[nabs-l] NFB training centers and guide dogs

Thu May 12 10:31:34 UTC 2011

Kirt,
In my personal opinion, I feel as though you would be better off just staying in college. If things are working well for you and you think you're improving, I don't see why you would want to postpone everything 9 months. I never received any formal training other than what I learned from my sighted parents while I was growing up, and some o&m instruction from a teacher here in Spain when I was pretty young. I was able to get a guide dog really early and at this point O&M is not a problem for me. Even though I'm aware that my skills in other things such as cooking are not the best, I would not spend 9 months somewhere just to learn those things. There are probably faster ways of getting it done, and I don't feel as though I would benefit enough from a full 9 month program.
What I would consider though would be to spend a month or so at a training center so that I can get better at certain things. I don't even know if that's possible, but whenever I have time and I don't have any concerts to play in a couple of months I will try to see what options I have.
Many times I feel like blindness skills are more about having common sense than anything else. After all, O&M, daily living etc are not tremendously complicated things which cannot be mastered with experience and by living in the real world :).
Again these are just my opinions and everyone will probably have different ideas. In any case, I find this to be an interesting subject.

IC
On May 11, 2011, at 10:58 PM, Kirt Manwaring wrote:

> To all,
>  Very good points-I know I probably am better off getting a dog after
> training.  And I'm really considering it-the more I think about it,
> the more I'm leaning towards that option.  But here's the thing.  Due
> to rehab bureaucracy and slowness (namely, taking a month to even get
> in touch with me to schedule an appointment...but let's  not go
> there), It's pretty much not possible for me to do training on the
> original time table I wanted to.  And, the more I think about it, the
> more I'm seeing a lot of cons to training (although I'm still probably
> going to do it).  In a lot of areas the center spends a lot of time
> on, my skills are superb.  Those that need work are improving at a
> very good clip already-I'm already independent enough to do pretty
> much whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it, without too much
> trouble.  My o&m isn't great, but it's good and getting better fast.
> My daily living isn't all that good but it's improving at a rapid clip
> as well because I'm having to figure out stuff on my own and I'm
> making tones of progress there.
>  So my question is this...and let's drop talking about a dog for a
> minute because I don't know what to do about that just yet.  While
> training would certainly be beneficial, I've come to realize my
> biggest hinderence is a lack of confidence rather than a lack of
> skill-I've been doing more o&m and cooking recently, and my skills are
> a lot better than I thought they were.  While I'm not denying training
> would give me the confidence I'd need-would I gain that confidence
> working on the skills I already have in a real-world environment?
> (namely college)  I mean-would it be a better use of my time to go to
> training and re-learn a lot of what I already know and gain
> confidence, or would I be better served spending those 6-9 months in a
> college classroom, in my own apartment, practicing and improving the
> considerable skills I already have and gaining confidence that way?  I
> honestly don't know.  I'm not denying I need serious improvement in
> some areas (and I could improve even on the skills I excell at), but
> it's not as if I'm starting from scratch-and I honestly feel like I
> know enough to learn anything else I need to know with practice.  On
> the one hand, training would improve those skills faster than college
> would-I'd certainly come out of it more efficient and empowered.  On
> the other hand-I'm already quite efficient and empowered already, and
> I know my efficiency and empowerment will improve with time so long as
> I keep working at it.  Thoughts, anyone?  Would I gain more by keeping
> up with my college education, or going to a center?  I'm really not
> sure anymore.
>  Warmest regards,
> Kirt
> 
> On 5/11/11, Antonio Guimaraes <freethaught at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Kirt,
>> 
>> You're probably better off geting a guide dog after your training at CCB.
>> 
>> While CCB is known for being the most dog-friendly of NFB training centers,
>> you still spend most of your day without your guide, and attend class travel
>> the building and such with your long cane.
>> 
>> You're free to leave the the training grounds with your guide dog in toe,
>> and will use the dog on your activities outside the formal training setting.
>> 
>> The time you spend away from your dog is time your dog is just sitting with
>> another instructor, not bonding with you, unlearning good behavior, and
>> forgetting its place in the pack of two.
>> 
>> Other people, including the dog sitter for the day take your place as the
>> alfa dog, and this does nothing for your team.
>> 
>> this is just how I see the picture. I have been at CCB long enough, but
>> others may have a different story.
>> 
>> You'd need only ask Julie Deeden about the policies and she'll tell you all
>> about them. No dogs durring the training day. Dog stays with someone else,
>> and not with handler, and such.
>> 
>> So get some good training under your belt, then interview and train with a
>> dog after, I say. You'll have superb cane travel skills, and will be ready
>> to take on dog travel with renewed confidence.
>> 
>> Best,
>> 
>> Antonio
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Kirt Manwaring" <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 6:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] NFB training centers and guide dogs
>> 
>> 
>>> Amy, Nicole and all,
>>> If I get a dog (which is a huge if), I'd wait at least a couple
>>> months before going to a training center.  I'm guessing me and my new
>>> friend would need some time to really get to know each other-time
>>> which would probably be in short supply at a training center.  I do,
>>> however, have a question which is probably silly.  When attending a
>>> center, are you under contract to use a straight cane whenever you
>>> travel anywhere-whether in class time or just on your own time?  I
>>> mean...let's say me and my dog want to go see a friend in Denver over
>>> the weekend (I have a few friends, hard to believe.  :)).  Would there
>>> be any official policy against me bringing a folding cane along for
>>> the trip, in the event I'd need it?  I'd do a straight cane but...you
>>> know, those don't really fit in backpacks very well.  Would anyone
>>> care if I did that, on my own time?  From what I understand, you
>>> guys'll probably say that's a really dumb question and of course that
>>> would be fine.  But my experience with life has told me to always make
>>> sure I know what's going on before I get in to it.
>>> Warmest regards,
>>> Kirt
>>> 
>>> On 5/8/11, Amy Sabo <amylsabo at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>> hello kurt,
>>>> 
>>>> i see that you want to attend ccb which is awesome! yes, you can bring
>>>> your
>>>> guide dog to the ccb but, you will have to use a cane for some of your
>>>> activities oncluding travel class. i hope this is helpful to you and,
>>>> hopefully others here will chime in with their comments and suggestions
>>>> to
>>>> this topic.
>>>> 
>>>> take care and good luck in coming to ccb.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> hugs,
>>>> amy
>>>> 
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Sun, 08 May 2011 21:22:10 -0000 (UTC)
>>>> 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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>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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> 
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