A note from Elphabas handler: {TLDR version: I incorrectly identified 120 hours of training as a law when it is actually a nationally recognized as a guideline. It is a suggestion, and not a law. Im doing some fact checking and getting some resources/further reading available for those people who are interested in learning more about the federal law as well as the laws in individual states, but I do not have everything ready just yet. However, I do not want to much time to lapse between the error that I made and the full correction an explanation. The short version is I made an error, it was inappropriate of me to share that story while I was still in such an emotional state, and it was inappropriate of me not to fact check. For all of those things, I apologize and wanted to apologize and clear the air without any further delay. Specific information to address the non-government oversight organizations, my municipality, and federal law will be posted tomorrow (or tonight if Im lucky, focused, and seizure-free). The full dictated placeholder detailing what, precisely, Im getting together to address as much of this as possible. I am in process of compiling some sources and writing up a very long post that will come up tonight or tomorrow morning. However, while Im still working on it I wanted to come and make the following statement: some of the information that I shared about training standards for service dogs was incorrect. I was wrong about, specifically, The number of hours that are required, and about what is required en whole, even more specifically what is required versus what is a guideline. In my own training, I have always erred on the side of the stricter guidelines. Its something that I believe in for the safety of myself, the safety of my dog, and the safety of the community. Additionally, I was incredibly upset last night, and I stated somethings that are administrative codes in Washington, but do not apply to other states. The cards that we have posted in the past and which we use for time-saving and educational purposes in my local community contain the only federal laws, as well as some information on how to contact the Department of Justice or to read the Americans with Disabilities Act, specifically those sections pertaining to the use of service animals. The information on the number of required hours training was presented to me when I was learning as fact, however I was negligent in accepting that as fact and repeating it without checking sources first. I was also emotional, exhausted, and incredibly upset last night; none of those things excuse the fact that I shared incorrect information, as I want my dogs page to be a place for us to educate each other. That means teaching me, too. I dont know everything, which is why I frequently have to go find answers and return to questions. When I say thank you to the people who have corrected me, especially with regard to the difference between an administrative codes bearing as opposed to a state or federal law, I want you to know that I am not being facetious; I am genuinely grateful for the dialogue and opportunity to learn more, for me and for everyone who has supported Elphie and I in her training. I am making this post specifically because I expected to have my longer post (including the citation of The WACs I was referring to versus the Americans With Disabilities Act and with regard to service training organizations guidelines versus the actual text of the laws overseeing us) up by this point. Unfortunately, as a person with a brain injury, I can only work on the computer in limited spurts of time. Those of you who have been with us for a long time are aware that my injuries are extensive, and they impact nearly every area of my life. As such, I have not been able to get the entire thing drafted, much less cited and proofread, and super much less then having it reviewed by the people in my legally-focused service dog group. I really want to make sure that Im getting everything absolutely correct. I dont want anyone to think for a minute that I would put out false information and then not come back and correct it publicly. That is not the person I am. If there are errors in this post, I apologize – I am using dictation software because I am all computered out! Even so, I still want the people who had questions (and those who shared information and corrections with me) to know that I am neither hiding from this issue nor dropping the ball on it. In my furiously emotional state, I failed to complete even a basic proofreading - or to check, cite, and explain when I was referencing guidelines I follow myself, guidelines widely accepted and followed in my municipalities, and actual laws. Not only did I poorly explain, but I also was unaware that a minimum 120 hours of training was not a law. It was presented to me as a law in a classroom about two years ago, and I was wrong to parrot or disseminate that without thoroughly researching it myself. We will be following up on all of this after Ive rested from excessive screen usage; I will not leave so gross an error standing. You can count on that! And, finally, thank you to all of our friends and followers who continue to stick with us through all of our successes, mistakes, and outright failures. Elphaba is the first service dog who Ive ever worked with in public (I was homebound when working with my previous dog, and she was never fully trained since I couldnt go anywhere anyway!), and if ever my inexperience or wording leaves you questioning something - or of I say something that is flat-out wrong - I encourage you to tell me. If I have accepted something that is incorrect as a fact and I go on to share it, ultimately service teams will suffer. I try to check my information, Yesterday I fail and I am sorry. I will never be mad at someone who corrects me, so dont be shy.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 03:20:54 +0000