[blindkid] Guide dogs for twelve year olds?
Albert J Rizzi
albert at myblindspot.org
Wed Jan 20 23:58:05 UTC 2010
Thousand of hours go into a Childs life and if money is a factor I would
guess millions were invested as well. A mature child of any years, with
proper canes skills will most probably be able to care for any dog
regardless of how much money or time went into said dog. What price freedom
and independence for our young leaders. Please, know money should be no
object when providing our child with all the options they need to succeed
and rise above any and all obstacles least of all ones put in front of
them by people thinking them bot ready to be independent.
Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York 10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."
Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Heather
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 12:58 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Guide dogs for twelve year olds?
One thing to consider is that, yes, it would be easy for them to get
themselves in too far at twelve, much more likely than with an adult, and
finding themselves in too far is not just about mommy or daddy having to
cleen up an accident or feed the dog when the child forgets, we are talking
about a dog that thousands and thousands of hours of time, energy and love
have been put into, as well as thirty to fifty thousand dollars. That is
not something you gambel with. If a child neglects a pet dog or does not
use it to full potential, then "Ah well, it is being cared for by the
parents, it has been rescued from a shelter and it is providing
companionship to the various famioly members." but when we are talkking
about potentially wasting a valuable resource on something that might even
wind up being detremental to the dog, that is another story. On another
note, regarding the cane travel. Good for you, and kudos to your daughter.
It is horifying to hear of O and M instructors denying children canes. That
is absolutely rediculous and detremental. My son is seventeen months, and
although he does not use a cane, we will work on incorperating one into his
outdoor travel, once the weather gets nicer. At this point he is only doing
indoor travel in our homme and those of our friends, because the snow is up
to my hip outside, but when it is nicer, he can go on walks with us and
practice cane travel then. The only thing I would caussion parents to be
mindful of, is pushing a cane on a toddler for too much time per day. i
don't believe that fifteen or sixteen months is too early, just that it is
important that children learn to navigate cane free in familiar areas like
their homes. No blind adults use canes in their homes, and the really
compitant ones can run all over the place in their house, not appearing
blind in their movements to those who doo not know that they are blind. For
instance, if they work in a small office as adults, it is not unreasonable
to expect that they be able to walk to the next office down the hall, make
coppies on the coppier and then walk down to one more office to deliver the
papers. Or, if they are teaching in a school, they should be able to travel
caneless from their class room to another nearby classroom, if need be. I
completely understand where you're coming from on the cane thing, and I
applaud you, as I have seen some of the assanine literature that is actually
used to teach some O and M instructors about what is "best" for blind
children. It is great to see a parent so confident in their child, who
holds them to normal standards and doesn't blindly take everything that
blindness "professionals" say as gospil. That being said, I know some
amazing TVIs and O and M instructors who are able to foster outstanding cane
skills in young children and preserve the importance of them developing
confident, graceful, cane-free movement in other appropriate situations, as
well.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Guide dogs for twelve year olds?
I can see both sides of this issue but I have to agree with Albert.
Certainly it would be possible for a younger child to find himself or
herself "in too far" in having to care for and deal with a guide dog.
Indeed that would be possible for a 16 or 18 year old, or dare I
suggest an older adult as well?
With that said, I have heard of many things that my blind daughter
would supposedly not be "ready" for, including having a cane for
travel. That did not stop her from having a cane at 18 months and if I
had it to do over again, all I would do is not delay until she was
that old. Some kids at my daughter's current age (seven) still have no
canes or if they have them, have little motivation and encouragement
to use them. That doesn't mean MY child cannot become an outstanding
cane traveler at an early age.
Not long ago, O&M "experts" nearly always wanted to keep canes out of
blind kids hands until, what, middle school or even later? I also know
of cases where they would bring a cane for an O&M lesson and then
leave WITH THE CANE. Again, presumably because the kids "weren't
ready" to be independent cane travelers. You are supposed to be a
proficient cane traveler before you can travel with a guide dog. When
kids used to get canes much later, that could have come into play more
but it is very possible for a 12-year-old to be an expert cane
traveler now. Such a child could have been using a cane for 10 years
or more by age 12 after all...
My daughter is above grade level with her reading and writing braille.
Some of her blind friends at the same age are not so fortunate (while
others are). We decided early on to make every effort to keep her
"caught up" with her sighted classmates (if not ahead). Some other
parents don't feel this is so important, even if there is no reason
(besides vision issues) which should hold the child back. So, who is
"right"?
Well, I clearly have an opinion about what is right for MY child. It
really isn't my place to say what is the correct choice for others. So
here is my point-- I cannot say yet if my daughter would possibly be
ready to consider guide dog use and ownership 5 years from now (at age
12), but I can say with some certainty that just because others are
not ready would not mean that she could not possibly be so.
Can children possibly be mature enough to be in charge of the care for
an animal before age 16? I would say "yes, in some cases, absolutely".
(Who would disagree?) And clearly some kids are excellent cane
travelers before 16. So then why would we close the door to the
possibility?
Is this a good idea for all kids in the age range of 12? I suspect it
is not. besides, guide dogs are not for everyone-- not even all blind
adults. Still, I for one would vote for more investigation into this
before we begin to campaign against it. We need to be the trend
setters for open-minded thought where our kids are concerned. If this
is possible and beneficial for even one of our kids, let's find a way
to make it (safely) happen.
Richard
On Jan 20, 2010, at 10:09 AM, Albert J Rizzi wrote:
> Here here! Wy set the bar low when in fact a child of 12 years or 13
> years
> has the capacity and maturity to handle the responsibility? Isn't it our
> responsibility to give all children those tools they need based upon
> their
> individual abilities to achieve all things possible in their lives. I do
> not
> see the reason for nor the reluctance to allow any teenager an
> opportunity
> to exercise their choice for mobility and that it include a guide dog.
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York 10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
> is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid- bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Doreen Frappier
> Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 9:40 AM
> To: (for parents of blind children)NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Guide dogs for twelve year olds?
>
> I am not opposed to having responsible 12 year olds own and care for a
> guide
> dog. I believe that children mature at different rates. For example, 4-H
> children own and care for animals (on their own) at very young ages.
> They
> are responsible for feeding and caring for that animal. One of my
> children,
> (sighted) is 13, and has been the sole trainer of a dog since she was 9
> years old. She has won many awards and competitions with her dog,
> including
> adult dog shows. She is responsible for feeding and caring for that dog.
> When the dog gets her check ups at the vet, she comes to the vets office.
> It's true, a young person can not take care of the expenses of a guide
> dog,
> but I am all for training teaching blind children to be independent as
> early
> as possible. I think each situation is different. I am not aware of
> everything that goes into caring for and owning a guide dog, but I think
> some children are capable and should not be excluded because of
> age.
>
> Doreen
>
> --- On Wed, 1/20/10, Heather <craney07 at rochester.rr.com> wrote:
>
> From: Heather <craney07 at rochester.rr.com>
> Subject: [blindkid] Guide dogs for twelve year olds?
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 7:22 AM
>
> I just wanted to get some feedback on this from some parents of blind
> children and teens. I, personally, was absolutely apalled to hear that a
> local guide dog school, not mentioning names *coughs* Freedom guide Dogs
> *Coughs* has preposed a program to place guide dogs with twelve year
> olds.
> All of the other schools in the US accept teens no younger than sixteen
> or
> eighteen years of age, depending on the school, but twelve? I am happy
> to
> note that at present, no O and M instructors, parents or twelve year olds
> have contacted the school to enquire about this program, but I am
> dreading
> the day. This makes a mockery of those exceptional blind teens who are,
> at
> sixteen or seventeen, responsible enough, committed enough and have
> demanding enough schedules to properly care for, utalize and actually
> need a
> guide dog. At what age would you consider supporting your teen in
> researching guide dog schools? At what age would you support them
> actually
> submitting applications? How old would you want your teen to be before
> actually being placed with a guide dog? Do you think that you would have
> the blunt honesty to deny your support of your child getting a dog guide,
> if
> they were not emotionally, mentally, etc capable of utalizing a guide
> dog,
> at that time in their life? Do you think that you could restrain
> yourself
> from taking care of the dog, interacting with the dog, or doing things
> that
> would undermine the ownership of the dog by your blind teen,
> acknowledging
> their sole ownership and responsibility for the dog, even if you, as
> their
> mother or father still have all other rule-making power in the house-
> hold?
> Finally, would you ever, honestly let your twelve year old apply for a
> guide
> dog? I just felt this should be brought to the list's attention. Just
> me
> personally, I would not encourage my blind teen to start researching
> guide
> dog schools until age fourteen or fifteen, and I would not
> allow them to apply to schools until they were at least fifteen, and that
> is assuming that they are emotionally ready to deal with the demands of a
> guide dog, such as handeling an emergency vet situation, mentally able to
> care for the dog, such as, researching and selecting safe toys, effective
> medications and appropriate foods, mature enough to deal with the social
> implications, such as access issues, and that they actually had a need,
> not
> just a want for a guide dog, due to a challenging travel area or complex
> and
> demanding schedule of activities and classes. Please share your
> thoughts.
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