition of age.

When it comes to comparing animal ages across species, the biological definitions of age are far more useful than their chronological counterparts

However, there are other descriptions. Biological age, for example, is a more subjective definition, which relies on assessing physiological indicators to identify an individual’s development. These include measures like the “ frailty index” – surveys that take into account an individual’s disease status, cognitive impairments and levels of activity.

Then there are the more objective ageing biomarkers, such as levels of gene expression (genes produce proteins at differing rates at different stages of life) or numbers of immune cells. The rate at which biological age increases depends on genetically inherited factors, mental health and lifestyle.

Rather than celebrating chronological age, looking at the levels of methylation on a dog’s DNA is a much more accurate measure of aging

For example, if you’ve spent a lot of time eating junk food and smoking cigarettes instead of taking exercise and eating healthily, the chances are your biological age will exceed your chronological age. Or, you might be a 60-year-old with the body of a 40-year-old if you’ve looked after yourself well.

A dog’s life When it comes to comparing animal ages across species, the biological definitions of age are far more useful than their chronological counterparts. Knowing a hamster is six weeks old doesn’t give you a good picture of that animal’s life stage, even if you know the life expectancy of a hamster is only three years. Learning that a hamster has reached an age where it can reproduce gives a much better picture of its level of maturity.

The authors of the new ageing study suggest that a sensible way to measure biological age is though so-called “epigenetic clocks” – changes to the packaging of our DNA that accumulate over time in all mammals.

In their first year of life, puppies grow up so quickly that they age the equivalent of 31 human years. In particular, “methylation” – the addition of methyl groups (a carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms) to DNA – seems to be a good indicator of age. Many prominent physiological markers, such as the development of teeth, seem to occur at the same levels of methylation across different species. So by matching the levels of methylation in Labrador retrievers and humans, the researchers derived a formula to map dog age to its human equivalent.

That formula is: human equivalent age = 16 x ln(dog’s chronological age) + 31.

Here “ln” represents a mathematical function known as the natural logarithm. The logarithm function is well-known in the non-linear scales for energy released during earthquakes (Richter) or for measuring sound (decibels). It comes in useful for measuring quantities whose sizes vary over many orders of magnitude. It’s even possible that a logarithmic experience of the passing of time might explain why we perceive time speeding up as we get older.

A handy short cut is to remember that the first dog year counts for 31 human years. Then, after that, every time the dog’s chronological age doubles, the number of equivalent human years increases by 11. So eight calendar years represents three “doublings” (from one to two, two to four and then four to eight) giving a dog age equivalent of 64 (that’s 31 + 3×11).

In eight calendar years a dog will approximately age the equivalent of 64 years.

Most dog lovers will already have suspected that the human-to-dog age relationship is non-linear, having noticed that, initially, their pets mature much more quickly than the linear factor-of-seven rule suggests.

A more sophisticated refinement to the factor-of-seven rules has suggested that each of the dog’s first two years correspond to 12 human years while all subsequent years count for four human equivalents.

In practice the new molecular insights into human-to-dog age conversion encapsulated by the logarithmic law suggest that dogs move into middle age even more rapidly than most dog-owners would have suspected. It’s worth bearing in mind, when you find that Rex is reluctant to chase the ball like he once did, that he’s probably got more miles on the clock than you’ve been giving him credit for.

Christian Yates is a senior lecturer in mathematical biology at the University of Bath. He is also the author of The Maths of Life and Death

Weimaraner Tales

Peter altschul

[From: http://www.peteraltschul.com/weimaraner-tales/]

Around forty years ago, I was sitting with eleven other adults with visual impairments in the lounge at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization that trains dogs to be guide dogs, matches humans to the dog most likely to meet their needs, and nurtures the starting phase of the relationship. We were each waiting to find out which dog had been assigned to become our travel guardian.

“Peter,” the instructor told me. “Your dog is a Weimaraner—”

“A what?” I squawked.

“A Weimaraner.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll find out!”

The Weimaraner named Heidi became the best-behaved dog in class. She led me through increasingly complex routes without making a mistake, and didn’t even dive for a pork chop that another dog handler accidentally dropped during dinner.

Even though Heidi was ten months old.

Five hours after returning home with Heidi, we went on our first walk together, my dad trailing several feet behind. On our return home, I heard a kid squeal and run towards us, but Heidi kept right on going.

“Good girl!” I said.

When my dad caught up with us as we were turning into our driveway, he told me that Heidi had snatched an entire ice cream cone out of that squealing child’s hand.

“Why didn’t the kid scream or something?” I asked.

“It happened so fast she was too shocked to,” he explained.

Heidi became a superb guide dog, swerving me around obstacles on New York City sidewalks, streets, subways, busses, and office buildings while walking at a four – to five-mile-and-hour clip. She yanked me out of the path of an ambulance that silently cut in front of us when the light was in our favor. She slept through endless meetings and recording sessions. When I got my first real job, she was the best-behaved dog among five other service dogs in the office.

But in order to benefit from Heidi’s strengths, I needed to provide accommodations for her Weimaraner disability.

Heidi was food-driven. But her palate was much broader than most Labradors. She snatched paper cups, napkins, cigarette butts, and candy wrappers from sidewalks and subway stairs as we prowled Manhattan streets. “No!” I would shout, sticking my hand in her mouth to remove whatever she had found. She also crunched on dead fish as my Mom and I walked on the sandbars on a Cape Cod bay beach. One Christmas night, she drained the glass of an unsuspecting guest of a cocktail that my stepmom had made in his honor.

Heidi hunted. She spent hours stalking birds in my stepmom’s fenced-in backyard and seagulls on a Cape Cod beach. She nearly caught a deer in the woods of Aspen, Colorado.

I occasionally felt Heidi’s body bend low to the ground through her harness handle as we walked those Manhattan streets. This time, pigeons were her prey. She didn’t slowed down very much, and never ran me into anything. But she once tried to climb the wall of a building in hot pursuit as a pedestrian from across the street shouted “you get that damn bird!”

Heidi hated getting wet. On rainy days, she howled as I dragged her into the rain, but assisted me in arriving at a dry destination, pawing the ground while waiting for a traffic light to change and poking pedestrians out of the way with her nose. On icy sidewalks, she picked up the pace, scattering pedestrians as we jogged past them.

Heidi had a large repertoire of barks, howls, purrs, and grunts. At the Aspen Music festival, she snapped at a mosquito throughout a performance of a piece I had written for soprano and bassoon. During a picnic for composers, she tried to persuade the wife of my composition teacher through impassioned barks, snaps, and howls in the spirit of a Wagnerian contralto to give her the hot dog the woman was holding.

For the past forty years, Guiding Eyes training staff has never trained another Weimaraner to be a guide dog, deciding that Labradors, golden retrievers, and the occasional German shepherd could get the job done with less drama. After Heidi retired eight years since we were connected, each of my Guiding Eyes-trained dogs have been Labs with ornery streaks. Each has worked well with me.

But for those eight years, Heidi was the perfect dog.

My spirit dog.

Sundance Partnership Extends Accessibility for Attendees With Disabilities

[Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sundance-film-festival-partnership-extends-accessibility-attendees-disabilities-1270602]

A new alliance with the Ruderman Family Foundation will improve the accessibility of closed captioning, audio description and assisted listening devices, among other resources, at the 2020 event.

The Sundance Film Festival is making changes to improve accessibility for attendees with disabilities.

The Ruderman Family Foundation on Wednesday announced a partnership with the Sundance Institute to provide more resources for attendees with disabilities and to include a greater amount of programming featuring people with disabilities, including an opening-weekend film.

The disability organization is helping to improve the accessibility of closed captioning (CC) at the fest with CaptiView devices and Feature Film Captioning Service. It will also be expanding Audio Description (AD) and Assisted Listening Devices (ALD) with headsets for AD and ALD and Feature Film Audio Description Service. American Sign Language interpretation will additionally be available at all official Sundance events and official panels at the festival’s Filmmaker Lodge.

All Sundance theaters have CC, AD and ALD devices that can be requested from theater staff at the start of an event and retrieved by them afterward. All theaters are additionally wheelchair-accessible and offer seating for attendees with disabilities and companions. Wheelchair-accessible shuttles are available on festival transit roads, and staff and volunteers have been trained to work with attendees with mobility devices if they ask for them.

In terms of programming, the upcoming festival is set to screen Crip Camp, a documentary about a summer camp for teenagers with disabilities and its effect on the disability rights movement, on the Friday of the event’s opening weekend (Jan. 24), followed by a Q&A. Additionally, the Ruderman Family Foundation is partnering with The Atlantic to host a panel on disability in entertainment and disability inclusion on Sunday, Jan. 26.

“The generous partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation allows us to expand accessibility resources in theatres and official venues, providing audiences with disabilities the much needed capabilities to enjoy and experience our Festival programming, and activating all of our Artist Programs to deepen our creative and professional development engagement with artists with disabilities,” a Sundance spokesperson said in a statement.

The move follows Sundance’s announcement that a quarter of the recipients of 2020’s Press Inclusion Initiative, which offers cash stipends to 51 freelance critics from underrepresented communities, were people with disabilities.

The Ruderman Family Foundation also put pressure on the entertainment industry to improve inclusion last month when it published an open letter asking studios, network and production executives to open up more casting opportunities for talent with disabilities. Signatories of the letter included Ed Norton, Bryan Cranston, Mark Ruffalo, Glenn Close, Eva Longoria, Orlando Jones and Peter Farrelly, among others.

“We are excited that Sundance shares our commitment to advancing the rights of those who have been historically underrepresented in film, media, theater and other artistic platforms,” Ruderman Family Foundation president Jay Ruderman said in a statement. “Our partnership will enable Sundance to infuse themes of inclusion of people with disabilities and diversity throughout the festival and its year-round programming, while casting a crucial spotlight among the festival’s 120,000-plus attendees on our work to pioneer a culture of greater inclusion in the entertainment industry.”

This year’s Sundance Film Festival is set to run through Feb. 2.

A Little Extra Convention Enticement, Especially for Baseball Fans!

As you know, the GDUI Convention occurs concurrently with the ACB Conference and Convention, which will be in Schaumburg, Ill in early July 2020! Soon our GDUI Convention Page will be coming to our web site, and convention related announcements will increase during coming months in this publication. Just to whet your appetite, though, we want to share this intriguing ACB Tour News which will surely be exciting for all of you who are baseball fans! What a great way to top off Wednesday of GDUI Convention Week – First, our fabulous awards Luncheon, then a trip to Wrigley Field!

If you like baseball you don’t want to miss this tour! Join the American Council of the Blind at the 2020 Conference and Convention for an interleague game between the Cubs and White sox! We will visit Wrigley Field on Wednesday, July 8th for a 7:05 PM game. Whether you wear blue or white, root for the north or southside this game is for you!

We will arrive in plenty of time for you to grab some food or sit back and enjoy the pregame action.

We are hoping to arrange a tour of Wrigley Field earlier in the day, if that happens you will have the option of attending the tour plus the game or just the game.

Here’s basic information about next summer’s convention, to help you begin searching for transportation, booking rooms, and making plans:

Convention dates are July 3rd through 10^th, 2020. The location is Schaumburg, Illinois. The hotel is the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. Room rates are $94 per night for up to four people in a room. This room rate does not include tax, which is currently 15 percent.

For telephone reservations, call 800.468.3571. This is a central reservations number, so please indicate that you are with the American Council of the Blind 2020 conference and convention at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Ill. Rooms must be booked by June 10, 2020 to guarantee the convention rate.

Registration will cost $25 for pre-registration, $35 for on-site. This fee will include all general sessions, the exhibit hall, some affiliate programming and the many sessions offered by our sponsors and business partners. But wait, there’s more! All committee sessions that do not involve food functions will be provided free of charge. That means the transportation seminar, legislative boot camp, information access programming and so much more will all be included in the cost of registration.

Convention Contacts

2020 exhibit information: Michael Smitherman, 601.331.7740,

amduo@bellsouth.net

2020 advertising and sponsorships: Margarine Beaman, 512.921.1625,

oleo50@hotmail.com

For any other convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at

651.428.5059, or via email,

janet.dickelman@gmail.com

Or for specific GDUI Convention Information, contact Andrea Giudice, through our Secretary, Sarah Calhoun: 866.799.8436, or by e-mail:

DawgMawm@gmail.com

This room rate does not include tax which is currently 15.0%. For telephone reservations call (800) 468-3571, this is a central reservations number so please indicate you are with the American Council of the Blind 2020 conference and convention at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg IL.

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

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Andrea Giudice, Editor

Connect with GDUI

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

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

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.

GDUI Announcement, December 22, 2019

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

We have arrived, tonight, at the evening before the eve of Christmas Eve, the first night of Hanukkah, the first post-Solstice evening when the light from a slightly longer day finally made its incremental appearance, when many are anticipating Kwanzaa drums and rituals, which will arrive toward the end of the coming week, and celebration of family, friends, and traditions of all kinds seems to be in order! We have just a few announcements to mark the end of the year and look forward to 2020!

Shopping! Yes, I hear you, if we haven’t finished our shopping by now … what advice can YOU possibly GIVE us? Well, think again: Aren’t you expecting at least a couple of gift cards in your stocking or from your Great Aunt Evelyn, who doesn’t have any idea about what to give you, but loves you just the same? Here are two resources for help with shopping!

The first is that great advice which ACB’s Information Access Committee provided on their accessible shopping webinar earlier this month! It’s still available on ACB Radio’s Special Event channel, here: http://acbradio.org/special. Check it out!

For personalized help, turn to AIRA! Free Holiday shopping Assistance Through January 10, 2020

Through January 10, Aira is free to use for any shopping task – both online and in stores. There are two ways to activate this offer: 1. Open the Aira app, tap the Call Button, ask your agent to activate the “Free Shopping promotion. 2. Open Aira app, tap “Apply Free Access Offer,” then tap “Promotions” and select “Free Shopping” offer. Life is good!

Holiday Entertainment! It’s that time of the year when many of us anticipate curling up in front of our smart TVs and catching up on all that programming we didn’t have time for when we were immeshed in end-of-workweek or end-of-school craziness and holiday preparations! Comcast recently announced their adoption of intriguing technology that promises to make watching TV more accessible for many people with impaired vision. The company has entered into a partnership with wearable technology startup NuEyes to bring the Xfinity Stream entertainment viewing experience to visually impaired customers through NuEyes virtual reality technology.

The Xfinity Stream app, which allows customers to watch live TV and On Demand content on any device, is now available on the NuEyes e2 smartglasses and VR magnifying device that enhances the usable vision of a person who is visually impaired. Xfinity Stream is pre-installed on NuEyes e2, allowing users with visual disabilities to see TV shows, news, movies, live sports, and more, independently.

Founded by a veteran, NuEyes’ mission is to give millions of people across the U.S. who are visually impaired the independence they may have lost due to conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa. The lightweight design of the NuEyes e2, paired with handsfree and wireless functionality, gives people with low vision the ability to participate in their everyday lives in ways that were once difficult or impossible, like clearly seeing loved ones’ faces, reading, cooking and enjoying television.

For more information about the technology and the Comcast partnership, visit this link:

https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-xfinity-stream-nueyes-visual-disabilities.

How about watching another film about adorable puppies destined for lives of service as guide dogs from Guiding Eyes for the Blind? Did you love the Pick of the Litter documentary? Well, be prepared to fall in love all over again because the Pick of the Litter docuseries is here!

The feature-length documentary focused on following a litter of puppies from birth through their early puppy raising, but the docuseries goes deeper into what happens when dogs move from a puppy raiser’s house back to the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus for the next step in their training.

Pick of the Litter (available with audio description) just premiered on Disney+! To learn how to access audio description on Disney+, please visit ACB’s Audio Description Project page at: https://acb.org/adp/disneyad.html

Thinking about the New Year! If you are planning to enroll in higher education or continue pursuing a degree at a school where you’re already enrolled, remember that ACB has scholarship money for deserving students who are blind.

ACB annually awards approximately 21 scholarships ranging in amounts from $1,000 to $7,500. These scholarships are awarded to students attending vocational/technical colleges, entering freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students who are legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA and are involved in their school or local community. To qualify, each applicant must be enrolled in an accredited college or university in the United States for the upcoming fall semester.

To read the scholarship guidelines and complete an on-line application, please visit www.acb.org/2020-scholarship

Applications are being accepted online through Friday, February 14, 2020, at 11:59 pm, CST. Only application supplements which cannot be emailed, can be sent by postal mail, , and must be postmarked no later than Friday, February 14, 2020.

If you have any questions about the American Council of the Blind or the ACB scholarship program, contact our Minnesota office at 612-332-3242 or one of our Scholarship Committee Chairpersons, Denise Colley at

colleyd1952@gmail.com

or Rebecca Bridges at

bridgesrj@gmail.com.

Convention! Ffinally, if freezing temperatures have you longing for summer, it’s not too early to begin planning for the GDUI Convention, held concurrently with the ACB Conference and Convention! Andrea and her excellent committee are already making plans for speakers, activities, and convention events that you won’t want to miss! Here’s some basic information about next summer’s convention, to help you begin searching for transportation, booking rooms, and making plans:

Convention Contacts

2020 exhibit information: Michael Smitherman, 601.331.7740,

amduo@bellsouth.net

2020 advertising and sponsorships: Margarine Beaman, 512.921.1625,

oleo50@hotmail.com

For any other convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at

651.428.5059, or via email,

janet.dickelman@gmail.com.

Or for specific GDUI Convention Information, contact Andrea Giudice, through our Secretary, Sarah Calhoun: 866.799.8436, or by e-mail:

DawgMawm@gmail.com.

Now it’s time for me and Willow to nestle all snug in our beds and get ready to fly to New Orleans tomorrow to spend the holidays with much loved family members. Our wish for you is the happiest of holiday seasons and a new year that brings peace and happiness to you and all of the people and animals that you love.

Sincerely,

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog users, Inc.

mailto:President@GuideDogUsersInc.org

Maria Hansen, First Vice President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

mailto:vp1@GuideDogUsersInc.org

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/

, and 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.

SUPPORT GUIDE DOG USERS, INC GROUP #999969764 when you purchase candles and other decorative items from the Yankee Candle Store here: https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/store.htm.

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: gduichatlist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

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

businesslist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org.

GDUI Announcement, September 19, 2019

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

Welcome to Autumn! The first day of the new season – it seems to us, the busiest of the year! – coincides with our next GDUI Board Meeting, September 21, 2019! Here’s all the information you’ll need to attend our Zoom conference call meeting, and we hope you will be able to come!

GDUI invites you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

Time: Sep 21, 2019 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/562675137

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,562675137# US (New York)

+17207072699,,562675137# US (Denver)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

Find your local number:

https://zoom.us/u/adkoW2kadE

Have you been thinking about becoming more involved in the American Council of the Blind? You can make a difference for and within the blindness community to which we all belong by sharing your interests and talents with the committees which work to accomplish ACB’s goals. Here’s a message from ACB’s newly elected president, Dan Spoone, encouraging all of us to get more involved in the work of ACB.

I want to add that bringing the sensibilities of those of us who use guide dogs to the attention of our committees can only serve to make everyone more aware of the issues that are important to us as guide dog users, and to assure that our perspective is given equal weight in the communications and decision-making processes.

Here is Dan’s message:

The strength of ACB is our membership and their commitment to the mission of the organization. We will be finalizing the ACB Committee member rosters for this year and we welcome new leaders to join our committees. Please drop me a note or give me a call if you would like to learn more about an ACB Committee or you would like to express your interest in volunteering for an assignment. Here is my contact information:

Dan Spoone

danspoone@cfl.rr.com

407 678-0075 home

407 227-4489 cell

And, here is our ACB Mission Statement:

The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people.

Let’s all work together to fulfill this mission. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Dan Spoone ACB President

Remember, too, that GDUI’s own committees can provide an equally wonderful avenue for directing your energy, creativity, commitment, and involvement. Just as in ACB, GDUI committees are the entities where much of our work is accomplished, and we welcome your help with the work of GDUI. Find a list of our committees here: https://guidedogusersinc.org/get-involved/

Computers for the Blind Sale!

Laptops with JAWS & ZoomText for $150 for consumers and agencies.

Non-profit Computers for the Blind (CFTB) will be providing their laptops for $150 during the month of

September only. This is $35 off the regular low cost of $185.

Both consumers and agencies can take advantage of this great offer.

Those on SSI/SSDI, parents of blind children, Veterans/Active military

& spouses still get the $60 discount bringing the cost to $90! Our

lowest price ever.

For home use and self-employment use only.

This offer applies only to laptops. Desktop price is $130.

Back by popular demand is a renewed grant to offer Typio talking

typing teacher for $10. Retail cost is $100. Great for newer computer

users, students, and those who do not have full command of the

QWERTY keyboard.

Other add-ons are available, so, when you call, ask about extra

memory, keyboards, etc.

TO ORDER A COMPUTER, CONTACT us AT:

214.340.6328.

service@computersfortheblind.org

www.computersfortheblind.org

Please share with consumers, consumer organizations, service

providers, parent groups, and colleagues. Don’t delay, price returns

to $185 on October 1.

Let your voice be heard!

Join the online dialogue: Barriers and Solutions to Complete Trips for All to provide ideas and feedback to the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Labor, which seek to inform efforts to reduce mobility barriers that constrain Americans with disabilities from fully participating in the workforce and their communities. Your ideas and feedback on your experiences will form the foundation for FTA’s efforts to improve traveler experiences through partnerships with stakeholders and focusing government action in areas affecting each part of a complete trip.

The Barriers and Solutions to Complete Trips for All dialogue will take place through September. Log in any time to submit your ideas, comments and votes on more accessible and inclusive transportation.

Follow these Links:

Barriers and Solutions to Complete Trips for All

https://transportationinnovation.ideascale.com/a/index

online dialogue

Coordinating Council on Access & Mobility

https://www.transit.dot.gov/ccam/about

GDUI Announcement, October 14, 2019

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

In our announcement this week, we are sharing several pieces of exciting news. At the same time, we are worrying about all our members and friends who may be coping with wild fires in California, as well as the extraordinary measures implemented by California energy companies in an effort to prevent fires. We want to remind you about our Disaster Assistance and Preparedness Program (DAPP), which can help with any guide-dog-care-related expenses arising from a catastrophe , such as a wild fire. Remember to visit this page on our web site for information and instructions for reaching out to GDUI for assistance: https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/disaster-assistance-preparedness-program-dapp/. You may also call GDUI’s toll free number to request disaster-related assistance: 866.799.8436. Thank you to Dixie Sanderson, Chair of our DAPP Committee, and her committee members for always being available to help and for all that you do to assist our members and our guide dogs. Please stay safe and know that we care about all of you who may be enduring an over-abundance of smoke, who may need to evacuate, who are overwhelmed or simply concerned about the safety of friends and relatives and members of the community and planet that we all share.

Exciting news: The GDUI Juno Report is back! And, you will love our October program, which debuted last week on ACB Radio Mainstream.

This month’s episode features the luncheon presentation from the 2019 Guide Dog Users Inc. convention. Learn about GDUI Treasurer Lynn Merrill’s lifelong dream to climb Maine’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin and how she did exactly that, with the help of her guide dog, her family, and an instructor from Fidelco Guide Dog foundation. This is a presentation you won’t want to miss even if you can’t envision yourself and your guide dog ever setting forth to conquer a mountain top! Lynn’s presentation, which features a film documenting the adventure she shared with her Fidelco guide dog, Libby, which was aired on her local NBC-affiliated television station, is just fabulous!

The Juno Report for October also includes some announcements, and highlights of the GDUI awards presentation from our 2019 convention.

The GDUI Juno Report airs on ACB Radio Mainstream on Thursdays at 4:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 7:00 PM (eastern).

It also plays on Sunday at 9:00 PM and Monday at 12:00 AM, 9:00 AM, and 12:00 PM.

Beginning today, October 13, you can listen to the October GDUI Juno Report as a podcast, and to podcasts of subsequent monthly programs if you subscribe.

A direct link to the podcast feed is:

http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

To subscribe in iTunes:

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

We are excited about the return of our well-received GDUI Juno Report. We encourage everyone to listen, subscribe, and share this good news with friends and family members who are interested in the guide dog life style! Thank you so much to our Second Vice President and all-things-ACB-Radio guru, Deb Lewis for bringing our Juno Report back, and to Jeff Bishop and the ACB Radio team for helping our program to return.

If you would like to help with production of our GDUI Juno Report, by making suggestions, providing content, or simply adding feedback or commentary, we know that Deb would love to hear from you. Contact Deb Lewis atmailto:vp2@guidedogusersinc.org

An informative program, sponsored by Golden State Guide Dog Users, explores: Just how well do New Technologies like Accessible GPS and AIRA, mix with guide dog travel? You’re invited!

Steve Hoyt from Pilot Dogs and Greg Steinmetz from Guide Dogs of America will share their professional expertise on mixing new technologies with guide dog travel. Greg Steinmetz, manager of Admissions and Graduate Services at Guide Dogs of America, will share his first-hand experience and talk about how he integrates guide dog travel and technology, and O&M specialist, Steve Hoyt, will provide valuable insight based on what he’s learned and observed over the years.

Date: Monday, November 4

Time: 7 to 8:30PM, Pacific Time

Using Zoom, dial: 408.638.0968/

ID: 158236260

Smartphone or online Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/158236260

If you have questions for Steve and Greg about guide dog travel and tech, please send your questions by Monday, October 28 via e-mail to GSGDHI Programs Committee chair, Mail George at

maileg921@gmail.com

Speaking of accessible GPS, here’s a new possibility to check out! Google has announced a new detailed voice guidance feature in Google Maps to help people with visual impairments. According to the online description, the feature which is now incorporated into Google Maps, makes frequent announcements similar to what you might hear at crosswalks or on a bus. Right now, it’s available in English in the United States and Japanese in Japan, with support for additional languages and countries on the way. To turn the feature on, go to your Google Maps settings and select “Navigation.” At the bottom of the list you’ll find the option to enable “Detailed voice guidance,” beneath the “Walking options” heading. Google Maps can be downloaded, free of charge, from the App Store, and the app is available for both IOS and Android.

Visit this link for more information:

https://www.iclarified.com/72810/google-maps-gets-detailed-voice-guidance-to-help-people-with-visual-impairments-video

If you and your guide dog try the app, please review your experience with all of us on our GDUI-Chat list, in PawTracks, or via the GDUI Juno Report! To submit an article to PawTracks, send your article, via e-mail to PawTracks Editor, Andrea Giudice, mailto:editor@guidedogusersinc.org. To share your experiences with GPS – or anything else! – with GDUI Juno Report listeners, contact Deb Lewis at mailto:vp2@guidedogusersinc.org. Let them know in the subject field, the purpose of your e-mail! And don’t forget about GDUI-Chat – where everyone loves to talk about everything guide-dog-related! To subscribe to the GDUI Chat list, visit this link: gduichatlist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

If you missed our September 21st GDUI board meeting, you can easily access the meeting recording. Date: Sep 21, 2019 12:51 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Meeting Recording:

https://zoom.us/recording/share/EXmuSTFQcKv2TJNEceYFB5jw7negp9rvr4QF5B3xuJywIumekTziMw

Thank you to Maria Kristic for managing the Zoom aspects of our meeting and for making the recording available.

It’s almost Blind Americans Equality Day (formerly White Cane Safety Day). However you and your guide dog choose to celebrate, make sure you get out there in public view and strut your stuff! Equality, after all, is what we are all striving for, what we deserve, and, one day, what we will all achieve!

Fall seems to have finally arrived in our mid-Atlantic region of the world, and Willow and I are enjoying the crunch of leaves underfoot and looking forward to all of the holiday events that are coming up quite soon. We wish all of you and all of your guides happiness and safe travels during this season of frosty mornings and shortening days. Thank you for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog users, Inc.

mailto:President@GuideDogUsersInc.org

Maria Hansen, First Vice President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

mailto:vp1@GuideDogUsersInc.org

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/

, and 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.

SUPPORT GUIDE DOG USERS, INC GROUP #999969764 when you purchase candles and other decorative items from the Yankee Candle Store here: https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/store.htm.

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: gduichatlist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

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

businesslist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

GDUI Announcement, November 18, 2019

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

Welcome to the season of frosty mornings, pumpkin spiced everything, and holiday preparations! Winter temperatures have arrived here in the mid-Atlantic, I Had to put on another cozy layer before sitting down at my computer to write this announcement! Of course, Willow is loving these freezing temperatures, and that’s a good thing since we still have a number of months of cold weather to look forward to.

While you’re checking items off your Thanksgiving to-do list next Saturday afternoon, we hope you’ll take a break with us and attend our next GDUI Board Meeting! Here’s all the information you’ll need to connect with us via Zoom:

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

Topic: GDUI Board Meeting

Time: Nov 23, 2019 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/562675137

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,562675137# US (New York)

+17207072699,,562675137# US (Denver)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)

Meeting ID: 562 675 137

Find your local number:

https://zoom.us/u/adkoW2kadE

In GDUI we are proud of all the services we offer to our members and the blindness community in general

Our team of Empathizers, led by Audrey Gunter, can help you solve problems, offer advice, or just lend a listening ear when all you need is someone who can listen without judgment or negativity. Our dogs can bring so much pleasure into our lives, but there are those occasional times when things don’t go well, family members or friends aren’t as understanding or accepting as we would wish, or illness strikes or retirement looms. Please don’t hesitate to call us on our toll-free number, 866.799.8436 when you need someone who has experienced day-to-day life with a guide dog at their side, to talk with and respond with kindness and understanding.

Our mission also includes sharing information with all of you, and GDUI vehicles for doing this include these announcements, PawTracks, which will soon be made available via several exciting new distribution mechanisms, and, of course, the GDUI Juno Report! Welcome back, Juno! Our new PawTracks editor is working hard on her first issue, and we’re looking forward to distributing that in early December. There’s a lot to coordinate when you start a new job – which incidentally involves travel and conference participation – renewing your commitment to serving as GDUI Convention Coordinator, and taking on the responsibilities of PawTracks’ editor, all during a single month! (Just ask Andrea, we’re sure she’ll elaborate … when and if she has a chance to take an extra breath!) Meanwhile, if you have articles, poems, letters, or any other written contributions for upcoming issues of PawTracks, please send them along to: Editor!GuideDogUsersInc.org

Have you checked out the November GDUI Juno Report yet?

Yes, it’s already there, waiting for your enjoyment, on ACB Radio and as an ACB Radio podcast! Thanks again to GDUI Juno Report host extraordinaire, Deb Cook Lewis, we love the November program! November’s issue features a replay of one of our most informative GDUI convention program sessions, “Stop, Look, and Listen: Pedestrian Safety!” If you couldn’t attend our convention, we know you will find the presentation so useful, and even if you were there, you may want to have another listen, to refresh your memory and to learn about all of the innovative steps our guide dog schools are taking to assure the competence of our dogs and our teams, to remind drivers of our likely presence in crosswalks and at bus stops, TO ADVOCATE WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY PLANNERS, and to investigate other ways of making us visible and safe. Certainly, all of us are aware of continually changing circumstances that seem to conspire to make even familiar pedestrian environments far more challenging than they used to be, and sometimes completely unsafe for those of us who rely on guide dogs for independence and safety. Topics that were addressed by attendees and our panelists included shared spaces where traffic and pedestrians travel on surfaces that offer no delineation between streets and sidewalks, an increasing presence of bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters in our pedestrian environments, more silent vehicles and new cars which, despite being powered by combustion engines, stop making noise when a driver is waiting for the traffic light to change. Thanks again to Andrea and Vicki and the GDUI convention committee for planning this extremely useful convention session, to all of our presenters, to the ACB Radio guys who made the recording available for us, and to Deb for converting the recording for our November GDUI Juno Report.

The GDUI Juno Report airs on ACB Radio Mainstream on Thursdays at 4:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 7:00 PM (eastern). It also plays on Sunday at 9:00 PM and Monday at 12:00 AM, 9:00 AM, and 12:00 PM. A direct link to the podcast feed is:

http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

To subscribe in iTunes:

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

Is Accessible Transportation one of your passions?

As guide dog users and people who are blind, we are in good hands, just knowing that Sheila Styron, a past GDUI president and long-time guide dog user, was recently appointed to chair the ACB Transportation Committee. ACB’s committee structure is changing. Moving forward, with familiar committees now operating as part of 9 broader but related categories, the Transportation Committee now falls under the umbrella of advocacy services, which is overseen by former ACB Transportation Committee Chair, Ron Brooks. To help assemble a strong committee with an appropriate balance of qualifications, knowledge and experience, whose members can devote a substantial amount of time and effort to the work of the committee, ACB created a questionnaire which all who may want to volunteer for the Transportation Committee need to complete.

Please copy the questions below into an e-mail, respond to them, and then submit the completed survey to Sheila as soon as possible. The questions follow:

Please briefly describe why you wish to serve on the ACB Transportation Committee.

What transportation-related knowledge, qualifications and/or experience will you bring to the work of this committee?

Please describe any experience you have serving on local, regional, state or national transportation-related advisory groups, committees or Boards. List the name of the group, summarize its purpose or work, and specify the length of time you spent as a member.

Please describe any other experience you have serving on working groups, committees, Boards or other organizations–either inside or outside ACB. List the name of the group, summarize its purpose or work, and specify the length of time you have spent as a member.

Finally, As a member of ACB’s transportation committee, what would you be most interested in working on, and where do you see yourself being most effective? — For example but not limited to bus, light rail, paratransit, the new mobility paradigm, regs, providing training and advocacy support. We will be forming subcommittees which will operate between our monthly meetings, allowing the committee as a whole to benefit from your particular interests and expertise.

Submit the completed questionnaire to Sheila Styron here:

sstyron@thewholeperson.org

If you have questions, contact Sheila, Ron (ronbrooks67@gmail.com), or ACB President, Dan Spoone (danspoone@cfl.rr.com).

Are you interested in working on other blindness-related issues?

The ACB Advocacy Committee will host a call open to all ACB members and friends on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 8:00 – 9:30 pm, ET, or 5:00 – 6:30 pm, PT. The purpose of this call is to share the work of the ACB Advocacy Program with the ACB membership, and provide members with a forum to raise additional issues. The meeting will be hosted on the Zoom Meeting platform. To join, please follow the conference instructions below:

Zoom meeting.

Topic: Advocacy Committee Open Call

Time: Nov 20, 2019 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/362461956?pwd=OHVxeFNrNzVpd3dVMFg0QUxXbTBpdz09

Meeting ID: 362 461 956

Password: 081422

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,362461956# US (New York)

+17207072699,,362461956# US (Denver)

Dial by your location

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)

Meeting ID: 362 461 956

Find your local number:

https://zoom.us/u/aeoEcmZn3J

Do you and your guide dog sometimes travel in the companionship of AIRA?

If so, you need to be aware of AIRA’s Revised Street-Crossing Policy. Here’s an explanatory message from AIRA, which can also be downloaded at this link: https://aira.io/new-street-crossing

Background

In the past, the Street-Crossing Policy for Aira agents was to provide descriptions of intersections and then to remain absolutely silent while the Explorer crossed the street, regardless of whether the Explorer asked for information or assistance while crossing, or if they started to veer.

The policy was created through a joint effort between Aira, Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Specialists, and organizational leaders from the likes of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB). To ensure that Explorers were free to use their O&M skills without any distractions, it was decided that agents would remain absolutely silent to avoid any kind of negative impact from situational awareness.

After collecting over 4 years’ feedback, learning from it, and speaking with O&M specialists and industry leaders, Aira has updated its long-standing policy.

The New Street-Crossing Policy

Aira agents will now provide minimal, relevant information to Explorers who are actively crossing an intersection when prompted by an Explorer and when circumstances change during the crossing.

So, what exactly does this mean? Agents will continue to provide full descriptions of an intersection as an Explorer approaches it. Once the Explorer reaches the corner and the agent has finished describing the intersection, instead of saying, “I will remain silent until you have finished crossing,” the agent will stay silent to give the Explorer the opportunity to ask for any additional details or to begin listening to their surroundings.

At this point, if an Explorer asks an agent to provide specific information relevant to the intersection (like, “Let me know if I start to veer,”) they will do so. If an Explorer requests information while actively crossing an intersection, or if circumstances change during the crossing, then the agent must provide this information while the Explorer crosses the street.

If circumstances change while an Explorer is crossing the street, an agent is allowed to speak and share relevant information such as, but not limited to:

If an Explorer is veering out of the crosswalk;

If an Explorer is veering toward traffic or an active roadway;

If an Explorer or their Guide Dog is crossing an intersection diagonally;

If a new obstacle (something not seen during the description of the intersection provided prior to crossing) has entered the Explorer’s path.

Please remember that agents can provide information only on what can be clearly seen through their dashboard video feed. If an agent cannot see the information requested, they will say so.

If an Explorer would prefer to have the agent remain completely silent while crossing a street, simply inform the agent and they will not provide any additional information.

The information Explorers will receive while crossing an intersection will be brief and descriptive and only about the task at hand. Once on the curb on the other side of the street, regular conversation may resume.

We encourage all who can to attend The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and Travelers with Disabilities Webinar,

Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time Zone.

Description: The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA) prohibits discrimination based on disability in air travel and requires air carriers to accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities. Join the Great Lakes ADA Center as their speaker from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) discusses the final statement of enforcement priorities for service animals under the ACAA. The session will also address the role the Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings has in enforcing the ACAA. Following the presentation participants will have an opportunity to ask the presenter questions about the ACAA requirements.

Speaker: Robert M Gorman,

Senior Trial Attorney,

Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, C-70, U.S. Department of Transportation

Link to Register:

https://dev.accessibilityonline.org/ADA-Audio/session/?id=110754

Volunteers Needed for an Online Research Survey regarding crossing streets!

Are you blind or having severe visual impairment? If so, your input is needed for a survey on street crossing techniques. You will need approximately an hour to complete the survey, and, if you complete the survey, you will be compensated with a $25 VISA gift card. Participants must be 18 years of age or older.

Contact Dr. Gluer Arsal for more information:

Guler.Arsal@envisionus.com

Telephone:

316.440.1528 (office);

316.730.0384 (mobile)

Access the survey here: https://tinyurl.com/BVIsurvey

The research is funded by Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (https://ibvi.org/

Are you interested in a career in acting?

Here’s an exciting opportunity from the Access Acting Academy, which recently announced that they are now accepting applications for their flagship, 1st-of-its-kind, 5-week Professional Actor Training Program specifically for blind, low vision and visually impaired actors and future artistic change-makers. They are offering this 5-week training program tuition free. Friend of ACB and actress Marilee Talkington is the founder and Executive Director of the academy.

This program is for beginners, early to mid-career professionals and those that may have acted then experienced vision loss and are eager to integrate their new perception and reclaim their artistic agency.

Actor training of this master-level caliber and level of accessibility has never been available before. Now is the time for this profoundly rich and untapped talent to be cultivated, collaborated with, and realized.

Program Dates: January 6 – February 7, 2020

Location: LOS ANGELES, CA

Tuition: FREE (housing and travel not included)

Class Size: 12

Deadline to Apply: November 30, 2019

To find out more about the program and how to apply go to:

WWW.ACCESSACTING.COM

Attention, College Students and Entering Freshmen!

The American Council of the Blind has a great opportunity for students who are legally blind to earn a scholarship, whether you are ATTENDING a technical college, OR IF YOU’RE AN entering freshman, undergraduate or a graduate student. More than $55,000 in scholarships is awarded to students each year. To be eligible, you need to be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and be involved in your school AND local community.

As a scholarship winner, you will experience firsthand ACB’s national conference and convention in July, where you will meet other students who share the same life experiences, create lasting friendships, and network with individuals who understand what you are going through and can help you ALONG your journey.

Applications for the 2020-2021 school year can be submitted online from Friday, November 1, 2019, to Friday, February 14, 2020 11:59pm (CST).

All interested candidates must register for a new ACB account prior to submitting a scholarship application online.

Visit this link to register: https://members.acb.org/

After your account request has been approved you WILL receive an email containing a link to complete the scholarship application.

Please note, the approval process can take up to three business days.

For more information, please contact Nancy Feela in the ACB National Office at 612.332.3242 or toll-free, 800.866.3242. We look forward to receiving your application materials.

Can you help a graduate student with his thesis research on smart-phone use?

Remember, lots of the innovative assistive products we enjoy today had their genesis inside graduate school classrooms and labs and the imaginations of clever graduate students! Here’s his message:

Hello,

My name is Gonçalo, and I’m developing a thesis in the field of smartphones accessibility. I’m developing an application which is meant to provide a “bridge” between a sighted user and a blind user, to assist with doing some tasks with the smartphone.

One of the phases of my research is characterization of the current state of remote assistance. If you could help me by filling out a questionnaire, it would be very useful to my data collection. It shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes to complete the survey.

The link to the questionnaire is

https://forms.gle/Qx4fvLveYEyjLcyi7

Thank you very much for your help.

Phfew! If you’ve made it this far, thinking about crossing streets, boarding planes, attending webinars and meetings, changing careers, joining committees, going to college, and helping grad students, … like me, you are probably thinking about taking a break and cuddling up with your pup and reading a good book! What? You don’t know what to read or where to find it? We have just the solution for you! Here’s a message from our good friend, Will Burley:

Dear all,

SAVE THE Date! Blind LGBT Pride international is inviting you to its scheduled Fall BPI Book Share event!

Start pulling out the best books you’ve read this year,

And prepare to tell us why you loved them so much! Whether it’s romance, thriller, biography, mystery or anything in-between, we want to hear from you!

We just ask that your choice be found on the National Library Service, (NLS), Audible, iBooks, Book Share or Kindle platform, so that other bookworms like you can access the books for themselves.

For any questions about this event, please reach out to BPI’s Membership Committee at membership@blindlgbtpride.org or call 713.614.3322 and speak to Will Burley.

How to participate

Topic: BPI Fall Book Share

Time: Dec 11, 2019 8:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM CT, 6:PM MT and 5:00 PM PT (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/130405554

Meeting ID: 130 405 554

One tap mobile

+16699006833,,130405554# US (San Jose)

+16465588656,,130405554# US (New York)

Dial by your location

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 130 405 554

Find your local number:

https://zoom.us/u/aWKeROkhH

See you there!

Will Burley

Now I just have to figure out which out of all the books I read this year was my favorite! Was it “Where the Crawdads Sing,” or “The World that we Knew,” “Summer of 69,””A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World,” or “Save Me the Plums?” Maybe it will turn out to be the dystopian novel I’m reading right now,” The Lightest Object in the Universe.” Which titles will you bring to the December gathering?

No matter where you seek your pleasures in coming weeks, on frosty morning walks, or cuddled up with your guide dog and a good book, or cooking and enjoying the Thanksgiving feast, or sharing time with family and friends – or all of the above! – stay safe, keep warm, and thank you for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog users, Inc.

mailto:President@GuideDogUsersInc.org

Maria Hansen, First Vice President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

mailto:vp1@GuideDogUsersInc.org

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/

and 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.

SUPPORT GUIDE DOG USERS, INC GROUP #999969764 when you purchase candles and other decorative items from the Yankee Candle Store here: https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/store.htm.

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: gduichatlist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

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

businesslist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

GDUI Announcement, December 5, 2019

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

Hi to everyone!

The Juno Report for December includes some important announcements from GDUI and another fascinating presentation from the 2019 GDUI convention. This presentation is called “When Us and Them becomes We and They.” It is all about service dogs and their handlers with disabilities.

The Juno report airs on ACB Radio Mainstream as follows. Thursday 4 and 7 AM/PM. Sunday at 9PM and Monday at 12AM, 9AM, and 12PM. (All times Eastern)

We upload the podcast two weeks after the initial airing. A direct link to the podcast feed is:

http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml

To subscribe in iTunes:

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

Thank you.

Deb Cook Lewis

Host of the GDUI Juno Report and

GDUI 2^nd Vice President

2018 Paw Tracks Holiday Edition

The Paw Tracks Magazine

A quarterly publication of Guide Dog users, Inc., (GDUI)

Advocating for guide dog teams since 1972

President – penny Reeder

Editor – Will Burley

Audio Recording by Deb Lewis

Paw Tracks is available for Word document and MP3 download for members at https://guidedogusersinc.org/pawtracks or by phone at (773) 572-6301 and entering option 1. The passcode is 1971.

Holiday Edition

Volume 46 – November 2018 – Issue 04

Table of Contents

From the Editor’s Kennel 1

President’s Message: A Season for Giving Thanks. 2

2019 Membership Renewal 5

A Call to Action. 8

THE EASTER BUNNY CAME AFTER ALL. 9

Planning for Rochester! 11

A Guide Dog Holiday Tradition! 13

Help GDUI Support the ACB 2018 Holiday Auction. 14

Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pets. 15

Avoiding Winter Hazards. 17

Paw Tracks Article Submissions. 18

Executive Board of Directors. 19

Contacting Board and Committee chairs. 19

From the Editor’s Kennel

By: Will Burley

Welcome to the holiday edition of your Paw Tracks magazine!

As the calendar year hastens towards its conclusion, this is a time that many of us enjoy family and friends, wonderful music, boisterous laughter and sips of warm cider as we nestle in our favorite cozy place thinking about the adventures that we had with our present and past guides.

With the normal hustle and bustle of life, it can be extremely easy to forget all the good that has happened in our lives – sometimes through painful experiences. It’s my hope that this edition of Paw Tracks will not only inform you as to what’s going on in your organization through Penny Reeder’s President’s Message, the Membership Renewal article by Dixie Sanderson or the call for volunteers to assist in planning next year’s convention, but that it will also be a source of information as you navigate your journey proudly towards 2019.

Before you move further along in this issue, I wanted to share my personal thoughts on this season of thanks.

Recently, I made the decision to retire my first guide, Gypsy. Being that this was my first experience performing this sacrifice, I tried to spend as much time with her as possible. I’m not a very emotive person but on the day my journey’s partner and I returned to the school and I released the handle for the last time – I thought I had made a mistake in coming to training without giving myself enough time to process what it would be like to not have this dog standing on my left side. Even though I knew I was making the correct decision in letting Gypsy retire and enjoy a healthy goalden age, I wondered if I could love this yet to be named new dog as much. I felt as though I would be cheating on Gypsy. Silly, I know…

The staff were great and they took extra care when I finally met my new guide, Holly – or as I love to call her, Holly berry. Holly pranced into the room, walked to my feet and promptly rolled over and said through a Vulcan mind-meld, “Okay, rub my belly…) I found this to be so hilarious, it eased my feelings of guilt and showed that this dog definitely had a different personality than Gypsy.

You may be asking, “Will, why the heck did you just write about this?” Well, I’m glad you did. Through the simple yet profound gesture of thinking of one of God’s creatures and their well-being, I was able to have the act of love retaught to me.

In life, we make new friends, gain new co-workers, lose family and have a host of endless changes – and yet we take another step ahead into our future. Even though life is not static, the people and things we loved before are not less important just because we are experiencing new things. They only add to the richness of life by helping us learn how to love even better than before.

So, dear reader, as you experience this time of year, just know that whether it’s been a stellar one or one not so great – do what you do daily with your guide – pick up that harness, straighten your back, hold your head high and say, “Forward…we’ve got a world to explore…”

President’s Message: A Season for Giving Thanks

By: Penny Reeder

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This is the perfect time to be thinking about gratitude and remembering all of the people in GDUI whom I want to thank for making ours an effective organization that responds to our members’ needs and advocates so successfully for the civil rights protections that we count on.

First, I want to thank those long-time members of GDUI who worked so hard to make it possible for us to visit beautiful Hawaii with our guide dogs! Hawaii is the paradise you have always imagined it to be, and if you can go – with your guide dog in the lead! – I highly recommend the trip!) Carl and I, with Seeing Eye Dog, Willow, in the lead, just returned home after spending a glorious week on Maui – with a stop-over for a night in Honolulu where we met an authorized vet at the airport so that Willow could be cleared for work anywhere in the islands. During the whole trip, I was very well aware that our trip wouldn’t have been possible had GDUI not taken the state to court and argued successfully to keep guide dogs out of quarantine! Thank you all of you who worked so hard to make this happen!

Thank you to Sheila Styron and the GDUI board at the time for assuring that every member of GDUI can vote, independently and accessibly, in every GDUI election! I am pretty sure that GDUI was the very first blindness organization to make this happen! I know we were the first ACB affiliate to offer universally accessible private voting to our members – and we are still one of only a few ACB affiliates who are supporting democracy in this way.

Thank you to Jane Sheehan, who was the first person in ACB to tell me about GDUI, introduce me to PawTracks, and spend all kinds of time offering advice and support when I was deciding whether or not a guide dog would be the right mobility choice for me! I know that Jane provided this kind of supportive outreach for many of us in GDUI – and she kept the GDUI office efficiently humming for more than two decades! Jane still serves on our Membership Committee, and we appreciate her reliable willingness to stay involved and help!

I want to thank the members of our current board! Each makes a unique and indispensable contribution to what we accomplish in GDUI! Can you imagine calling us for one reason or another and finding Sarah Calhoun absent on the other end of the toll-free phoneline? What a dreary day that would be! Sarah handles everything for us –She keeps records, helps us schedule what needs to be done and reminds us when we forget; she helps guide dog users purchase our products and join or renew their memberships; she’s an empathetic friend for people experiencing difficult situations with their dogs, or needing emergency assistance because of a disaster, or just wanting to ask a question about how a dog can become a guide for a person who is blind. Sarah handles it all with friendship and grace, and if she can’t answer your question, she’ll know just whom you should call!

Lynn Merrill pays all our bills, and Maria – and Dixie and Sarah and others who work on our Budget and Finance Committee – make sure we have the funds to pay them!

Dixie Sanderson and Maria Kristic keep our web site and our lists humming! So does our web master, Steve Zelaya! And, Dixie handles all of our membership activities and paperwork – and that would be an intimidatingly daunting task for me, for sure. I’m so grateful to Dixie for making everything related to membership happen so smoothly.

Brianna Murray and Minh Ha enliven our social networking and outreach, and Will Burley and Deb Lewis help with that too!

And, speaking of our recently-elected Second Vice President, is there anything that Deb Lewis can’t do? Or isn’t willing to help us with? She and Peter Altschul stepped up right away to take on the responsibilities of our Publications Committee, Deb is bringing our GDUI Juno Report back online, probably as soon as November, and she and Peter are enthusiastic about beginning the preliminary research for our GDUI History Project!

When you think of advocacy and GDUI, just whose name comes to mind? Charlie Crawford, of course! If there’s a legislative issue that requires our attention, we can rest assured that Charlie will be on top of it! If there’s a member who experiences a denial of service because of their guide dog, Charlie is the person who can help resolve the problem. If you wish you could learn more about how to advocate for your civil rights effectively and productively, join the Advocacy Committee that Charlie chairs. There’s not a better advocacy mentor in the disability community!

Do you need advice about just about any guide dog-related situation or problem? Then, we can all highly recommend that you get in touch with our recently retired First Vice President, Deanna Noriega! Deanna recently celebrated 50 years as a guide dog user, and if she can’t answer your questions, then she will know where to send you for help! We so appreciated Deanna’s willingness to serve on our board. We could – and still can – always count on her for thoughtful contributions to any discussion!

If you were lucky enough to attend our 2018 GDUI convention, you already know what a treasure our Andrea Giudice is! She’s fun! She’s creative! She’s undaunted! And, we are so lucky to have her planning our 2019 GDUI convention in Rochester!

If your connection to GDUI national begins with your local GDUI affiliate, be grateful for all of the hard work Pauline Lamontagne does to facilitate communication among our GDUI affiliates and to help solve any problems that crop up at the local level. And, speaking of GDUI affiliates, we can hardly wait to thank Audrey Gunter and everyone in Dixiland Guide Dog Users in person, for Top Dog, which is right around the corner – as well as everything else you do for us! It’s almost here! Carl and I, and Willow, can hardly wait for the 18^th of January, 2019, when Top Dog will be here again!

Lina Coral is providing an interface between GDUI and all of the schools, and, knowing how busy she is coping with her first year of grad. School, we are grateful. Speaking of guide dog schools, what would we do without them? And, especially at our GDUI conventions, where their trainers go way above and beyond the call of duty to help us in so many ways and through so many complicated way-finding and picking-up-poop situations! Thank you!

There’s such a long list of people who have helped us with all kinds of issues and goals: Nolan Crabb, who took on the assignment of rejuvenating PawTracks; Dan Kaiser, who had the initial brilliant idea of creating the GDUI Juno Report – and picked up the ball and ran with it! Vickie Curley, who served on our board from the very beginning, until just this past May – and who promises to return to our board when her life settles down enough to make that a possibility! Pat Hill, who stepped into a board vacancy and served so effectively on our board – and she’s still involved, working hard on our Advocacy Committee. Jenine Stanley and Becky Davidson are always available for consultation and advice, as is Sheila Styron, who helped us write last summer’s GDUI Resolution concerning air travel and our access to it – and which ACB adopted unanimously.

Speaking of ACB, Tony Stephens is always available to offer advice, provide explanations, or just to make sure that when guide dogs are the topic under discussion, GDUI is included! Kim Charlson and Pat Sheehan are two additional ACB members we can count on for support and involvement – as is Jeff Bishop, who served as our first ACB Board liaison.

There are those tried and true members, like Lillian Scaife, who dedicated so much time and energy to our first several GDUI conventions. Our Louisville Ladies, Jane and Connie, who were joined last summer by Kitty – What would we ever do without them? Bob Acosta has always been ready to step up to help with virtually anything we need, and wow, what a great fund-raiser!

I know that there’s danger in attempting to do just what I am doing – remembering how many people there are to thank and appreciate! I hope I haven’t left out any one of you whose help and support I have been fortunate to count on over these last several years. Since I’m writing this as Will’s publication deadline looms, however, I know that it’s entirely possible that I could be leaving out some of your names or failing to mention several of the important things you do for us –So many people in GDUI wear multiple hats and work on diverse projects simultaneously!

As Thanksgiving nears, I want all of the people to whom GDUI owes so much to realize how much you are appreciated, and every single member, too! So many of you are here for us whenever we ask you to join a committee, write a letter, contact a legislator, tell your friends about who we are and what we do. Each of you who is a member of GDUI deserves our thanks and our sincere appreciation! Thank you, all, and happy Thanksgiving! When you are enjoying your turkey and gravy, or nibbling on that last piece of pie (That’s my standard – and favorite – breakfast on the morning after Thanksgiving!), I hope you’ll remember just how much we appreciate all of you, and how important your contributions are to the success of Guide Dog Users, Inc.!

2019 Membership Renewal

Submitted by: Membership Committee

Dear GDUI Member,

We are writing to thank you for your continued support of GDUI and to let you know that the time has arrived once again for you to renew your GDUI membership. We truly appreciate your involvement in GDUI and your gifts of time and money.

Because of your support, GDUI has achieved a number of important goals in recent months:

Early this year, several airlines had seemingly had more than enough of various out-of-control animals boarding their planes with owners who did not know how to manage their pets, and to address resulting safety implications for passengers and crew members, they proposed new policies which would have restricted our right to fly, unencumbered, with our guide dogs. Proposed policy changes would have required additional paperwork and advance notice of our intention to fly, among other restrictions. GDUI’s responses to these restrictive policies were immediate, and widely disseminated to the U. S. Department of Transportation as well as the airlines who had proposed making changes, and the airlines rescinded all of the specific burdensome requirements which they had planned to impose on guide dog users.
When the U. S. Department of Transportation released an Announced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) for the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA), GDUI responded with recommendations for regulations which will, if adopted, assure our civil right to fly with our guide dogs, while keeping us and our dogs safer and allowing us to be treated with the same kind of dignity that passengers who are not disabled can routinely expect. We provided guidance for our members who also submitted written comments on the ANPRM, and GDUI will be following up during coming months when the Department unveils revised regulations for the ACAA.
GDUI continues to work with our affiliates and individuals, as well as with the U. S. Department of Transportation, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other federal, state and local governmental entities, to support legislation and regulations to deal effectively and fairly with people whose untrained pets or emotional support animals can interfere with our safety and that of our dogs. We are committed to helping our members to develop self-advocacy skills via interactions with our Advocacy Committee and GDUI empathizers, and educating pet owners and other members of the public about the hazards that untrained or ill-behaved pets, masquerading as service animals, can pose to our legitimate guide dogs and the safety of our guide dog teams.
In July, our “Handbook for Prospective Guide Dog Users became available for purchase and downloading. The handbook provides guidance to help people who are blind or visually impaired decide whether or not a guide dog will be likely to provide a good match for their lifestyle and mobility needs. The publication, which is a comprehensive update of an earlier GDUI manual called “Making Impressions,” includes useful information on current guide dog schools and training programs, application processes, modern training practices, and realistic expectations for new guide dog users. The book has been well received, and we are gratified to learn that our Handbook has been approved for publication in alternate formats by the National Library Service (NLS) during 2019.
The editor of our quarterly magazine, PawTracks, is excited about expanding topics and organizational coverage, and we are pleased to have converted from the outdated audiocassette format to downloadable audio files which members can access from our web site or an interactive telephonic file retrieval system. Our monthly GDUI Juno Report will be coming online again with plans for making the live stream more interactive and ACB Radio’s expanded assistance in making the audience for our archived GDUI Juno Report podcasts even wider.
GDUI’s social media presence continues to evolve and expand, and our new Friends of Guide Dog Users Facebook Group is growing and fostering lively discussions among graduates from virtually every guide dog training program and owners of many breeds.
Our Advocacy and Legislative Committee continues to evaluate the likely impact that proposed legislation on local, state and national levels could have on our hard won civil rights, while fostering a nurturing environment where guide dog users can seek personalized help for resolving denial of service situations and other kinds of discrimination.
We continued to work hard to restore and preserve the traditional democratic values that have guided GDUI since its beginning, including keeping our members informed about issues that are important to guide dog users and involving our members as much as possible in all board-level decision making. During elections in May of 2018, our members once again utilized a universally accessible online and telephonic voting system to elect two new board members. Members are welcomed guests at every GDUI Board meeting, and there’s always an opportunity for members to voice their opinions and offer suggestions. As a board, and at all levels of our organization, we continue to be committed to the rule of law and the principles of democracy.
With 2019 fast approaching, it is once again time to renew your membership in Guide Dog Users, Inc. Your 2019 membership will help us expand benefits for guide dog users, including:Improving our member outreach by updating brochures and other publications;
Embarking on a project to learn about and remember our history in order to acknowledge the many contributions of GDUI’s founding members, to assure that their achievements are recognized and appreciated, and that the principles which have guided GDUI since the 1970s continue to guide us on, into the future.
Presenting educational seminars, and holding a spectacular convention next summer in Rochester, NY;
Strengthening relationships with GDUI affiliates in ways that will be mutually beneficial to our individual affiliates and to the national organization as well.

A membership in GDUI costs just $25.00 per person per year, and includes an annual subscription to PawTracks, our quarterly magazine. The magazine is available in the following formats: As a downloadable MP3 audio file, in . MSWord formats via e-mail, and by telephone, by dialing (773) 572-6301 and pressing Option 1 and entering the passcode 1971 for the latest issue of 2018.

All memberships begin on January 1 and extend through December 31, 2019.

Please take a few moments to complete the included renewal application and return it to us, along with your check made payable to GDUI. For your convenience, if you’re receiving this as a paper mailing, we include a self-addressed envelope which you may use to return your application and payment. If you prefer, dues or stand-alone PawTracks subscriptions may be paid online by going to https://guidedogusersinc.org/join/, or by credit card by calling 1-866-799-8436.

If you plan to join GDUI in 2019 through one of our affiliates, you need not send us any money directly, since part of your payment to that affiliate will be sent to GDUI on your behalf. However, we would appreciate your completing the included membership application, so that we will have all of your up-to-date information. For a current list of GDUI’s state affiliates, visit this link: https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/affiliates-of-gdui/, or if you prefer, call us, and we will send a printed list, or provide contact information by phone..

GDUI must supply the national office of the American Council of the Blind with a list of our current members by March 15, 2019. Therefore, in order for your name to be included on that list, as well as for you to be eligible to vote in GDUI’s next election held in May, please return your membership application to us, along with the appropriate payment, before March 1, 2019.

GDUI is a rapidly growing and vital organization dedicated to serving the needs of guide dog users. We thank you for your continued support and promise to continue supporting all of you with information and empathy, advocating for the civil rights of all guide dog users, and educating the general public regarding our guide dogs and the many ways they enhance the quality of our lives.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments at 1-866-799-8436.

Sincerely,

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Sarah Calhoun, Secretary

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

A Call to Action

By: Peter Altschul, MS

“Good afternoon, fellow service dogs and human slaves,” rumbled Ace, the president of Service Dogs of America from a sumptuous dog house surrounded by big trees and a large lake. “Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to hear me speak.”

“Just keep it short,” grumbled black Lab Guide dog Heath from a house he shared with Hunter, a multicolored standard poodle.

“Lots of food to steal.”

“As we enter the constellation of end-of-year human holidays,”

Ace continued, “our Snoop Dogs have reported an outbreak of human anxiety over their recent election. Furthermore, we are well aware of the political catfights that take place when human families get together.”

“Cats!” snorted Hunter as he leapt onto a kingsized bed to snuggle next to Heath. “Annoying. Fun to chase.”

“We have some advice to give you humans,” Ace said “based on our recent election troubles. “Much of this advice comes from my lovely wife Tanya and the leadership of the Shaggy Dog Partnership.”

“That’s us!” Hunter said, springing onto the hardwood floor with a clatter. “We’re famous!”

Heath yawned from the bed. “Chill, dude. And hurry up!” he barked at the TV screen. “There’s a pecan pie on the counter.”

-“Ignore the advice of left-wing and right-wing columnists, as much of it is self-serving poop,” Ace continued.

“Secondly, remember that the purpose of this human season is to thank Dog for His blessings and to celebrate the birth of His son-“

“Sexist cur!” yelped Tanya

Ace sighed. “Yes, dear; may I continue?”

Tanya nuzzled him affectionately.

“And to all you human pack leaders … the ones hosting these get-togethers,” Ace purred, “don’t start these right wing-left wing conversations unless you are confident that the fur won’t fly.”

“Wings are quite tasty,” Heath observed, slithering off of the bed and slouching into the kitchen. “And those rolls look awesome.”

“But if these political conversations do take place,” Ace said, “keep cool. Don’t go where you don’t feel comfortable. Don’t expect to change anyone’s mind, even though you think you won the debate.”

“Now he’s going to parrot our advice,” Hunter whined.

“Just hurry up; I’m hungry!” Heath barked at the TV.

“As Heath and Hunter always remind us,” Ace continued, “these conversations between the wings go best if stories are told instead of debating facts. Look for common ground. And try to end on a positive howl.”

“And a little gravy always helps,” Heath added.

“And now a special message to all you service dogs,” Ace barked.

Startled, Heath and Hunter turned towards the TV.

“If the humans surrounding you start yowling like cats about those wings, take some creative action.”

“Horray!” howled Heath and Hunter, dashing together throughout the house.

“Let’s chase those human cats up a tree?” Hunter suggested.

“Just give them some catnip,” Heath said.

“Nonviolent creative action,” Tanya’s voice yelped from the TV.

Heath and Hunter stood still, panting.

“Just do what you can to stop the yowling,” Tanya continued.

“Proceed calmly to the noise. Wag your tail energetically. Put your head in someone’s lap. Glare. Beg for food. Roll over.

Bark as if someone’s at the door-“

Hunter clicked off the TV.

“We’re good at creative action,” Heath said, and they hurried into the kitchen, surrounded by smells of artichoke soup, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, fresh rolls, salad, green beans with bacon, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie.

But all the visible surfaces were empty.

“Thwarted again!” Hunter said, tossing his head. “But we’ve learned patience.”

Editor’s Note: You can read more by Peter Altschul by visiting his website.

THE EASTER BUNNY CAME AFTER ALL

By: PATTY L. FLETCHER

I have been asked over the years what my favorite Easter memory is. While I have many, and most of them are centered round my daughter and her growing up years the one I write of today happened while I was at The Seeing Eye training for my first dog guide.

Now let me tell you spending a holiday away from home is hard for me and that year was no exception. I was missing my grandchildren, my pets, and my then Fiancé, Donnie. We had no trips scheduled. It was of course Easter Sunday morning and the instructors were busy taking people to church, running errands and getting ready for a great Easter lunch.

I was in my room and was simply so home sick I could do nothing but lie curled in my bed and cry. As I lie there feeling miserable and trying to think of something I could do to help myself feel better, I heard a soft knocking at my door. Not wishing to have anyone see me crying like a child away from home for the first time. I tried to ignore the one knocking in hopes they would simply think me out or asleep. That, however was not to be. Instead of going away whoever was knocking grew more persistent adding voice to their knock. I heard my instructor Drew’s voice from the other side of the door.

“Hey, I know you’re in there. Open up in the name of The Seeing Eye.”

I had to laugh despite myself. Throwing off the covers I’d been wrapped in I went to the door, trying to rub away the tears as I did so.

When I opened the door, Drew seemed to hop in to the room.

“OK Young Lady! Enough lying about like you’ve nothing to do! I have errands to run, and you need an extra trip to make sure you know all you need to know before I send you home with this big dog.”

I started to protest, we didn’t normally do trips on Sundays. but that would’ve only been a half truth. Drew and I had done several Sunday trips for just the reason he’d given. So, rather than argue with him, and risk a twenty-minute lecture while trapped in the van, I put on my shoes, washed my face, and harnessed up my pup. Soon we were riding down the road with the windows open and music blasting, and I had to admit I felt better.

As it turned out Drew had some errands to run for students at the school, one of them being his own. Devin, the other first timer in our little group, was going to play a trick on Sue another instructor. The two of them had been going back and forth playing tricks on each other all through class. I knew some of the details but had decided to refrain from helping.

Once in the store my home sickness returned. As we walked through the aisles picking up the items on Drew’s list. I could literally smell the chocolate bunnies as we passed them. Something must’ve shown on my face because Drew asked me.

“What’s the sad face about? I thought we left that on the side of the road.”

I sighed.

“Sounds stupid I know, but I always get an Easter bunny and I didn’t this year. I thought for sure Donnie would’ve sent me one, but he didn’t even call today.”

“AWW Well, maybe the mail is just behind. Who knows? A package might come tomorrow.”

He began to talk to me about other things, but my sadness remained. When we stopped by the flowers later in another store on our route, so he could pick out gifts for his wife Peggy, and his mother I was envious of the obvious love he had for both. It showed in the way he went about choosing their flowers. Once all our errands were done we headed back to the school.

“Thanks Drew.” I said. “I appreciate your taking me with you today. I needed to get out.”

“It was my pleasure. I couldn’t have you moping about all day on Easter. That’s no way to get the Easter Bunny to visit.”

“I don’t believe in the Easter Bunny anymore.” I said, giving another sigh.

“Don’t believe in the Easter Bunny?”

I had to laugh. The way he said it made it sound like I’d said Campbell didn’t exist.

“Nope. Not anymore.” I couldn’t help it. The feelings of sadness just wouldn’t let go.

“Now listen here! Young Lady! The Easter Bunny most assuredly does exist. He is like Santa, in every single one of us. So, you just dry your eyes and get rid of that pouty face, else he is gonna hop right on by you.”

I smiled. “Um? Drew? The Easter Bunny would’ve already come if he were going to. He’s supposed to come on Easter Eve. You know? Like Santa comes on Christmas Eve.”

Drew just laughed and for a few minutes neither of us spoke.

Later that day as we settled in to our places round the tables set up for lunch I found a miniature Easter basket sitting by my plate. The server standing there explained that John Keane had played Easter Bunny and had made the baskets. I cannot tell you how that warmed my heart. Lots of people had spoken of Mr. Keane as being a man who was strict. Some even used the word militant, and while he could be that way at times I’d found him to be kind and caring. This act of kindness only strengthened my belief.

When Drew came round to say happy Easter to all of his students, and to let us know he was leaving for the day I said, “Look, baskets!”

He reached out and pulled a strand of my hair.

“See, the Easter Bunny.”

“No, Mr. Keane.” I said, while eating jelly beans.

“Hey! Save that candy for after lunch, you’re gonna spoil your appetite.” He tried to move my basket away from me, but I held fast.

“Leave! It! Gibbon!” I said reproachfully, and he laughed again.

“So, you still don’t believe in the Easter Bunny huh?”

“Nope, but I do believe in kind people.”

“OK, good enough. Have a good day and behave yourself. The Easter Bunny might still be watching.” I sighed and began to work on the shrimp Cocktail the server had just placed in front of me. “Classy appetizers.” I said round a mouth full of shrimp.

“Save room, there is steak too.”

“O! I don’t eat steak in public.”

“Why?”

“Because I do a crappy job of cutting meat.”

“How do you like your steak?”

“Medium rare, but…”

He was gone before I could say anymore, and when he returned he said,

“They’re cooking your steak and will bring it to you cut. You can’t not have some, it’ll be awesome, now have a good day, ok?”

I tried to give him my best smile, but despite all the happiness round me, and great things being done for me that darn sadness was still creeping round. He gave my hair one last tug wished us all a happy day and was gone. As soon as his presence was gone from the room my sadness deepened, but I worked hard not to show it.

Back in my room after lunch I closed the door, and after letting Campbell out of his harness and loving on him a bit, I went to my bed to lie down. There on my pillow was a miniature chocolate Easter Bunny. I sat down on my bed and cried. Not with sadness though, with joy. The Easter Bunny had come after all.

Editor’s note: Patty Fletcher is an author of two books. You can read more at her website, Campbell’s World.

Planning for Rochester!

By: Andrea Leigh Giudice, Program Committee Chair

I hope this issue of Paw tracks finds you well, prepared for the holidays and striding along with a loose leash and a firm grip on the harness handle.

I would like to take this opportunity to say again what I told the board earlier this year, “Thanks to everyone for your support of me as the 2018 Convention Coordinator. This was my first time coordinating a national convention and I sure did learn heaps!! I had a superb team and they made me look very good! Any short comings or problems were all on me!”

Now it is time to start planning for GDUI 2019. The 2019 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention will be held in Rochester, New York from Friday, July 5 through Friday, July 12. GDUI programming will be from Sunday, July 7 to Wednesday, July 10. It is exciting to have the 2019 convention darn near in my own neighborhood and hope this draws lots of attendees from the east coast.

I am seeking motivated and creative people to join me in planning the best GDUI convention yet. Whether you have lots of time to give, ideas to share, or items to donate; please contact me by Calling me at 860-573-2198 or sending an e-mail to dawgmawm@gmail.com.

Here is some general hotel information. I have been working with the ACB conference chair to insure that anyone registering as a GDUI member, or as being partnered with a guide dog, be given preference for rooms in the Rochester Riverside Hotel. Of course lodging is a free choice matter so check out the hotel information below and make your reservations early so as to get the hotel you want! I also suggest subscribing to the convention e-mail list. It has lots of great information.

Hotel Information:

Make sure to mention you are with the American Council of the Blind 2019; rooms must be booked by June 7, 2019 to guarantee the convention rate.

There are guide dog relief areas at each hotel. If your dog prefers grass, the Riverside has a large grassy area just outside the front door.

Although we will be using two hotels and the convention center, walking will not be an issue since the spaces are compact, with no historical stairways. The two hotels are across the street from each other. For safe and easy crossing, there is an audible pedestrian signal at the corner. You can also go between hotels via a walkway through the convention center where general sessions and exhibits will be held. Other activities will be held in both hotels.

First hotel: The Rochester Riverside Hotel.

(585) 546-6400

Rochester Riverside Hotel – American Council of the Blind Convention 2019 page.

Room rates are $89 per night (single or double occupancy, with an additional $10 per person for up to four people). This room rate does not include tax, which is currently 14%.

The Riverside has a grab-and-go counter, and their restaurant is Rocburger, featuring build your own burgers, wings and decadent milkshakes!

Second hotel: The Hyatt Regency Rochester

800-233-1234

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-york/hyatt-regency-rochester/roche?corp_id=G-ACBL

Room rates are $89 per night (single or double occupancy, with an additional $10 per person for up to four people). This room rate does not include tax, which is currently 14%.

At the Hyatt you will find Starbucks, Morton’s The Steakhouse (fine dining), and the Hyatt’s restaurant The Street Craft Kitchen and Bar, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Once again this year, the conference and convention announce list will be filled with information! To subscribe to the list, send a blank email to acbconvention-subscribe@acblists.org. If you received updates for the 2018 convention, you do not need to re-subscribe.

For ACB convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059 or via email, janet.dickelman@gmail.com

I know Anders and I are already getting all jazzed for GDUI 2019 and we hope you and your guides are too!

A Guide Dog Holiday Tradition!

By: Penny Reeder

GDUI e-mail discussion lists have buzzed over the years with recipes and recommendations for tempting treats! When it came time for my first guide dog, Glory, to celebrate her third birthday, I looked through my accumulated files of homemade biscuit recipes, gathered the ingredients, struggled to roll out the far-too-stiff dough, and presented them to her – along with a toy or two – to show her just how much I loved her!

Glory loved the toys. She sniffed the first biscuit inquisitively … — and left it near her food bowl, while looking longingly toward the counter where the box of Scooby-Doo dog treats (with all of those chemically labeled ingredients and that artificial food coloring I had been so determined to eliminate from her comestibles sat!

I think hers was a lesson I needed to learn! Like many more she taught me during the relatively short working life we shared together! (Patience being a very important attitude that she taught me to cultivate!)

Not every guide dog works out in exactly the way we believed they would! Not every foray into natural or food coloring-free cooking will be greeted in the way we anticipated! But, there is so much to love about every dog that shares our lives with us, and I will always be grateful to Fidelco Guide Dog Glory – and to her trainers who worked so hard with us to make the relationship work – and to her wonderful puppy raisers, who loved her as much as our family did, and who gave her a long and happy life with their family after Glory and I parted ways and she returned to Connecticut.

Here’s a recipe for a doggie treat that will make any canine happy during any celebration you choose to celebrate together! (And, I know of guide dog users who enjoy eating these frozen treats just as much as the dogs for whom they retrieve them from their freezers!)

Home—Made Frostee Paws

Ingredients:

32 fluid ounces vanilla yogurt

1 banana, ripe, mashed or 1 (5 ounce) jar baby food

2 tablespoons peanut butter

2 tablespoons honey

Makes 13 servings, 13 doggie desserts

Preparation Time: 3 hours

Preparation:

Blend all ingredients together and freeze in 3-ounce paper cups. Or, pour into ice trays. Freeze for approximately 3 hours.

Microwave just a few seconds before serving. (Optional)

Enjoy! Make every day a celebration with your guide dog!

Help GDUI Support the ACB 2018 Holiday Auction

By: Maria Hansen

Are you a fan of The Juno Report and ACB Radio? Then help Guide Dog Users, Inc. make the 2018 ACB Radio Holiday Auction a huge success. With enthusiastic and spirited bidding on our donation to this event.

This year, GDUI has assembled a holiday gift bundle that your dog will love.

We start with Genie Dog Wipes and a Gripsoft, Soft Slicker Brush for Sensitive Skin by JW Pet so that your pampered pup will look fabulous.

Then the fun begins! The Empire Dog Toy Bin by Harry Barkerhas many different dogs printed around the sturdy blue canvas and is filled with the following goodies:

Challenge your dog with an interactive dog puzzle. The Triple Treater Totter by Outward Hound is a treat dispensing toy.

The Kong Genius Toy is a large, hard rubber bottle and you can hide treats on the side or bottom of the toy.

An Elk Antler (size medium)- (Rudolph and the other reindeer need their antlers for navigation and stabilization so requested that we include elk antlers instead of deer.)

The Funzies Zebra by Outback Jack and the Simply Fido Lamb are softer, squeaky toys.

Finally, there is a large (23” by 36”) self-warning, thermal dog bed by PetTherapeutics. This bed keeps your dog toasty warm by reflecting back its own body heat.

The seventh annual ACB Radio Holiday Auction will be broadcast live on Sunday, December 2, from 7:00 PM to midnight Eastern Time (4:00 PM to 9:00 PM Pacific), or until all items are sold. Mark your calendar and tune in on Sunday, December 2, between 7:00 PM and midnight Eastern at http://acbradio.org, on the ACB Link iPhone and Android app, on TuneIn Radio on your mobile phone or Alexa device, or by calling 605.475.8130 from any telephone. e phone or Alexa device, or by calling 605-475-8130 from any telephone.

Thank you for your generous support of ACB Radio and The Juno Report!

Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pets

By: The Animal Medical Center

Reprented with permission

The winter holidays should be a joyous time for people and pets alike. In the midst of your revelries and big family dinners, don’t let your home become

a hazardous place for your dog or cat. Here are 10 tips on how to keep your pets safe this holiday season:

Fatty Foods Aren’t Good for Sparky Either Who can resist gravy on roast beef or a cup of egg nog? Spills on the kitchen floor or overturned glasses

and gravy boats are what your dog is wishing for this year. Lapping up these high fat treats puts him at risk for severe gastrointestinal upset. Delicious,

but oily potato pancakes will do the same.

Other Holiday Foods on the Naughty List Chocolate contains a caffeine-like substance which is toxic in animals, known to cause hyperactivity, seizures

and heart arrhythmias (dry cocoa powder is the most dangerous). Onions can cause anemia in dogs and cats. Raisins are often found in many holiday baked

goods and for an unknown reason, raisins and their hydrated relative, grapes, can cause kidney failure in dogs.

Trash Cans Become Holiday Buffets for Pets Don’t forget about the trash can in your kitchen as you whiz about making final preparations for guests –

it can become a dangerous buffet for your pet. If eaten, the string used to tie the meat and the discarded bones can lodge themselves in the digestive

tract and require a surgical procedure to remove. Bones lodged in the esophagus can be fatal if it is severely damaged.

Raise Your Glasses! Not to propose a toast, but do ask guests not to set glasses down on the floor or on a low coffee table where pets get easy access

to those sweet, tasty, alcoholic holiday drinks. Pets will keep slurping and can become intoxicated and ill quickly.

Wrapping Risks The festive bows, twine, paper and tags of the holiday season can wrap your pet up in a heap of trouble if they’re ingested. Cats and

puppies love to play with puffy bows and balled up wrapping, and may in fact swallow them. All animals will be tempted to eat through the pretty packaging

surrounding gifts of food, so make sure to put them out of pets’ reach. The ingested wrapping can get stuck in the intestine and cause a blockage as well as damage the intestinal wall.

Christmas Tree Safety 101 The water in your Christmas tree stand is mighty inviting to a thirsty pet. Keep it covered so they can’t lap up water that

has been tainted by pinesap and tree preservatives. Anchor your tree well and display it in a secure location to prevent pets from knocking it over. String

the lights tightly and put the all dangling cords behind furniture to limit your pet’s interest in playing with, and possibly chewing on them. Severe electrical

burns and electrocution can result. Cats especially have been known to nibble on the tree branches and sample the tinsel, both of which can be dangerous

to their digestive tracts. Lastly, choose your ornaments carefully. Glass ornaments that shatter easily if knocked off the tree leave shards for your pet

to step on and ingest. The best bet is to not let animals into the room where the tree is standing without human supervision.

Let There Be Light (as long as your pets can’t get near it!) Candles and lamps are a part of many holiday celebrations like Hanukah, Christmas, Divali

and Kwanzaa. Your Menorah or Kinara should be in a place that is inaccessible to your pets and should not burn unattended. Your cat can easily light itself

on fire by brushing its tail up against a burning candle or start a house fire by tipping it over.

Mistle-no’s Colorful houseplants abound at holiday time but many are poisonous if nibbled on by your pets. Poinsettia, mistletoe, holly and Cyclamen’s

tuberous roots are toxic to pets and lilies and amaryllis will cause kidney failure if eaten by your cat. It is best to be safe and not have these plants

in your home if you share it with a pet.

Break out Star With so many holiday guests coming and going, it is easy for pets to get agitated or escape out the door. Be sure your pets are crated

or leashed when you expect guests to prevent them from running away. And with all of the new voices, music and loud noises holiday festivities often bring,

even the calmest pet can get spooked. Keeping pets in a closed room will help minimize the anxiety.

Not a Good Surprise Present Remember that a pet of any type does not make a good gift. No matter how much your neighbor or family member covets your

beloved Fido or Whiskers, other families need to be prepared for the time and financial commitment a pet requires. A pet should never be a surprise gift

anytime of the year. If your pet has ingested any foods or materials that may be toxic, contact your veterinarian immediately or call Animal Poison Control

at (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day. The Animal Medical Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency, routine and specialty care: (212) 838-8100.

Avoiding Winter Hazards

By: Maria Hansen, 1^st Vice President

Here are some tips to keep your guide safe and comfortable in winter weather:

Rock salt and some ice melts contain chloride which is irritating to dog paws and stomachs if they lick the salt off their feet. This is particularly troublesome for city dogs walked on salt-treated sidewalks. The salt dries and cracks the paw pads.

Once your dog comes inside, wash the feet to remove any chemical residue.

Protect your dog’s pads with paw wax such as Mushers Secret. These products help protect the pads against snow and ice. Paw wax also helps to prevent iceball formation if applied between your dog’s toes. Paw wax often contains lanolin which helps to keep the pads soft and moist.

Boots can afford added protection. My dog wears PAWZ which look like balloons and come in packages of 12 boots. Don’t leave the boots on indoors as moisture will accumulate in the boot as your dog sweats from his paws and this environment could promote infection.

If you have your own sidewalks and driveway, consider pet friendly ice melt products (salt and chloride free) or use sand or kitty litter to provide traction on slippery areas.

Don’t allow your dog to drink from puddles. Puddles may contain dissolved ice melt, which will give your dog an upset stomach and diarrhea. Even worse, if the puddle contains antifreeze, a couple of sips of antifreeze laced water can be lethal. Automotive anti-freeze contains ethylene glycol which is a potent toxin to the kidneys. If you think your dog drank even a small amount of antifreeze, go immediately to the closest animal ER and have him checked out.

The combination of salt, water and stray voltage from poorly insulated wiring on light posts or street and sidewalk electric boxes can pose a shock hazard. Here in New York City, stray voltage on wet streets has even resulted in human and canine fatalities. Report any possible sources of stray voltage to the police or electric company. If your dog is zapped by stray voltage (they usually cry in pain or collapse while walking near a light post or electric box on a wet or slushy day), get them to a veterinarian as quickly as possible.

One of my previous guides, Beau, was zapped twice. The first time it happened, I had no idea what was going on because I was wearing rubber boots. He was screaming and thrashing on the ground. I tried to help him up and he kept falling over. We were standing on a metal grating and a passerby told me that it was electricity.

The second time it happened, we were crossing the street on a rainy day. As soon as we stepped off the curb into a big puddle, he screamed and, this time, I knew immediately what it was.

I know a few other handlers whose guides have been the victims of stray voltage.

On very cold days, my guide wears a coat. If there is a weather advisory against humans staying out for too long, I also limit my dog’s exposure outdoors.

Space heaters and heat lamps can start fires and result in injury. Heat lamps can cause a serious thermal burn and should never be directly aimed at a pet.

If your home or apartment is a bit chilly, let your dog cuddle up in a self-warming bed. These beds reflect back the dog’s own body heat and eliminate concern about chewing on electric cords.

Paw Tracks Article Submissions

Would you like to submit an article for upcoming editions of the Paw Tracks magazine?

GDUI members would love to hear from you! Share your personal story, local guide dog news, affiliate work or anything that would be of interest to fellow guide dog handlers. Make your submissions, with a Word attachment, to editor@guidedogusersinc.org today!

Executive Board of Directors

President

Penny Reeder

Email: president@guidedogusersinc.org

1^st Vice President

Maria Hansen

Email: vp1@guidedogusersinc.org

2^nd Vice President

Deb Lewis

Email: vp2@guidedogusersinc.org

Secretary

Sarah Calhoun

Email: secretary@guidedogusersinc.org

Treasurer

Lynn Merill

Email: treasurer@guidedogusersinc.org

Contacting Board and Committee chairs

It’s easy to contact your Board of Directors and Committee chairs! Visit https://guidedogusersinc.org/contact to send an email today.

Download Word Document Link: 2018 PawTracks Holiday Edition

Download MP3 Link: 2018 PawTracks Holiday Edition

GDUI Announcement, May 30, 2018

Dear GDUI Members and Friends,

If you haven’t already, it’s time to vote! We are now in the middle of the week which GDUI has set aside to provide our members the opportunity to vote in our 2018 elections. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, we are hoping we can persuade you to do so, either today, or during the rest of this voting week, which will end at 11:59 EDT on Sunday, June 3.

Your unique individual Voter I.D. Number arrived in your e-mail in box, or on a post card in your postal mailbox late last week. You can locate the e-mail message by searching for, “GDUI Ballot.” If you’ve been a member of GDUI since April 5, you should have received that initial e-mail message, and if you haven’t voted yet, it’s likely that you received another e-mail message yesterday, reminding you to vote, and including, once again, your individual voter identification number, as well as the link for voting online, the phone number to call for casting your ballot via touch tone, and an additional number to call if you would like to dictate your votes to a live VoteNow assistant

Do you need a reminder about our candidates or the positions which they are seeking to fill? Visit our 2018 Elections Information Page here: https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2018-elections-news/.

GDUI is pleased to make our election process universally available to all members who joined or renewed by the Date of Record (required by the DC Not-for-Profit Code). We are proud that our system is accessible for all our members, and, like you, we look forward to a successful conclusion to election week for 2018!

Vote today! It’s easy! It’s quick! It’s accessible! And, it’s essential!

Thank you again to Pauline Lamontagne, Chair of our GDUI 2018 Nominations Committee, and to the committee members, and to all of you for participating in our democracy by casting your votes.

The May 19, 2018 GDUI Board Meeting recording is available here:

Drop Box:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kxstewgrtfn6ggj/Recording%20of%20the%20GDUI%20Board%20Meeting%2C%20May%2019%2C%202018.mp3?dl=0

Send Space:

https://www.sendspace.com/file/0vq503

Play back number:

712-432-1085

Access code: 919245 followed by the pound (#) key.

We were so pleased and appreciative of the time that Tony Stephens, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Relations, spent at the beginning of our board meeting to talk about the U. S. Department of Transportation’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM),for the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which had been released earlier that week, as well as proposed legislation in the House, where a bill has already passed, and the Senate, which has yet to bring a bill up for voting, regarding access for guide dogs, service animals, and so-called emotional support animals on transportation and in other public venues. If you missed Tony’s informative remarks and the discussion which ensued, we urge you to take advantage of the available meeting recording to listen and learn. Thanks again, Tony! We are so pleased to be working closely with ACB and others to make sure that revised regulations meet our needs and reinforce our hard-won civil rights.

More about the ANPRM:

The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on Traveling By Air with Service Animals can be found HERE: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOT-OST-2018-0068-0001.

In this ANPRM, the Department solicits comment on:

* Treating psychiatric service animals similar to other service animals;

* Distinguishing between emotional support animals and other service animals;

* Requiring emotional support animals to travel in pet carriers for the duration of the flight;

* Limiting the species of service animals and emotional support animals that airlines are required to transport;

* Limiting the number of service animals/emotional support animals required to be transported per passenger;

* Requiring service animal and emotional support animal users confirm that their animal has been trained to behave in a public setting;

* Requiring service animals and emotional support animals have a harness, leash, or other tether with narrow exceptions;

* Limiting the size of emotional support animals or other service animals that travel in the cabin and the potential impact of such a limitation;

* Prohibiting airlines from requiring a veterinary health form or immunization record from service animal users without an individualized assessment that the animal would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would cause a significant disruption in the aircraft cabin; and

* No longer holding U.S. airlines responsible if a passenger traveling under the U.S. carrier’s code is only allowed to travel with a service dog on a flight operated by its foreign code share partner.

You may download the ANPRM here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOT-OST-2018-0068-0001.

The U.S Department of Transportation stated the ANPRM “is intended to address the significant concerns raised by individuals with disabilities, other members of the public, airlines, flight attendants, airports and other stakeholders regarding service animals on aircraft. The Department recognizes the integral role that service animals play in the lives of many individuals with disabilities and wants to ensure seamless access to air transportation for individuals with disabilities while also helping to deter the fraudulent use of animals not qualified as service animals.”

GDUI will be working closely with ACB and other disability advocacy organizations to evaluate the proposed regulations and assure that any proposed changes will protect our rights to travel, unburdened by excess bureaucracy or obtrusive requirements, with our guide dogs. Please stay in touch and remain informed about this important issue. We will be letting all of you know how you can participate in this important advocacy during coming weeks.

GDUI/ACB Convention News! It’s time to register!

Convention registration opened on Tuesday, May 15^th. You can register online at https://acbconvention.org/ or by telephone by calling 800.866.3242. When you call, you will be asked to provide your name, telephone number, time zone, and the best time to reach you. ACB’s telephone registration cadre does make phone calls evenings and weekends.

For the first time this year, professionals can earn Continuing Education Credits when attending certain specific seminars and presentations.

During the 2018 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, rehabilitation teachers and counselors, teachers of the visually impaired, low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and other professionals have opportunities to earn continuing education credits (CECs).

CEC eligible sessions are held June 30 through July 4. Credits are available for a wide range of specialized programs, workshops, seminars, and other events presented by ACB committees, special-interest affiliates, and representatives from government agencies and private industry. Subjects addressed include technology, transition, vocational goals, health issues, orientation and mobility, self-advocacy, braille, low vision issues, and more.

For details on the 50 sessions and events offering continuing education credits visit: https://acbconvention.org/?p=30.

Will you need a Wheelchair or a scooter while visiting the ACB/GDUI Convention? Contact

Provider Plus, Inc.

7748 Watson

St. Louis, MO 63119

314.961.8500

https://www.providerplus.com/

Weekly rate for scooters is $125.00,

Manual wheelchairs are $60.00 per week.

There is an additional $50 delivery and pick-up fee.

Hotel Accommodations for Convention Week

Many who are still firming up their plans for attending convention were dismayed to learn earlier this week that the Union Station (convention) Hotel has already booked every single room for convention week. Fortunately, ACB Convention Coordinator, Janet Dickelman announced that another close-by hotel is available for convention attendees. Here is Janet’s message:

“The Drewery Inn (a block from Union Station hotel) has rooms available for $109 per night. I know this is higher than Union Station however the room includes complimentary breakfast and happy hours. Also for those of you who are driving parking at Drewery Inn is $9.00 per day. Unfortunately they do not have rooms available until Sunday, July 1^st. Please let me know if you are interested.

I need your name, phone number and arrival and departure dates. If you have an existing reservation with Union Station do not cancel it with the hotel. Let me know and I’ll assign the room to someone else. Again please please, please do not cancel or make any changes to existing Union Station reservations.”

Janet’s e-mail address is:mailto:janet.dickelman@gmail.com .

It sounds like we’re going to have a huge group of people and dogs attending our convention! Don’t miss the fun! Make your plans to attend the GDUI convention, beginning on July1 and concluding with our fabulous annual awards luncheon on Independence Day, July 4! For more information on the GDUI Convention, visit our web site here: https://guidedogusersinc.org/2018-gdui-convention/.

And, don’t forget about Moe! He’s still looking for a post-convention home! Call GDUI’s toll free number 866.799.8436 and purchase raffle tickets from Sarah, or go online and use PayPal to buy your tickets here: https://guidedogusersinc.org/shop/.Raffle tickets are 3 for $5.00 or 7 for $10. All of the dollars that tickets for Moe bring in will assist GDUI in covering convention costs and advocating on behalf of guide dog users in coming months. Please be generous and thank you for joining the growing number of our members and friends who purchase raffle tickets in the hope of bringing home our beautiful nearly life-size plush yellow labbie named Moe, wearing his own harness, and just waiting to join you and your own guide dog at home!

Thank you all for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

Penny Reeder, President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

mailto:President@GuideDogUsersInc.org

Deanna Noriega, First Vice President

Guide Dog Users, Inc.

mailto:vp1@GuideDogUsersInc.org

GDUI: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/

Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436

Like, visit us, and join our Facebook Group : https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc

Enjoy the GDUI Juno Report on ACB Radio Mainstream, at8:00 p.m., EDT, every Friday of every month, here: http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream.

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

Or search for the GDUI Juno Report on ITunes or ACBLink. .

Support GDUI when you use this link to shop at Amazon.com: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1871119.

SUPPORT GUIDE DOG USERS, INC GROUP #999969764 when you purchase candles and other decorative items from the Yankee Candle Store here: https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/store.htm.

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: gduichatlist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

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

businesslist-subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org

A recording of each GDUI announcement is available here: 773.572.6301. Enter the password, 1972. The recording will remain available until it is replaced by a recording of the next GDUI Announcement. Please share this information with friends who may not have access to the internet. Thank you. We look forward to sharing information with all of our GDUI members and friends.

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

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

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

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

2020 DC Leadership Meetings Schedule:

Hotel Information:

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

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

How Has the ADA Made a Difference in Your Life?

Help Amazon.com Improve the Quality of Audio Description!

New Hotline Promises an Easier Experience Identifying Accessible Products!

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

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

How Super Sniffer Dogs Are Helping Detect Disease Around The World

The Spirit of Dog

Connect with GDUI

A Publication of Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Now, it’s time for some Announcements!

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

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

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

Pick of the Litter on Disney +

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

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

REAL ID

University of Kansas Survey

WBU Employment Survey

A Job Announcement from Sprint!

ACB Seeks Director of Development

Job Vacancy: Director of Outreach and Engagement

Pennsylvania Council of the Blind

Arthur and Phyllis Milton Foundation Scholarship

Apply for the Friends in Art Scholarship

The Deadline is Approaching to Apply for ACB Scholarships!

From Your Editor: a new decade, and a new vision for Pawtracks!

How to Calculate Your Dog’s Real Age

Weimaraner Tales

Sundance Partnership Extends Accessibility for Attendees With Disabilities

A Little Extra Convention Enticement, Especially for Baseball Fans!

Here’s basic information about next summer’s convention, to help you begin searching for transportation, booking rooms, and making plans:

Connect with GDUI

Computers for the Blind Sale!

Let your voice be heard!

In GDUI we are proud of all the services we offer to our members and the blindness community in general

Have you checked out the November GDUI Juno Report yet?

Is Accessible Transportation one of your passions?

Are you interested in working on other blindness-related issues?

Do you and your guide dog sometimes travel in the companionship of AIRA?

The New Street-Crossing Policy

Volunteers Needed for an Online Research Survey regarding crossing streets!

Are you interested in a career in acting?

Attention, College Students and Entering Freshmen!

Can you help a graduate student with his thesis research on smart-phone use?

Dear all,

SAVE THE Date! Blind LGBT Pride international is inviting you to its scheduled Fall BPI Book Share event!

The Paw Tracks Magazine

From the Editor’s Kennel

President’s Message: A Season for Giving Thanks

2019 Membership Renewal

A Call to Action

THE EASTER BUNNY CAME AFTER ALL

Planning for Rochester!

A Guide Dog Holiday Tradition!

Help GDUI Support the ACB 2018 Holiday Auction

Holiday Safety Tips for Your Pets

Avoiding Winter Hazards

Paw Tracks Article Submissions

Executive Board of Directors

President

1st Vice President

2nd Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Contacting Board and Committee chairs

1^st Vice President

2^nd Vice President