[Mt-blind] KAYLA'S PROJECT

[Bernice DeHaas]

I, too, have been following the "conversation" about this project, but feel 
that perhaps there is a more important point than the puppy that will 
receive its initial training as a service animal.  The primary objective of 
this project as I see it is to educate a student.  Kayla is a blind college 
student at Carroll College.  The MAB has long been supportive of its young 
people, as evidenced by the yearly scholarships given out as well as other 
projects over the years.  As far as I know, Kayla has not asked the MAB 
itself for assistance but would appreciate help from our individual members. 
We will include a note about this in the upcoming Observer.

Bernice DeHaas

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Marks" <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
To: "'Montana Association for the Blind List'" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] KAYLA'S PROJECT


>I think the Carroll College project that Kayla is involved in limits itself
> to razing puppies before they go into formal training.  As others pointed
> out, there are several service dog training programs in Montana.  These
> programs are very small and are nothing like the guide dog schools most of
> us are familiar with.  Oftentimes, the local training programs consist of 
> a
> general animal trainer doing a program for one or two animal and people
> teams at a time.  Also, some people with disabilities train their own
> animals.  This is legitimate, although there is better credibility when
> animals are trained by people who know what they are doing.  The real 
> proof
> comes down to how the animal behaves, not in the process that led to the
> ultimate outcomes.  The state law that protects guide dogs also provides
> protections for service dogs for people with physical disabilities and for
> hearing dogs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.  There are no 
> state
> protections for disability companion animals, such as animals that provide
> comfort for people with mental illnesses.  However, the Americans with
> Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which are
> federal civil rights laws, require reasonable program modifications and
> accommodations for companion animals.  There certainly is an issue about 
> the
> vagueness of these animals, and guide dog users often get tagged with the
> fall out from others abusing the right to use service and companion 
> animals.
> We all remember the companion pig who went berserk on an airline flight a
> few years ago.  At the same time, these animals do provide a valid service
> to many, and in general terms, people with disabilities ought to have the
> right to use legitimate service and companion animals.  Lastly, as others
> said, this is not really an issue under consideration by the MAB or NFB, 
> but
> it's still on topic for MT-Blind because it affects those of us who use
> guide dogs.  Good discussion, BTW!
>
>
> Jim Marks
> blind.grizzly at GMail.com
>
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