[nabs-l] NFB training centers and guide dogs

Thu May 12 15:15:24 UTC 2011

Debby,
  My notetaking, braille, technology and listening skills are
definitely above par-they'd give me an eagle or a hole in one.  If
we're sticking with the golf analogy, my o&m skills and daily living
skills are maybe at a bogie...where a couple years ago they would've
got me kicked off the tour!  ;)
  Warmly,
Kirt
  Ignasi,
  I do see your point.  But could you deny that 6-9 months training
would benefit you more than a month in the areas like cooking where
you say you lack?
  Warmly,
Kirt

On 5/12/11, Debbie Wunder <debbiewunder at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hello, blindness skills that you will need to be successful in college or on
> the job are things such as note taking, writing, Brailled, study skills,
> mobility, and good listening skills. Do you feel that these skills are
> already homed? When I was younger and went to college, I never gave these
> things much thought, but every one of them are a huge part of what will be
> your succes in life. If they are not up to parr, then I would go to the
> center. By the way people always use the term in the real world, I am not
> sure what isn't the real world. Learning skills certainly is, going to
> school certainly is, and later find employment is. Never sell short what you
> are working to improve upon or what you are learning.
>
> Good Luck!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kirt Manwaring" <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
> To: "Antonio Guimaraes" <freethaught at gmail.com>; "National Association of
> Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 9:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] NFB training centers and guide dogs
>
>
>> 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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