[Blindtlk] NFB Guide Dog School, A Possible Scenario

Fri Mar 22 02:18:49 UTC 2013

I'll echo what Cindysaid.  There isno way I would give up that 
much time for mobility training I already had purely for the 
purpose of getting a dog.  ZPeter said, I would go somewhere else 
straightaway.

Kelby

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:56:01 -0400
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] NFB Guide Dog School, A Possible Scenario

When the NFB centers were started, many years ago, there was a 
real lack of
quality training for blind people.  I don't really think that's 
the case
with guide schools.  There are some schools which do things 
differently from
others.  But, there are people who prefer one approach over 
another.  I
don't really think that NFB needs to get involved with guide dog 
training.

As for Peter's suggestion that students would go through the nine 
month NFB
center training, first, this will severely limit the number of 
people
choosing to have training from an NFB guide dog school, should 
one be
started.  I don't know to many people who can give up a year of 
their life
to get a guide dog.

Cindy

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Donahue
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:25 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] NFB Guide Dog School, A Possible Scenario

Good afternoon Julie and everyone,
    Julie and I have had many conversations on this issue in the 
past so she
knows where I'm coming from.  In line with her comments below I'd 
like to
suggest a possible scenario for an NFB-run guide dog program:

        Since we all ready have three orientation and adjustment 
centers for
blind adults and youth there would be no need for a facility for 
housing
students in training to be constructed.  Hold on folks.  Students 
wishing to
obtain a guide dog from the NFB's program would be required to 
complete the
6-9 month program at one of the centers.  During the student's 
"Bootcamp
training" the center has an opportunity to come to know the 
student
inside-out and will be able to furnish lots of background 
information on the
applicant to the guide dog unit.  Unlike current guide dog 
programs that must
rely on references and other information that may be true or 
false the NFB
guide dog program will have all ready had accurate information 
gathered for
them by the training center and can be assured that the applicant 
is a
suitable candidate for a dog.

    This approach will also assure the guide dog program that the 
student is
up-to-par with their cane skills and is capable of transferring 
them to the
use of a dog.  Students that successfully complete the cane 
travel component
of their immersion training would be eligible to receive a dog.  
This
approach would also permit students receiving a dog to complete 
other
aspects of their immersion training minimizing the wasted time 
students
often experience when at guide dog training facilities.

    Students undergoing guide dog instruction would be required 
to wear
sleep shades as they do when taking other center classes and 
participating
in designated center activities.  Like students who undergo cane 
travel
instruction at our centers those training with dogs would be 
encouraged to
travel on their own prior to completion of the training.  In the 
beginning
they could be accompanied by an experienced guide dog 
user/trainer but would
be expected to travel and complete "Monster Routes" entirely on 
their own
using their dogs.

    As for the dog component of the operation I imagine it would 
operate
similar to those of current guide dog programs.  The program 
would operate
its own breeding component or obtain suitable dogs from 
donations.  The usual
period of socialization and puppy raising wouldn't be that much 
different
than is done by current guide dog programs.  The dogs would 
return for a
period of training when they're taught how to guide a blind 
person.  Once the
dogs are ready to be pared with their future blind owner they 
along with an
instructor would be sent to the center where the student 
receiving the dog
will be trained.  Alternatively the NFB guide dog program could 
operate from
one of our centers.  Those wishing to obtain dogs once their 
"Bootcamp"
training is complete would transfer to that center for training 
with the
dog.  Using all ready existing facilities to house students in 
training is
one way to reduce the cost of training guide dogs.

    The above is just one possible scenario of how an NFB-run 
guide dog
program could work but I'm sure others would have additional 
ideas.  If it's
to happen at all the discussion must continue at a cost of 0 to
participants.  All the best.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 8:08 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Canes and Dogs, the In-House Checkup

I think the answer to protecting the dogs is two fold.  First I 
would
like to see a more in depth background investigation of the blind
applicant.  Do a criminal background check, require more 
references, ask
the neighbors...whatever it takes.  Adoption agencies place 
children
into homes surely we can figure out a way to more accurately know 
what
sort of situation the dog will be placed into.  Secondly, I think 
there
are already agencies in place for dealing with animal abuse, the 
police
and animal control.  I don't see any reason why these agencies 
can't be
used in cases of neglect or abuse.

In regard to cost and the blind applicant absorbing the cost of 
the dog
in order to own the dog outright is an extremely valid point.  We 
have
to stop expecting everything for nothing.  I like the Seeing 
Eye's
concept of charging the student.  I do wish that the cost had 
increased
over the years with the cost of living.  It has been $150 since 
the
beginning of the school in 1928.  I think that's the right year.  
$150
was a very different sum of money then and now.

I also think that guide dogs can be raised and trained for 
substantially
lower sums of money than $60,000.  If you look at the various 
guide dog
programs and how much each claims it costs to train a dog, the 
numbers
vary widely.  All those buildings, fancy food, excessive 
equipment and
other niceties cost money.

Julie

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