[nabs-l] NFB training centers and guide dogs

[Martha Harris]

Hi Kirt,
I attended BLIND, Inc. last year with my lab Dee. I'm not sure if my info is 
right, but I think at CCB you are allowed to have the dog for four hours and 
the cane for the other four. At BLIND, Inc. I was allowed to work her to and 
from the center as well as at lunch and the breaks, but she was crated 
during classes. If you get a dog before you attend training, I'd suggest 
practicing leaving your dog alone where you live now, because it will help 
when the dog is separated from you. For the first day or two, she whined 
sometimes, but she got used to the routine. Before I went, I was strongly 
considering not going to an NFB center because of the dog policy. I was 
afraid my dog would lose her skills and not be useful to me anymore. That 
did not happen. Working in the city was a great environment for her. As long 
as you go places after school, the dog can get enough work. We always had to 
go grocery shopping or to the bank, or we spent time going to dinner, 
hiking, whatever activity you find enjoyable, and you have the dog all 
weekend. If you are there during convention time, you can work your guide 
there as well. What other questions do you have about guide dogs at NFB 
centers?
Also, when it is your time, like when you travel and are not going to 
convention, center activities, or staying in the town where the center is, I 
think you can use whatever cane you want. On one of the breaks from 
training, I flew to Pennsylvania to see friends, and I worked my guide dog 
and had a telescoping cane in my bag. Oh, a tip for training, it is always a 
good idea to carry a telescoping or folding cane because you never know when 
your straight cane will break. Mine broke when we did a center activity 
going to the Minnesota state fair, and it is no fun to be stranded.

HTH,
Martha

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Kirt Manwaring" <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 5:22 PM
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [nabs-l] NFB training centers and guide dogs

> Dear list,
>  I'm thinking of attending the CCB sometime soon.  I'm also going to
> try out using a guide dog and, if I find it beneficial, will probably
> go through the process of getting one.  So my question is this.  Is it
> ok to bring a guide dog to an NFB training center?  I mean, I know
> that during my official day-time lessons I'd just need to use a
> cane-and I'm fine with that.  I think the worst thing I could do, if I
> get a guide dog, is let my cane skills slip.  But would there be any
> problems, aside from logistics I'd have to work out, with bringing a
> guide dog to a training center?  Anyone done it?
>  Warmest regards,
> Kirt
>
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