[nabs-l] NFB training centers and guide dogs

[Jedi]

Kirt,

How on Earth do you figure you'll be able to attend CCB if you are 
having a hard enough time getting a 6-week window open for guide dog 
training? You do realize that CCB training takes six to nine months, right?

But here's the other thing. You can get a guide dog at just about any 
time in your life, but annecdotal experience from a lot of folks 
suggests that major transition points (like from high school to college 
or from college to work) are the best times to do blindness training. 
So yeah, i'd focus on that blindness training first. Just my thoughts.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> To all,
>   Thanks for the thoughts and info.  Honestly, I'd prefer to get a dog
> after CCB but, the thing is, it's not often that a six week block of
> time conveniently opens up...and I happen to have that kind of time
> this summer.  So, if I'm going to get a dog within the next year or
> so, soon is probably the best time...I know it's not ideal, I know it
> would probably be better if I did it the other way around, but I just
> wanted to get peoples' thoughts because I'm considering the idea.  I
> appreciate all of you giving me your honest opinions because I've not
> yet made up my mind and any info I get, especially from people
> familiar with the process, helps.
>   Warmest regards,
> Kirt

> On 5/8/11, Martha Harris <latinanewschic at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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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