From: Kristopher.Roberts@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Kristopher Roberts)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: GUIDE DOG BLUES
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:10:56 GMT
Reply-To: Kristopher.Roberts@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:203/11
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23784

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Yes, I am a member of NFB also, though I am not blind, just an
interested supporter.  When I called the CA state office of NFB and
explained the situation about being refused reservations on Cape
Cod because of the guide dog, the president said "That is against
the law, they can't refuse you".  I told her "I KNOW what the law
is, and my travel agent informed BOTH motels of the law, one lady
even KNEW the law before it was explained, but both STILL refused
us, what should I do".

The president of NFB told me "Don't tell them you have a guide
dog".  Well, DUH, I already figured that one out.  So I asked her,
well what do we do if we are out looking for a motel at 9 or so at
night, and are being refused because of the guide dog.   At this
point, the NFB president was getting rather abrupt and had a rude
tone of voice, and like I was wasting her time said "Call the Mass.
NFB".  At this point, I did not want to argue with her,    I was so
upset, so I simple said goodbye and hung up.  Right, like there
will be someone in the NFB office in Mass. at 9 at night to help
us.  So what happens, we get stuck on the street sleeping in the
car because no motel will take a guide dog.

Now, if I was the president or public rep for NFB (An organization
which I THOUGHT was supposed to lobby for blind people's rights) I
would have asked for the names of the motels, and contacted the
Mass. NFB myself.  Or at least, I would have offered the Mass. NFB
phone number, or someone else to contact about this.  But no, all
she cared about was telling me "It's against the law to refuse a
guide dog" and then got rude with me for wanting to know where to
go to get help.  If NFB is supposed to be so gung-ho in lobbying
for blind people's rights, they sure aren't doing a damn bit of
good for the little guys out here.

Needless to say, I am seriously considering discountinuing my
support for NFB.  I don't know if it is just that our local chapter
is a sit on their behind do nothing group, or if the whole NFB is
like this.  They are always re-electing the SAME pres. and
vice-pres, and I think they seriously need some new young blood to
get out there and fight for the little people.  From what I have
seen of our chapter, all they care about is organizing a couple
fund raisers a year for the local chapter, and sending people to
the NFB conventions, and having their socials or dinners at
extremely high priced establishments where the majority of
low-income or unemployeed blind individuals can not even hope to
afford.  Basicly our local chapter is a bunch of rich "Elite"
blinks who do nothing to help the little guy or average blind
person.  I sincerely hope that ALL NFB chapters are not this way.

It is sad, because my friend Vixen and I are taking a 10 day trip
to New England and I thought it would be very nice to spend one
night in an expensive motel on the tip of Cape Cod overlooking the
ocean.  Because of the flat out disregard for guide dog laws, I was
robbed of the chance to enjoy a nice stay at Cape Cod (All the
other affordable motels are full up, these were the only two I
could find vacancies in).

The other part that disgusts me is that triple A was 100%
supportive, and tried their darndest to get us into a motel.  They
are filing complaints against the motel, and helping me file a
complaint also.  But NFB, who I thought was there to fight for
blind people's rights, couldn't care less that we were denied a
reservation at TWO different motels because of a guide dog, and
they offered no help in fighting the matter what so ever.  It is
sad when some individuals can totally ignore the law and refuse our
stay in their establishment and get away with it.  Not to mention,
ruin a special night on the cape simply because one occupant is
disabled and has a guide dog.

While I plan to make a complaint to anynoe and everyone that I can,
in addition to writing a not very nice letter to each motel, the
fact is, our plans to stay on the Cape have been ruined, and the
motel operators are being allowed to get away with breaking the
law!  Yes, I am pissed!  Imagine if a couple were celebrating their
50th wedding aniversary and wanted to live it up in a nice
oceanfront motel on Cape Cod.  They had planned this for a long
time, and it was to be a very romantic and special night for them.
BUT, they were deprived of enjoying such a simple celebration
because one of them had a guide dog.  That stinks!  And even
thought there are laws to protect guide dog users, obviously, they
don't work, and no one is there to help fight for their rights.

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