Hello, GDUI Universe,
President: Sarah Calhoun
Editor: Andrea Giudice
Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder
Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972
Toll-Free: 866.799.8436
From the editor
Hello fellow GDUISters
I encourage everyone to remember how easy it is to get involved- share a favorite podcast; an interesting, silly, absurd, or touching tidbit from your local paper; something you wrote yourself or written by someone else; a helpful app or other resource; even a yummy recipe. Remember, submissions about guide dogs, or blindness/visual impairment are not the only topics of interest to we GDUISters!
Sending cyber hugs and wags,
Andrea and Super T
From the President
For Your Calendar
(Some of the items listed here are expanded upon later in this issue, others may be a ways off)
4/1/24 ACVO/Epicur Service Animal Eye Exam Event Registration Opened!
4/7/24, 7 PM (Eastern)- ACB Next Generation Auction (virtual)
4/8/24- Next solar eclipse! (read on for cool information)
5/1/24, 6:30PM (Eastern)- PTGU Annual Spring Meeting (virtual)
5/20/24- Submission deadline if running for elected positions on the ACB board of directors or Board of Publications.
6/14/24, 12 to 4:00PM (Eastern)- Blindness and Mental Health Summit-Registration now open (virtual)
Announcement- Guide Dog Users, Inc. Releases Statement in Solidarity with Blind Pride International
Announcement- Device Helps Blind & Visually Impaired People Experience Eclipse from Dots and Dashes, March 25, 2024 (The American Council of the Blind)
- The next solar eclipse will be on Monday, April 8, 2024. A team of astronomers has created a device that lets people who are blind or have low vision experience a solar eclipse. The LightSound device converts light to sound, changing pitch as the sky darkens. Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/ycyt9k8u
To request your own LightSound device, click here.
- Lighthouse Guild offers five tips to help protect your eyes while viewing the eclipse:
*One safe way to look directly at the sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. They transmit thousands of times too much sunlight.
*If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
*Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter. Do not remove it while looking at the sun.
*Do not look at the sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer. The concentrated solar rays could damage the eclipse glasses and allow harmful rays to enter your eyes, causing serious injury.
*Never look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
Announcement- New Educational Flyer to Help Businesses Recognize Real Service Animals.
The Pine Tree Guide Dog Users new service animal flyer features photos of actual working dogs, and offers tips on how to identify a legitimate service animal, what questions businesses can ask, how real service animals are expected to behave, when they can be excluded, and more. Photos shown in the flyer provided courtesy of K9s For Warriors and The Seeing Eye Inc.
For a description and download the flyer, visit
Article- Free to Be Free: Why Human Rights Matter
(Reprinted from The Blind Californian, Fall 2023, Vol. 67, No. 4.)
Submitted by Lori Scharff
by Daveed Mandell
Human rights matter. They affect every aspect of daily life. Yet they are gradually eroding in this country and throughout the world. In too many instances, we are seeing hate and intolerance become the norm. What are human rights? Human rights are universal rights we have, simply because we are human beings. Unlike civil rights, they are not granted by any state. We are all equally entitled to human rights, regardless of nationality, gender, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, disability or sexual orientation. Human rights are embodied in the 30 articles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted in 1948. It has become the standard for basic equality and human dignity. Fundamental human rights include everything from the right to life and freedom of movement, to the rights to food and water, education, work, health and liberty. The UDHR was the first legal document to outline the fundamental human rights to be universally protected. It continues to be the foundation of all international human rights law and provides the principles and building blocks of current and future human rights conventions, treaties and other legal instruments. The UDHR together with the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights comprise the International Bill of Rights. Human rights are inalienable and should not be taken away, except in specific situations and according to due process. For instance, human rights can be withheld, to a certain extent, if a person is guilty of a crime. Human Rights Matter Human rights ensure that people’s basic needs are met, because everyone needs and deserves access to health care, food and water, clothing and shelter. Human rights protect vulnerable groups from abuse, such as people of color and LGBTQ. Human rights allow people to stand up to, and speak out against, societal corruption and abuse. Human rights encourage freedom of speech and expression. Human rights give people the freedom to practice their religion, or not practice any religion. Human rights allow people to love whom they choose. Human rights encourage equal work opportunities. Human rights give people access to education. Human rights protect the environment. Human rights provide a universal standard that holds governments accountable.
Letter from the ACB Board of directors: March 2, 2024
As follow-up to decisions made during the January 30, 2024 ACB Board of Directors meeting, the Board made a decision to take “no position” on a proposed Human Rights Rally being sponsored by ACB’s special interest affiliate, Blind Pride International. This decision has, regrettably, caused much division of opinion and disappointment within ACB among our members. We understand the passion of all members who have spoken out on all aspects of this decision.
The decision was made by the Board following ACB’s Democratic processes, which we all value and cherish. Regardless of how each of us individually may feel about the decision, we, the Board take full responsibility for the decision, just as we must do for all the decisions we make. The Board is elected by you, the Members of the American Council of the Blind, who have elected us to these positions. We all take our responsibilities very seriously every day.
We are not asking you to agree with the decision that was made, each and every one of us is entitled to our own opinions. What we are asking of everyone is for you to state your opinion respectfully and without intemperate personal criticism of anyone. Unfortunately, the Board has heard from staff that they have been subject to criticism, rudeness and occasionally open hostility, especially when staff neutrality is misperceived as support for one side over another. We ask you to avoid such behavior when communicating with our hard-working staff. They are responsible to implement the decisions made by the Board and Membership of ACB with absolute neutrality.
We apologize for any misunderstandings that may have led to the hurt that has been experienced by many. Moving forward, we look forward to exploring ways of collaborating with all of our affiliates on advocacy efforts within the missions of the affiliates and ACB. Our wish is that we can all move forward in the spirit of healing and coming together to continue working for the betterment of people who are blind from all walks of life as stated in ACB’s mission. Let us all re-commit to following the core values of ACB: Honesty and Integrity, Respect, Collaboration, Flexibility and Initiative.
Chris Bell
Donna Brown
Ray Campbell
Kim Charlson
Denise Colley
Deb Cook Lewis
Michael Garrett
Gabriel Lopez-Kafati
Cecily Laney Nipper
Terry Pacheco
Doug Powell
Rachel Schroeder
Kenneth Semien Sr.
Koni Sims
Jeff Thom
David Trott
Article- Funny Things People Have Said About My Guide Dogs
By DeAnna Quietwater Noriega
Author of Fifty Years of Walking with Friends
https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/
When working my first dog, a German Shepherd/Labrador Retriever, a drunk saw me bend down to demand my dog release a pigeon she had scooped off the sidewalk. He promptly caught the befuddled bird and chased me across the street, shouting that since she had caught it; she ought to be able to keep it! While working that dog, a young man in a candy store asked, whether I was training her to pull a dogsled, and where to get a harness like that to train his dog? A little girl in a grocery store reflected, “I bet your doggy doesn’t like being carried around by that handle.” These are only a sample of the odd things people have said about my first dog.
Since I am working my tenth dog now, my list of weird comments is pretty long. Having a guide dog does offer interesting opportunities to get into conversations with strangers. A stewardess on an air flight mistook my dog as a roller bag and offered to put my 95-pound black lab in the overhead bin for me. While waiting in line to buy food at a powwow, a tribal elder asked if I knew how to tell an Indian’s dog from one owned by a white man? He explained that a white man’s dog said bow wow, while my dog would say powwow. One of my daughters called me and my dog gave a bark of greeting. The Elder chortled, “see, he knows.” Later, the M.C. announced to his friend, “Screaming Eagle, here comes your lunch, black lab on toast!” Since that dog would try to eat anything that came his way, I think he was startled to be added to someone else’s menu.
Of course, there have been people who have asked if my dogs were some other breeds such as a Rottweiler or a Pitbull. Many people have asked if my dog bites, or have wished their dogs were as well behaved. On vacation in Jamaica, a vendor in an outdoor market remarked in surprise, “Would you look at dat Mun, dey so rich they can buy a ticket fo da dog!”
A small boy asked if my dog was a dog or a pony. While another child proudly announced he knew what kind of dog I had, according to him, he was a ranger rescue dog. Whether they embarrass us by shoplifting, or misbehave at awkward moments, I don’t think any of us would say working a guide dog doesn’t add entertainment to our lives. They aren’t just a mobility aid; they are fun too.
From the Kennel Kitchen- Yummy!
Submitted by one of Toto’s good buds, a retired guide from North Dakota
Apple & Cheddar Pupcakes
Yield: 12 pupcakes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup traditional rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup applesauce
½ cup water
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons honey
2 eggs
1 apple, peeled, cored and minced
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, water, oil, honey and eggs, then stir in the apple and cheese. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until just barely blended.
- Spoon the batter into the muffin tins, filling almost full (you may have a couple spoonfuls of batter leftover). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the tins for a few minutes and then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Article- Seeing Eye pushes back as more businesses turn away service dogs
By William Westhoven
Morristown Daily Record
Like many Garden State families, Kyle Street and his wife, Sioban Leahy, love to summer at the Jersey Shore, booking hotel rooms as a base to roam beaches and boardwalks with their 8-year-old, James.
Yet for the Bayonne couple, it’s a more complicated trip. Street and Leahy are blind, and much of their independence is tied to their guide dogs, each trained by the Morristown-based Seeing Eye.
It’s an independence that is under threat. Like many who use service animals, the couple say they’ve seen a dramatic increase in venues − hotels, restaurants and, especially, rideshare providers − refusing to accommodate their dogs. The Seeing Eye, one of the nation’s foremost trainers of guide dogs, says it’s a problem across the country.
Kyle Street and his wife, Sioban Leahy, with their son, James, 8, with their guide dogs during a Christmas photo.
“We’re alarmed by the rising reports of access denials faced by service dog handlers, including from rideshare companies, airlines, businesses and restaurants,” Seeing Eye CEO Margaret “Peggi” Howard said in an interview.
The nonprofit announced in January it had formed a department focused on raising awareness and support for guide-dog handlers.
Why guide dogs are denied
The denials are tied in part to the proliferation of animal companions on two fronts, Howard said. First, service dogs are increasingly used to address conditions beyond impaired vision, including epilepsy and diabetes.
At the same time, rising numbers are claiming service-dog rights for their emotional support animals, whose use is protected by law in the home but not in public transit, hotels or taxis, among other settings.
“I’ve been denied rideshares from Uber and Lyft a good 40 times in the past year, and that’s low balling it.” said Street, 29, who works at an Apple store in Manhattan.
Street and Leahy are both veteran guide-dog handlers through their association with The Seeing Eye, a global leader in the industry since 1929.
“We actually met and got married at the Seeing Eye,” Street said.
When he and his wife need to travel with their dogs, they are happy to pay for a larger rideshare vehicle, he said.
‘Nothing is more frustrating’
“But even then, we are still more likely to get denials,” Street added. “Nothing is more frustrating. We try really hard to make sure James doesn’t see our disability as anything more than a minor inconvenience. When he has to witness that, it’s heartbreaking.”
“It’s humiliating to have that experience,” said attorney Melissa Allman, the Seeing Eye’s senior specialist of advocacy and government relations. Allman, who is blind and has a guide dog, Luna, to assist her, has her own horror stories about rideshare refusals.
Allman recalled her own attempt to take an Uber from her dentist to her work office. When the driver arrived, she could hear him telling a security guard he would only take the dog for an extra fee.
“He was told that was against the law,” she said. “He said ‘I don’t care,’ and drove away.”
Attorney Melissa Allman, shown here with her guide dog, is a senior specialist of advocacy and government relations for the Seeing Eye in Morristown, N.J.
David Johnson, a former training director, was selected to lead The Seeing Eye’s new initiative as director of accessibility, advocacy and government relations. He will work with Allman, who previously worked with the group’s department of instruction and training.
She cited the words of Seeing Eye founder Dorothy Harrison Eustis: “‘Your dog is not going to do you any good if you can’t take her anywhere.’ That’s why we are here.”
Service denials are not limited to rideshares, Street and Allman said.
Hotel horror stories for dog handlers
“We’ve had lots of issues in hotels up and down the Jersey Shore,” Street said. One experience in Point Pleasant sticks in his mind.
“As soon as we got there, they told us we couldn’t have dogs,” Street recalled. “They scrambled when we explained they were service dogs. But as we left their office, they made it very obvious they needed to vacuum and clean up from whatever hair dander may have fallen during the two minutes we were in the office.”
They checked out the next day. “And I still got a very nasty call from the owner that they’ve never seen so much hair and they were going to charge me an extra fee.”
More:Can landlords bar emotional support animals? Not in NJ, attorney general says
Allman shared her own hotel horror story about a trip to Washington D.C., where she got a similar “runaround” from the manager of a boutique hotel who tried and failed to extract an extra fee.
Later that night, she was heading out to dinner with friends, only to have a driver deny access to her dog.
Uber, Lyft service animals settlement
Federal and state laws govern accessibility issues for service dogs in public and areas such as businesses and transportation.
Separately, Uber and Lyft agreed to settle a 2016 lawsuit brought against them by the National Federation of the Blind. The companies promised to revise training and accountability standards for drivers, who would accept “their responsibility to transport riders with service animals” under the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act
Both companies now have extensive descriptions of their policies on their websites.
But Allman and the National Federation said that, following a three-year monitoring period that expired in 2020, anecdotal evidence and other reports indicate rideshare denials are rising again.
A service dog strolls through the aisle inside a United Airlines plane at Newark Liberty International Airport while taking part in a training exercise April 1, 2017. Trainers took dogs through security checks and onto a plane as part of the exercise put on by The Seeing Eye puppy program.
Emotional support animals: ‘People are abusing the system’
Allman said much of the confusion surrounds the increased instances of emotional support animals during travel or trips to stores, restaurants and other public spaces. “People are abusing the system,” she said.
“People claim their dog is an emotional support animal and they put a service animal vest on it. You can buy them on Amazon,” she said. “Some people legitimately do not understand you can’t just make a dog or a cat a service animal by putting a vest on them.”
The Humane Society of the United States concurs: “The fact that the term ‘service animal’ is often used by landlords and public housing authorities to refer to both service dogs and assistance animals often creates confusion,” the group states on its website.
While there are laws permitting emotional support or “assistance” animals in public housing, those rights do not extend to the level of trained service dogs.
“A service animal has to be a dog that is trained to perform a specific task,” Allman explained. “It doesn’t just mean the presence of this dog keeps me calm. It has to be trained to perform a task for the benefit of the person with a disability. A dog can be trained to alert me when I’m about to have a seizure, or when my blood sugar is low. It’s all about recognition and response.”
The Seeing Eye says its dogs are specially bred and trained to guide people who are blind. The philanthropy’s students, and their dogs-in-training, are a frequent sight on the streets of downtown Morristown, but the group also conducts training in other public locations, including a recent visit to Newark Liberty Airport.
Guide dogs and rideshares
Asked about service-dog denials, Lyft responded with a statement confirming it “has a strict service animal policy that requires all drivers to accommodate passengers traveling with service animals, and we take any allegation of this nature very seriously. There is no place for any form of discrimination on our platform and we ask that riders report issues immediately.”
Uber did not respond to email requests for comment.
Street said that while the rideshare leaders responded to complaints with more detailed reports of driver investigations and discipline during the three-year settlement monitoring period, they now respond with “a general response of what they expect from their drivers, with no real understanding of what happens after that.”
“We’re going to continue to work with law enforcement in New Jersey and beyond,” Allman said. “We’re going to be working with members of Congress to remove some of the access barriers to air transportation.”
What to do if your dog is denied
Meanwhile, she advises guide dog handlers to report service denials to the businesses that provided them with their animals.
“We are also encouraging people to file complaints with the Department of Justice,” she said. “It’s very important that we establish for DOJ that there is a pattern and practice that is pretty pervasive of denying people with service animals access to rideshares.”
Tips & Tricks- From Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU) March 2024 Monthly News Update
- Problems at the security checkpoint? If your screening experience at the airport doesn’t meet your expectations, request immediate on-site assistance from a TSA supervisor or go to this online form to file a formal complaint.
- It’s the law! Check out The Seeing Eye’s free app for iOS and Android. The app provides information about U.S. and Canadian laws for guide dog teams.
- Rideshare round up. Here are three presentations about the challenges guide dog handlers often face when attempting to get a ride from Uber or Lyft, and the work that’s being done to improve the situation:
Untangling Transportation – The Promise and Pain of Rideshare
And most recently,
- Tired of rideshare drivers dropping you off at the wrong house, workplace, or other frequent destination? Consider showing drivers a photo of your preferred drop-off point to make it easier for them to find. Following along with your GPS can also help.
- Planning a visit to museums, galleries or other tourist attractions? Call in advance to see what resources are available for visitors who are blind or low vision. Googling the destination to learn all you can about the places you intend to visit can also enrich your experience.
- High and dry? Many airports have free bottle refilling stations after you go through security so bring along a few empty water bottles and fill up! This makes it easier to stay hydrated on the plane and after landing, you’ll have plenty of water to share with your dog.
- Smelly Proof Reusable Zip Top Bags
Super durable, resealable, reusable, washable, BPA-free, and puncture resistant. These odor-proof bags seal in even the smelliest dog treats and food leaving the contents in your luggage, backpack, or purse free from unpleasant odors. The bags are made from extra-strength food-grade materials and may be washed, air dried, and reused multiple times. Available in a variety of sizes. Sandwich bags measure 6.5 inches by 7.5 inches. A package of ten is $12.00.
Announcement- ACVO/Epicur Service Animal Eye Exam Event Registration Opened on April first!
15th Annual Service Animal Screening Eye Exam Event Registration Launched,
Monday, April 1st!
*PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION BELOW CAREFULLY.
Registration for the 15th Annual ACVO/Epicur National Service Animal Eye Exam Event will be open on the website starting Monday, April 1st at 8:00 am Mountain Time.
Make sure you are fully prepared and brush up on the Qualifications, Expectations, and Registration Information.
https://www.acvoeyeexam.org/qualifications-expectations
After you register at- www.ACVOEyeExam.org
you will receive a confirmation email which contains your registration number and a link to participating clinics
sure to add ServiceAnimal@ACVO.org to your safe senders list!
(Don’t forget to check your spam/junk folder before emailing for a confirmation email to be re-sent).
To make an appointment after registration, on Monday, April 1st, please call the clinic of your choosing and be sure to give the clinic your registration number. Appointments are on a first come, first serve basis.
Please remember that locations/appointments may be limited in your area. We ask for patience and kindness to the clinics’ staff. Everyone participating is volunteering their time and resources, and we would love for this event to continue to be a positive experience for all involved!
Don’t forget to follow us, and share this amazing program!
Thank you to past participants who shared photos and stories with us!
Thank you, Epicur Pharma®!
Epicur Pharma® has agreed to support this program through 2024 as the namesake sponsor! Please help us thank Epicur Pharma® for their generosity any time you’re able!
Announcement Blindness and Mental Health Summit (Accessible Pharmacy Services)
Register Now for the Blindness & Mental Health Summit!
Friday, June 14, 2024- 12:00PM to 4:00PM ET
The Blindness and Mental Health Summit is 100% virtual!
The week of the event you will receive an online link to access the virtual event.
Join us for the first annual Blindness and Mental Health Summit! The Summit is the largest online gathering of organizations and consumers sharing information, resources, and services focusing on mental health in the blindness, low vision, and disability communities. It is 100% virtual and will have ASL interpreters. Providers will also be able to earn CE credit.
The Summit is a 2-part event:
- Part 1 – Speaker Series
- Part 2 – Exhibit Hall
Register for free to learn from our growing list of thought leaders in the blindness and mental health communities-
- Be My Eyes
- Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
- Thriving Blind Academy
- Helen Keller Services
- Prevent Blindness
- American Council of the Blind Mental Health and Wellness Committee
- Intuitive Counseling and Wellness
- Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Eye2Eye Peer Support Program for Vision Loss
- 988 Crisis Prevention Hotline
To Register- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLwGIl3DO2OzIwzVq85AbHjU0H9IG_jvuOO-b0JkHIkdlIEA/viewform
To learn more about the Blindness and Mental Health Summit please visit our website-
If you have any questions, please send us an email-
Sincerely, Your friends at Accessible Pharmacy
Accessible Pharmacy Services, LLC
888-633-7007
Tidbits From Access Information News for Monday, March 25, 2024 – Volume 955
The world’s #1 online resource for current news and trends in access information.
https://accessinformationnews.com/
Snippets- from Dots and Dashes, March 25, 2024 (The American Council of the Blind)
- ACB Community News
*Congratulations to GDUI board member Patty Fletcher, ACB Community’s Volunteer of the Month for February!
*ACB Community recently celebrated its fourth anniversary and its 17,000th event.
- Member on the Mic
For the last year we have been featuring ACB members who may not be known well by the membership; members who inspire, have interesting stories or are doing the “Good Work.” We feature their projects and a photo along with a transcript of the interview.
We’re looking for more members who inspire, create, motivate, have interesting stories, and/or do good work. Want to nominate someone? Send an email to slovering@acb.org. Please include the person’s full name, state or special-interest affiliate, contact email and/or phone number.
Podcasts & Blogs- Check it out!
Taking The Lead- biweekly, on Thursday (Leader Dogs For The Blind)
To subscribe, using the Stream or any device, just type in Taking The Lead and it will come up. Once subscribed it will automatically appear on the drop date.
This is a great podcast; they always have great guests!
From John and Leader Dog Casey
ACB Voices blog- http://ACBVoices.org
Member on the Mic is a highlight of this blog!
Announcement- Calling All Candidates!
From Dots and Dashes, March 25, 2024 (The American Council of the Blind)
The ACB Board of Publications is pleased to announce the 2024 Candidates Pages. We invite any ACB member who chooses to run for one of the five elected positions on our board of directors or the three elected positions on the Board of Publications to introduce yourself, respond to the four questions provided below, and, if you wish, post links, separately, to related personal, professional, or social media web pages.
Your response to each of the four questions listed below should not exceed 300 words. The ACB Board of Publications will not edit your responses for spelling or grammar.
- Introduce yourself, and explain why you wish to serve as a director on the ACB Board of Directors or a member of the ACB Board of Publications.
- What have been your strongest contributions to ACB at the national, state or special-interest affiliate, ACB Community, and/or local chapter levels, and why are these significant?
- Like many not-for-profit, membership-driven organizations whose missions revolve around advocacy and support, ACB has chosen in recent years to adopt the core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). How does ACB’s stated mission of supporting people who are blind intersect with these core organizational values? If elected, what specific actions will you take to increase diversity, promote equity, encourage inclusion, and support accessibility within ACB, and how will you persuade members who are reluctant to embrace these principles to support DEIA as core ACB values?
- What is the most important challenge facing ACB? How will you work to address it?
Send your Candidates Page, either in the body of an email or as a Word attachment, to slovering@acb.org, with the subject line “My Candidates Page.” The deadline for all submissions is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, May 20, 2024. Visit www.acb.org for more information.
Announcement- Cool Company to Know about
Anonymous Submission by a GDUI member
- T. Guys, Your Access Technology Experts
Founded in 2008, A T Guys provides affordable technology solutions for consumers, businesses, and educational customers. Our product line includes mobile phone software and accessories, portable electronics, screen readers, braille translation software and accessible games. With over 30 years of combined technology experience, our trainers offer customized instruction both in-person or via phone or online voice chat on a wide array of assistive technologies including screen readers, braille displays, embossers, the iPhone and iPad, Android phones, and general accessibility consulting. Our website accessibility testing will ensure your online presence is usable by all users and meet accessibility web standards.
Have suggestions or questions about our products? We’d love to hear from you. contact us through the methods below-
A T Guys, PO Box 51446, Kalamazoo, MI 49005
Phone- (269) 216–4798
Skype- atguys
E-mail- support@atguys.com
Article- Four ACB Members Win the Right to Accessible, Electronic Absentee Ballots in Maine
By Lynn Merrill, with Pauline Lamontagne, Nicholas Giudice, and Cheryl Peabody
The ACB Braille Forum- Volume LXII February 2024 No. 8
February 2024 | American Council of the Blind
Published by the American Council of the Blind
We submit this article for two reasons: one, to describe how we challenged our state and municipal officials in order to create accessible, electronic absentee ballots for voters who are unable to complete a print ballot; and two, we want to motivate others to have the courage and passion to actively support causes that they believe in, as one, a few, or many, can effect change despite being told “no.”
We are a group of four from Maine. We were at first bonded by acquaintanceships and friendships, but we came together to face the odds of making a huge change that would affect the rights of thousands of people, and we won. We stand together, proud and somewhat in awe of the fact that we did it. We actually did it! Together, the four of us stood up against bureaucracy, politics, and our own self-doubts as people with disabilities who too often took “no” for an answer.
“By many accounts, Maine leads the country in voting rights: it has allowed some form of voting by absentee ballot for decades, is one of only two states allowing people with felony convictions to vote (including those still in prison), was the first state allowing ranked-choice voting in both state and federal elections, and consistently boasts some of the highest statewide voter turnout in the nation. However, despite this progressive voting record, until recently many Mainers still had difficulty (or were completely unable) to vote independently because the paper-based absentee ballot system was inaccessible to people with visual impairments. This lack of voting access is particularly problematic in Maine, as we are a rural state with limited public transportation and have an aging population, many of whom experience vision loss and associated driving challenges.”
In the spring of 2020, Americans were immersed in the effects of the COVID pandemic. We were trying to follow the guidelines that were being given to us about masking, distancing, reporting and cleansing. The July primaries were approaching. In Maine, voting places were being consolidated in municipalities and our Secretary of State and governor were urging voters to avoid the risks of physically going to these polling places, and instead to vote by absentee ballot. Their pleas were on television, radio, and newspapers. Good advice to follow; however, Maine did not have accessible electronic absentee ballots for print-disabled voters. The choices were dismal; abandon the right to vote privately and independently by having someone complete one’s absentee ballot for them, or risk one’s health by going to a polling place to use the express voting machine.
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) took a complaint from one voter who believed that the State of Maine should provide accessible electronic absentee ballots for those voters with print disabilities. There was no question that their fundamental rights to private and independent voting were compromised, especially in light of the encouragement from the Secretary of State and governor.
Four voters with varying degrees of visual impairments ultimately challenged our respective municipal city clerks as well as the Secretary of State to develop accessible electronic absentee ballots, but our requests were dismissed. Instead, we were told (1) that it was not possible to use electronic absentee ballots and (2) that if we wanted to vote absentee, we would need to get third-party assistance filling out paper ballots.
We all believed that our concerns should have and could have been resolved without litigation, but the dismissal of our requests left us with only one alternative. We joined in a lawsuit against the state and our four respective municipalities for not providing an electronic alternative to the paper absentee ballots. Our request would not have involved “inventing the wheel” because Maine already had electronic absentee ballots available for access by service members who were residents of Maine but assigned outside of the state. Of note is that those already existing ballots for service members did not include municipal ballots. That would change as a positive yet unintended consequence of the settlement agreement that was to come.
“In mid-July 2020 we lodged our complaint in the United States District Court for Maine. In Merrill v. Dunlap, Lynn Merrill, Pauline Lamontagne, Cheryl Peabody, and Nicholas Giudice argued (as the plaintiffs in civil action no. 1:20-cv-00248) for the right to vote privately and independently by electronic absentee ballot in the November 3, 2020 election and in future elections in the State of Maine. The lawsuit, led by Kristen Aiello and Disability Rights Maine, was based on the premise that we should not have to risk our health, privacy, or independence to vote in the same way that is available to other Mainers and that was the explicit guidance of our governor and Secretary of State as the preferred and advised method of doing so.
“What became obvious from the first hearing in federal court is that the state was not going to fight us on the matter and did actually want to provide a mechanism for accessible absentee voting through the use of electronic ballots, similar to what was already available to state residents deployed in the military. For the process to work, however, there would need to be updates made to the electronic PDF ballot, which was not then accessible, meaning that it would not read correctly with a screen reader. At this point, the Secretary of State’s Office touted this tentative agreement as a win for Maine’s citizens and something that was absolutely a worthy cause. While this was a 180-degree reversal of their previous stance, and it is frustrating that it took a lawsuit to make it happen, the net result is what counts.
“In the following six weeks, we (the plaintiffs and a group of volunteer blind beta testers throughout the state) worked closely with the state’s vendor, who was handling the electronic election content to help them make the ballots work with speech. Given that we are one of two states in the union with ranked-choice voting and there are lots of individual municipalities, this process was not as straightforward as one might think. However, on Oct. 2, 2020, Maine became one of only a few states that had developed a fully accessible electronic absentee ballot voting mechanism that is available to all people with a print disability that limits their use of a traditional paper ballot.
“An unexpected but positive result of our lawsuit was that the state now needed a new mechanism to monitor the status of electronic absentee ballots being submitted. This led to development and deployment of a new state-wide absentee ballot tracking service for the 2020 election (and beyond) that ultimately benefited all Maine voters. With this system, anybody who requests an absentee ballot, paper or electronic, can use the online portal to track its status throughout the entire process, from request to knowing whether it was accepted or rejected. This tracking system represents an important step in improving election transparency, which hopefully will increase public perception (and confidence) in the integrity of the absentee voting process.
“The electronic tracking system has now been used by thousands of Maine voters who had no idea of our fight for accessible electronic absentee ballots but who benefitted from our actions.”
We reached a settlement agreement prior to the November 2020 general election which provides the electronic alternative that we sought. Any registered voter with a print disability can now electronically request a fully accessible absentee ballot (for any reason), complete the ballot online and return it electronically to the Secretary of State. Most importantly, the entire end-to-end process can be done completely independently!
The quotes in this article were taken from another article about this process: “One Vote for Me, Many Votes for Mankind,” which has a detailed description of one plaintiff’s experience, and can be found here:
https://medium.com/@nicholas.giudice/one-vote-for-me-many-votes-for-mainekind-5a49cefe87f
Plaintiffs:
Lynn Merrill
Nicholas Giudice
Cheryl Peabody
Pauline Lamontagne
Announcement- Explore Hadley
Hadley Headlines: April 2024
- Hadley.edu is Now HadleyHelps.org
We are changing our web and email addresses from Hadley.edu to HadleyHelps.org. We needed to make this move as our scope has expanded beyond academics. During the transition, please know that emails from and links to Hadley.edu and HadleyHelps.org can be trusted.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick Series
Learn about the Amazon Fire TV stick’s built-in features that make using it easier with vision loss.
https://hadleyhelps.org/workshops/amazon-fire-tv-stick-series
- Tips for Guided Walking Series
No matter how well you get around on your own, there may be times when asking for help just makes sense. Learn tips to make walking with someone’s help more comfortable.
https://hadleyhelps.org/workshops/tips-for-guided-walking-series
- Discussion Groups
Learn from Hadley and others who share your interests in these live call-in sessions. April topics include: planting a scented garden, music apps and services, and kitchen safety.
Never miss a discussion group. Just select the “Get Alerts” button on a group’s page to receive email reminders and add it to your Hadley home page.
Announcement- Source for Veterinary Care Assistance
Robert Acosta, President, Helping Hands for the Blind
Dear Friends,
I am happy to say that our Veterinary Care Assistance Program is doing very well. All of our work with those needing emergency assistance is confidential.
We thank those schools like Guide Dogs of the Desert who are helping us spread the word about our service.
If you would like to see our guidelines, please write to Robert Acosta at: boacosta818@gmail.com.
Some people have asked us how to donate to this worthy program. If you wish to help us financially, please write to: www.helpinghands4theblind.net and go to our Paypal page.
We wish to thank those people who have already assisted us financially. As you can imagine, Veterinary care can be very expensive and we truly will do anything to help our wonderful guide dogs.
Announcement- GDUI member has YA contemporary novel published
Imperfections- by Annie Chiappetta (fiction novel © 2024)
About the book-
For Lainie, feeling unwelcome is only the beginning of her struggles. Her mom is addicted to painkillers, her stepfather is a felon, and her dad traded her in for a new family.
So what if she’s kicked out of high school? Determined and attractive, Lainie sets out to make her own path.
Shane, the young man she begins dating and believes is trustworthy, transforms into a possessive and cruel boyfriend. When Efren, Shane’s older cousin, enters her life, Lainie grasps onto a shred of hope, falling in love. Shane’s obsessive and abusive treatment of her, however, casts a deep shadow over Efren and Lainie’s chance to find safety and a future free of the fear of Shane’s sadistic retribution.
Will their love persevere, or will Shane’s pervasive and negative influence push Lainie and Efren apart, forcing them to love secretly?
Available from all eBook sellers in hard and soft cover print, Kindel and eBook
Amazon link- https://tinyurl.com/4m3ntcyn
Smashwords- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1531127
About the author- Ann Chiappetta, M.S. Poet and author
Ann’s award-winning poems, creative nonfiction, and essays have appeared internationally in literary journals, popular online blogs, and print anthologies. Her poems have been featured in The Avocet, the Pangolin Review, Plum Tree Tavern, Magnets and Ladders, Oprelle, Western PA Poetry Review 2024and Breath and Shadow. Ann’s short story, The Misty Torrent appeared in the Artificial Divide anthology published by Renaissance Press (2021).
Ann is the recipient of the 2019 GDUI Excellence in Writing award and the WDOMI 2016 Spirit of Independence award.
Independently published since 2016, the author’s six volume collection includes poetry, creative nonfiction essays, short stories and contemporary fiction.
Diagnosed in 1993 with a rare form of progressive retinal disease, Ann accepts vision loss as part of her life but doesn’t let it define her as a whole person.
Contact Ann by visiting her website- www.annchiappetta.com
subscribe to Ann’s blog www.thought-wheel.com
Poison Prevention Tips that Can Save Your Pet’s Life
PET HEALTH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Medication Safety & Pets
This Pet Poison Prevention Month, we share the story of Zoe, a 3-year-old miniature dachshund, who ingested a potentially lethal dose of 60 to 80 chewable aspirin tablets after opening a childproof container that had fallen from a desk.
The quick actions of her owner and prompt intervention by AMC were crucial to her survival. Zoe’s treatment included dialysis, a lifesaving procedure that rapidly removes toxins from the system.
@zoe_minidoxieinnyc
Zoe’s ordeal serves as a powerful reminder to store medications securely and out of reach of animal companions, as they are among the leading causes of pet poisoning each year. To learn more about protecting your pets, check out our infographic and visit our pet health library at the link below.
Medication Safety for Pets
Urban Hazards for Dogs
City living with dogs can be great, but we should all remember to take the correct precautions. In this week’s blog, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus describes hazards unique to living in the city that can impact the health of your dog. To learn the precautions you should take to avoid serious injury or illness in your pet, check out our blog at the link below.
Urban Hazards for Dogs
Upcoming Online Event!
Senior pets, much like their human counterparts, may face both physical and cognitive challenges as they grow older. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) is a degenerative condition that leads to a decline in brain function in aging pets, causing behavioral changes. Join us on Thursday, April 4th at 6PM ET as behavior experts from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Kate Anderson, board-certified veterinary behaviorist, and Dr. Pamela Perry, behavior consultant, share insights into how CDS affects dogs and cats and offer strategies to enhance the quality of life for senior pets. Although there is no cure for CDS, pet owners can work with their veterinarians to create a management plan to address behavioral changes and slow the progression of the disease.
This is a free, online-only event hosted via Zoom. The Zoom link will be emailed to all registered participants the day of the event. Please email UsdanInstitute@amcny.org with any questions.
Register for Cognitive Dysfunction in Senior Pets Webinar
Get Your Pet Questions Answered on ‘Ask the Vet’
In partnership with Sirius XM, Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s podcast ‘Ask the Vet’ is all about the pets we love and how to care for them. AMC Senior Veterinarian Dr. Ann Hohenhaus answers questions from pet parents, chats with leading animal experts, and talks about the most concerning issues for our furry friends.
Do you have questions about your pet? Email AskTheVet@amcny.org to have them answered on next month’s ‘Ask the Vet’!
Listen & Subscribe to ‘Ask the Vet’
Meet Addie!
Everyone, meet Addie! Addie is around 14 years old and was adopted by her owner over 3.5 years ago. She is a gentle, sweet, and quirky girl. Before her adoption, Addie was used to breeding and lived in a cage for 11 years. Her owner writes, “Addie loves the sun, lying in the grass, and snuggling next to me. I adore everything about her.”
If you would like to have your best friend featured in our newsletter, social media platforms, or website, please email us at UsdanInstitute@amcny.org and include your pet’s name, age, photo, and a brief message!
Submit a Photo of Your Pet
Explore the Usdan Institute
For access to pet health articles, upcoming events, video tutorials, and other pet parent educational resources, visit the Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education at www.amcny.org/usdaninstitute.
The Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center is the leading provider of pet health information. We aim to inform and empower pet owners and to share information with the public. With our staff of more than 130 doctors and the knowledge gained from over 110 years of experience, we are uniquely positioned to deliver the best and most up-to-date information for all your pet health needs.
If you have a question about pet health, we have the answer.
Questions about the Usdan Institute?
Email: usdaninstitute@amcny.org
Visit: www.amcny.org/usdaninstitute
Call: 212-329-8524
Schwarzman Animal Medical Center
510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10065
Appointments/Medical Questions: 212-838-8100
ACB Announcing the 2024 ACB Board of Publications Candidates Pages
The ACB Board of Publications is pleased to announce the 2024 Candidates Pages. We invite any ACB member who chooses to run for one of the five elected positions on our board of directors or the three elected positions on the ACB Board of Publications to introduce yourself, respond to the four questions provided below, and, if you wish, post links, separately, to related personal, professional, or social media web pages.
The deadline for all submissions is 11:59 p.m. Eastern, on Monday, May 20, 2024.
We plan to post the 2024 Candidates’ Pages on Monday, June 3, 2024.
We will make the 2024 Candidates’ Pages available on ACB’s Leadership and ACB-Conversation lists, in “Dots and Dashes,” on www.ACB.org, and on ACB Media Channel 10. There will be abundant opportunity to amplify your responses at the live Board of Publications Candidates’ Forum, scheduled for the evening of June 19, via personal correspondence and communications with members, and via any other forums or caucuses that may be scheduled in advance of and during the ACB conference and convention.
As you respond to the following questions, please keep these guidelines in mind:
Your response to each of the four questions listed below should not exceed 300 words (i.e., a maximum of 300 words to respond to question 1; a maximum of 300 more words to respond to question 2; etc.).
The ACB Board of Publications will not edit your responses for spelling or grammar. We will limit your word count to exactly 300 words.
Share links to external web pages separately. For example, you might say, “Visit these links to learn more about me.”
Send your submission by email, either pasted directly into your e-mail message or attached as a document formatted in Microsoft Word, to Sharon Lovering, slovering@acb.org. Identify the subject of your e-mail message as “My Candidates Page.”
Please respond to the following questions:
- Introduce yourself, and explain why you wish to serve as a director on the ACB Board of Directors or a member of the ACB Board of Publications.
- What have been your strongest contributions to ACB at the national, state or special-interest affiliate, ACB Community, and/or local chapter levels, and why are these significant?
- Like many not-for-profit, membership-driven organizations whose missions revolve around advocacy and support, ACB has chosen in recent years to adopt the core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). How does ACB’s stated mission of supporting people who are blind intersect with these core organizational values? If elected, what specific actions will you take to increase diversity, promote equity, encourage inclusion, and support accessibility within ACB, and how will you persuade members who are reluctant to embrace these principles to support DEIA as core ACB values?
- What is the most important challenge facing ACB? How will you work to address it?
Thank you, and good luck to all of you who choose to run for office. The future of ACB is in your hands.
Sharon Lovering, Editor
American Council of the Blind
225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 660
Alexandria, VA 22314
(202) 467-5081
Learn more about us at www.acb.org
Man banned ‘for life’ from all Buc-ee’s locations after bringing ‘service duck’ inside world’s largest store
Katlyn Brieskorn
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WFLA) — A trip to the world’s largest Buc-ee’s earlier this year ended with a “service duck” named Wrinkles and his owner getting banned “for life” from all locations.
The viral video, which was posted on the Wrinkle’s “SeDucktive” social media accounts, showed Justin Wood and his duck strolling around the Sevierville location.
In the video, an employee quickly walks up to the pair and tells them that pets are not allowed inside the store. Wood explains that Wrinkle is his service animal and shows the worker three forms of service animal certification. The employee allows them to stay in the store, where they are filmed interacting with other customers and looking at merchandise.
Minutes later, another employee walks up to Wrinkle and Wood and tells them the animal cannot be in the store.
“We are just shopping and experiencing the world’s largest Buc-ees,” Wood told the employee.
“You’re more than welcome to stay here but the animal cannot,” the worker said. “There’s no pets in here. Your animal — even if it’s considered a service animal — you have to be able to contain it and it can fly out. The animal just can’t be in here.”
The employee explained that service animals must be restrained or leashed and said that she was going to call the police after Wood mimed putting on a leash on Wrinkle.
At the end of the video, a police officer stops Wood as he is leaving and gives him a citation warning him against trespassing on any Buc-ee’s property.
“They’re requesting you be banned from the store,” the officer told Wood. “If you are caught on property and everything, you’ll be charged with trespassing.”
Buc-ee’s pet policy states the following:
“The Health Code prohibits live animals, including dogs, where food could potentially be contaminated. There are exceptions, however, for service animals and animals that work with police officers. For people with disabilities, specially trained service animals play an absolutely vital role. They make it possible for those with disabilities to work, travel, stay safe, and, in some cases, stay alive. By falsely claiming that your pet is a service animal, you are poisoning attitudes towards true service animals. In addition, if you enter a facility where an actual service animal is working, your untrained animal may jeopardize the safety of the service animal and its handler.”
Man and His Service Duck Banned From Buc-ee’s for Life and People Are Crying Foul
There’s a difference between therapy pets and service pets.
EVE VAWTERMAR 18, 2024 3:15 PM EDT
Justin Wood brought his service pet duck named Wrinkle the Duck into a Buc-ee’s store in Tennessee. Wrinkle was contained in a stroller for part of her visit, and at one point Wood let the duck simply follow him around the store.
He received conflicting information from Buc-ees employees while he was shopping, including that the store only allowed service dogs. A different employee told Wood that Wrinkle would be okay if she were kept on a leash. When Wood left the Buc-ees store a police officer was waiting for him.
ADVERTISING
People in the comments section are for sure on Team Wrinkle. It did seem like a lot of customers loved meeting her. One person commented, “I can’t believe they did that to you. Wrinkle was not hurting anyone or anything. She just brought smiles to peoples faces. I definitely won’t be visiting Bucees. I love you and wrinkle. Hopefully you have much better experiences on your adventures.” Another added, “How can one store ban someone from ALL locations? That doesn’t seem like something that a manager should even be able to do. And wasting the cops time over such a petty thing. Honestly that’s stupid. If the animal is contained, isn’t interrupting business, isn’t posing a health concern, isn’t destroying property or anything like that, why would it even matter?”
It does seem like the cops thought this entire situation was pretty absurd.
Recommended according to The New York Post, “
Buc-ee’s pet policy
says “The Health Code prohibits live animals, including dogs, where food could potentially be contaminated. There are exceptions, however, for service
animals and animals that work with police officers. For people with disabilities, specially trained service animals play an absolutely vital role. They
make it possible for those with disabilities to work, travel, stay safe, and, in some cases, stay alive.”
We aren’t sure whether Wrinkles is a therapy animal or a service animal, and there is an absolute difference.
The Difference Between Therapy Animals and Service Animals
Service animals are specifically trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities.
These tasks are directly related to the person’s disability.
Therapy animals provide emotional support, comfort, and companionship to people in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas. They are not specifically trained to perform certain tasks, but they are usually calm and well-behaved.
Announcement- From NLS
BARD Mobile Updates
BARD Mobile Android
NLS released BARD Mobile Android version 2.1.0, introducing enhanced features and improvements. Among the highlights:
- In-app search functionality – A fully supported in-app search function, including Music Collection search, for a more seamless experience.
- Spanish translation – The app can now be set so its text and audio are in Spanish. To switch to Spanish, select it as the default language in your device settings. The app’s visual and TalkBack interface will adjust.
- International language search option – Explore the new international language search option by choosing up to four languages in the app’s settings. Filter search results by selecting your preferred language.
o Navigate to: App’s Settings > User Account Settings > Language Preferences > Select up to four languages.
o When accessing Get Books – Search, you will have up to four languages based on your settings. Default languages are English and Spanish if no changes are made.
BARD Mobile iOS
NLS has released BARD Mobile iOS version 2.2.2 to the App Store. The enhancements included in this version are:
- Siri shortcuts (voice user interface) – The app can now be operated by voice commands for playback and navigation, including stopping and resuming playback, fast-forwarding and rewinding by various intervals, and setting a sleep timer or a bookmark. Users can add Siri shortcuts in the app’s settings.
- International language search – Set up to four languages in the app’s settings and then filter search results by selecting a preferred language.
- Accessibility improvements for visually impaired users – We have boosted color contrast between selected and unselected search categories. This update enhances visibility with Smart Invert, Classic Invert, and Dark Mode on.
Book Reviews/Recommendations
- Greetings from the Guide Dog Book Club Team!
We are pleased to announce the next book club presentation…
Mark Carlson, the human counterpoint to Musket, co-author of
Confessions of a Guide Dog: The Blonde Leading the Blind.
Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Zoom details to follow soon.
About the book- Have you ever wondered what a guide dog does? How do they know to lead a blind owner? Can they understand traffic lights? Most importantly, how does the owner know where to pick up the poop? This memoir answers these questions and more. It tells what guide dogs are supposed to do. They’re smart, loyal and well-trained but not all dogs are created alike. Musket is proof of that. He’s definitely got a thing for treats and belly rubs. For the first time, the dog has his say. Of course he needed a little help with the typing, since he doesn’t have opposable thumbs. That’s where author Mark Carlson came in. Still, Musket is the brains of the outfit.)
Mark and Musket tell their story with humor, emotion, and Musket’s occasional contradictions. And at the end of the day, Musket somehow manages to be a great guide dog too. Confessions of a Guide Dog was written so a wonderful, devoted dog could reach out to those who haven’t been lucky enough to meet him. He’ll make you smile, laugh, cry, and want to give him treats. This is their story. (And they’re sticking to it.)
About the Author- Mark Carlson is a witty writer, ravenous reader, historian, and author of nine books. He is a freelance writer and aviation historian. He is a member of several military, maritime, historical, and veteran organizations.
A contributing writer for over a dozen national magazines, his articles run the gamut of topics from aviation, military history, classic film and television, dogs, humor, and essays. He started by writing stories about his first Guide Dog, Musket, and later, about his work at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Carlson’s most recent project is preparing his next book for publication, When Yamamoto Ran Wild, the Pacific War from Pearl Harbor to Midway, to be released in the summer of 2024. He is currently writing the definitive account of the Lincoln Assassination, entitled Tyrannicide – The True Story of Booth and Lincoln. Carlson established FUNspeakable in 2009 and has given lectures for several local organizations, adult communities and schools.
Get a copy today of this award-winning book.
NLS BARD catalog #75126; approximate reading time ten hours (2011).
The book is also available from Amazon and Kindle:
Our members recommended this book, and we’re thrilled that Mark can join us!
To help keep us in touch and encourage conversations in the virtual world, we’ve created a new email listserv just for the Guide Dog Book Club community. That’s right, we have a listserv dedicated to our book discussions. Please check it out.
To subscribe to the list, send a blank email to
guidedogbookclub+subscribe@groups.io
Or request an invitation to be sent to your inbox by emailing
We can’t wait to share more information with you, so get those people-paws tapping on your computer or smartphone and sign up! We would also appreciate it if you could share this announcement with other guide dog handlers, puppy raisers, GDMIs, guide dog program staff, and family and friends who support the partnership between humans and guide dogs.
We appreciate you spreading the word. Everyone is welcome to join. Whether you’re a graduate, puppy raiser, or friend of the guide dog community, we’d love for all interested folks to be a part of this engaging group. We’re looking forward to another informative club discussion.
Please let us know if you have any questions. Until we chat again, happy reading and wagging,
Guiding Eyes Graduate Council
- From Jane-
The purest bond: understanding the human-canine connection. (DB118582)
Written & read by Jen Golbeck.
For many of us who’ve grown up with pets or spent many years loving & handling Guide Dogs (Dog guides) many of these short, clear chapters seem redundant. However, as life goes on, our dog with human relationships can, often do, grow deeper & positively stronger. I do not – I hope you do not – take these connecting bonds for granted.
Enjoy perusing these succinct reminders of how connections grow & adapt & matter.
NLS Annotation- “Dogs have been considered people’s best friend for thousands of years, but never has the relationship between humans and their canine companions been as vitally important as it is today. With all of the seismic shifts in today’s world, rates of anxiety and depression have been skyrocketing, and people have been turning to their dogs for solace and stability. Amidst these dire realities, something wonderful has taken shape. In the United States alone, dog adoptions doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people have brought furry friends into their lives for the first time or seized this opportunity to deepen the connections they already have, they are looking to understand how owning a dog can change their lives. Now, The Purest Bond explores the benefits our dogs can have on our physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being, often without our realizing it. Weaving together groundbreaking research and touching real-life stories, The Purest Bond explores not just the social benefits of owning a dog but the science of how dogs improve our emotional and physical health, mental acuity, and our ability to focus and absorb information. Most importantly, they remind us of what’s right in the world-love, trust, affection, playtime, fresh air, and sunshine-even when so much feels wrong.”
Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
- From Shirley Manning & Bonifay-
Hello All,
As I sit out classes and walks due to atmospheric rivers of rain here
in Southern California, I finished reading a book recently posted to
BARD. I will include one additional on cats by the same author that Ii have not read, just for fun. The book on dogs is narrated by one of my
favorites – Andy Pyle.
The author writes with a delightful wit and very keen understanding of
what he obviously carefully researched on dogs. I highly recommend
reading the appendices as they are a continuation of the story.
Enjoy, & Safe Travels
Dogs: a natural history DB66357
By Jake Page
Reading time: 6 hours, 29 minutes.
Read by Andy Pyle, A production of the National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Animals and Wildlife
NLS Annotation- Author of In the Hands of the Great Spirit: The 20,000-year History of
American Indians (RC 56097) traces sixty million years of canine
evolution. Discusses wild relatives such as wolves and the process of
domestication. Describes dog behavior, communication, and intelligence
and ponders the relationship between dogs and humans. 2007.
Do cats hear with their feet?: where cats come from, what we know
about them, and what they think about us DB69204
By Jake Page
Reading time: 6 hours, 21 minutes.
Read by Patrick Downer, A production of the National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
Animals and Wildlife
NLS Annotation- Science editor and cat owner discusses feline behavior, acute senses,
and relationships with humans. Reflects on humans’ attitudes toward
cats, specifically black ones. Appendices provide owners with
information about potential health problems in certain breeds and
cover the cat-food debate of soft versus dry. 2008.
Braille Forum Volume LXII • March 2024 • No. 9
ACB Women’s Committee Breast Cancer Support Group
Your life can change in a moment. In the “before” time, you could merely be coming in for your annual breast exam and just be sitting in the exam room, waiting to hear the results. Then a nurse appears to escort you to a different room.
“We’ve found something that looks suspicious in your left breast. To be more certain about it, we’ll need to do a biopsy.”
Just hearing the word “biopsy” starts you on an anxious journey of uncertainty and fear. And when you finally hear the words, “You have breast cancer,” you are fully aware that life will never be the same.
Thus begins your new life with cancer. In very short order, you’ll be introduced to a confusing medical vocabulary, multiple care providers, and asked to make challenging decisions about your health very quickly.
And because you are blind or have low vision, you’ll be navigating additional challenges. These could include inaccessible paperwork and patient portals and uninformed care providers, who know little or nothing about blindness.
At times like these, you may be able to rely on the support of family members, good friends and willing coworkers. In addition, a local cancer support group may be available to you. And yet, as a woman who is blind or has low vision, you are still undergoing a very unique experience.
You are invited to join a very special breast cancer support group, sponsored by the ACB Women’s Committee. Since December of 2008, our group has welcomed women who are blind or have low vision, at every stage of their breast cancer journey.
We meet for 90 minutes on the evening of the first Tuesday of each month. Since the beginning, the conversations have been led by the same two social work professionals, who, along with the participants, create a safe and confidential space for sharing your concerns and questions about cancer as well as life beyond cancer treatment.
And now, after 15 years, the group members have chosen to welcome blind women who have been diagnosed with any other gynecological cancers, including uterine, cervical and ovarian cancer, to join us. We want to share the support we have given and received with our sisters in this expanded community.
So, if you, or someone you know and love, has one of these diagnoses, please reach out to the group leaders for more details. They are:
Linda Porelle, lmporelle@gmail.com
Lori Scharff, lorischarff@gmail.com
Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU)
“Opening Doors to Independence and Opportunity”
Announcement- En-Vision America is Now Sponsoring New History Channel on Social Media
We’re excited to announce “TheGoodleDays,” brought to you by En-Vision America! Tune into the new History Channel and tell us what you think!
Watch TheGoodleDays on YouTube
Watch TheGoodleDays on TikTok
Watch TheGoodleDays on Instagram
Watch TheGoodleDays Facebook
En-Vision America, Inc.
825 4th St W
Palmetto, FL 34221-5013
Why does my dog follow me to the bathroom? (It’s not as weird as you think)
So what’s behind this canine behavior, and is it a bad thing? We looked into this funny phenomenon and what it means to your dog.
Read in PawTracks: https://apple.news/AaEapbuNbT1aVWmVJh9Z6Ug
Shared from Apple News
My dog follows me to the bathroom? (It’s not as weird as you think)
Your dog has a reason for this behavior
Gabrielle LaFrank
By Gabrielle LaFrank
February 10, 2024
A black and brown dog stands in a bathroom with their paws on the toilet
NewAfrica / Adobe Stock
If you’re wondering, “Why does my dog follow me to the bathroom?” — you’re certainly not alone. Most pet parents are used to having a four-legged shadow no matter what room in the house they’re in, but making eye contact with your dog while you’re on the pot can feel a little bit strange. So what’s behind this canine behavior, and is it a bad thing?
Contents
Why does my dog follow me to the bathroom?
What to do when your dog follows you to the bathroom
We’ve looked into this funny phenomenon and what it means to your dog, and it turns out that it’s not as strange as you think. Remember — your pup has a very different way of viewing the world, so while having company in the restroom may seem odd to you, your dog doesn’t think twice about it.
Why does my dog follow me to the bathroom?
Even though you often (if not every time) accompany your dog on their potty breaks, it’s not likely that your dog is returning the favor. In fact, your pup may have zero idea what you’re doing on the porcelain throne, even if they do seem curious about any smells or sounds. After all, dogs’ noses and ears are exponentially more sensitive than humans’, so it’s only natural if they pick up on something going on. But, odds are, that’s not why they followed you there.
Your dog feels attached to you and wants to go where you go
Many dogs enjoy being around their people, no matter what room they’re in. Think about it — if your dog follows you from the bedroom to the living room, why wouldn’t they follow you to the bathroom? Dogs have no sense of privacy in the same way people do, so they don’t know that restrooms are normally meant for one.
Your dog may be dealing with separation anxiety
Sometimes, though, a dog’s following can be a little too much. If your dog seems desperate to be with you at all times, they could be dealing with a case of separation anxiety. When this happens, a dog becomes especially distressed when away from their owner, so they may scratch at the bathroom door or demand to follow you inside. Whether that works for you is up to you.
It’s time for a walk, meal, or playtime
Sometimes, your dog wants your attention for a reason. Maybe it’s time for dinner, or you’re a bit late for your daily walk — your four-legged friend will be sure to let you know. In this case, your dog may not lie down on the bathroom floor and mind their own business. They’ll probably be waiting for you eagerly, which could result in an impatient doggie during longer restroom visits.
Your pup is curious or bored
Sometimes, it’s as simple as curiosity or boredom. Your dog might be interested in the sounds and smells coming from the bathroom, or they may just be looking for something to do.
What to do when your dog follows you to the bathroom
If you don’t mind the company, you don’t need to do anything at all. Some dogs will simply curl up on the floor until it’s time to follow you to the next room, but other pups may try to sit on your lap, bring you a toy, or get into trouble in the bathroom. If this is the case, you may consider changing things up.
Closing the door is enough to give some pet parents privacy, but for dogs with separation anxiety, this can take time. Be sure not to reward the behavior by giving your dog attention when they follow you to the bathroom. This is when obedience training can come in handy, too. Using a command like “stay” followed by a motivating reward can be a wonderful training tool.
Now that you know why your dog follows you to the bathroom, you can make the best decisions for you and your pet. Whether you mind the company, you deserve to do your business in peace.
Why does my dog smell like Fritos? It’s weird, but there could be an underlying health issue
Why your dog’s feet smell like corn chips and what to do
BethAnn Mayer
By BethAnn Mayer
February 8, 2024
A dog’s nose knows. Dogs’ noses have more than 300,000 olfactory receptors, making them a powerful tool for canines as they explore their world. The nose is also an indicator of health. Yet, what if your nose picks up a smell that seems suspicious? Specifically, you may be wondering, “Why does my dog smell like Fritos?”
Contents
Why does my dog smell like Fritos?
Should I be concerned if my dog’s feet smell like Fritos?
How to care for your dog’s paws
Takeaway
If you had some corn chips recently and shared them with your dog (or they helped themselves), there’s your answer. However, perhaps you’re more of a Cheetos kind of person or prefer to get your crunchy fix with something sweet, like fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. The answer is less obvious. You may smell a trip to the vet coming. Are your instincts on track? Maybe. Here’s why your dog’s paws might smell like Fritos and what to do about it.
Why does my dog smell like Fritos?
It’s actually common for your dog’s paws to smell like Fritos. A pup’s paws were made for walking, and they can pick up fungi like pseudomonas and proteus. These bacteria can be found on the skin of many canines and other animals. Proteus produces a compound called putrescine, which can often cause their paw pads to smell like Fritos. The areas between the toes can be the smelliest.
Bacteria thrive in moist environments, and a pet’s paws often fit that bill, and not just if they’ve recently taken a stroll in just-watered grass or the ground as the frost thaws. Dogs use their paw pads to sweat — panting isn’t the only way pups cool off. Breeds with more skin folds and heavy, natural fur coats are bigger moisture magnets and are more likely to have paws that smell like corn chips.
These breeds include:
Bulldogs
Pugs
Golden retrievers
Saint Bernards
Sometimes, food allergies can exacerbate paw issues, too.
Should I be concerned if my dog’s feet smell like Fritos?
Not necessarily. While “Bacteria” sounds scary, dogs with paws that smell strangely like a favorite game-day snack like Fritos are often just fine. However, the microorganisms can multiply and cause a variety of issues, including pain and infections. You’ll want to get the vet on the line any time you’re concerned. However, you’ll definitely want to get a call into the vet if your dog’s Frito-smelling paws combine with any of the below symptoms:
Redness
Signs of pain, such as limping or yelping
Licking
Bumps on the paws
If you take your pup to the vet, the doctor will test the yeast to determine the cause. If the cause is proteus, the vet might:
Run additional tests, such as for food allergies
Prescribe medicated topical treatments like sprays, shampoos, or wipes
Switch your dog’s diet to a specialized one to eliminate allergens
How to care for your dog’s paws
Prevention is the best medicine — cliche but true. Though you can’t control every aspect of your dog’s risk factors for proteus, such as breed, you can take some steps to ensure your pup’s paws are well cared for. Some of these steps will also flag paw issues before they get worse and lead to pain and infections. Unfortunately, pet parents don’t always notice a dog is having paw problems until the pup is in pain or limping. Proper paw care includes:
Regular inspection of paws. Take a look at your dog’s paw pads, including the area between the toes, daily as you cuddle to inspect for any issues.
Clip nails. Regular clipping can prevent pain and give bacteria less room to grow.
Wipe paws. Wipe and dry a dog’s paws after water exposure, including baths. Since bacteria thrive in moist environments, this step can help ward off these pesky microorganisms.
Takeaway
Surprisingly, dogs’ paws can sometimes smell like Fritos. The occurrence is common and typically normal. Frito-smelling paws don’t indicate your dog has a severe health issue. However, occasionally, this scent is a signal to call a vet. Typically, Frito-smelling paw pads are the result of bacteria. Bacteria thrive in moist environments, like paws, which your dog uses to sweat and step on wet grounds.
The smell is most common between toes, with less air circulation. Though not always the case, a dog with paws that smell like Fritos could have an infection. You’ll want to call the vet if you’re concerned, especially if the dog is excessively licking the area, limping, or has bumps or redness on their paws. Regular inspection of a pet’s paws, clipping nails, and wiping wet feet can prevent bacteria from growing and help you get your furry friend the help they need sooner.
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IMPORTANT Editor’s note- announcements and articles, for GDUI- News You Can Use, are culled from a variety of sources; Hence inclusion herein does not imply GDUI endorses, supports or verifies their contents. Information, ideas, or expressed opinions are not advice, therefore should not be treated as such. Factual errors are the responsibility of the listed source.
Sincerely,
Sarah Calhoun, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
Andrea Giudice, Editor
Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder
Paws for GDUI News You Can Use
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