[nagdu] New member

Thu Nov 27 01:05:15 UTC 2008

Jeffrey,
    Welcome to the NAGDU list. I am sure you will find a great deal of 
information and support here.

Fraternally,
Marion Gwizdala


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeffrey Schwartz" <sidney.schwartz at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:27 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] New member


> Hi,
> I just joined this week and was glad to read the digest.  My name is Jeff
> Schwartz.  I am a psychologist and have lived in New Haven by way of
> Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Scranton.  I didn't know that I had a 
> significant
> visual problem until I was about 20.  At that time I was already legally
> blind due to the insidious deterioration of my visual field from Retinitis
> Pigmentosa.  At age 61, I'm left with little more than light perception. 
> I
> recently received my third guide dog, Faith, from Fidelco.  They are a
> superb organization.  The founders, Charles and Roberta Kaman have been
> raising German Shepherd dogs for about 40 years.  Originally they raised
> them as show dogs.  The story which I heard is that they started the 
> school
> after one of the dogs prevented their young son from running into traffic.
> John Byfield was their first trainer.  He was my trainer for my second 
> dog,
> Webster.  John is from the "old school".  My wife and I called him the dog
> Nazi.  He was really tough, as were all of the early trainers.  The new
> breed, if you'll pardon the pun, rely more on positive reinforcement.  I
> really liked the in community orientation, as you get four hours a day of
> the trainer's undivided attention.  I don't think that there are any bad 
> or
> even mediocre schools.  German Shepherds are fantastic dogs.  If I were in
> the position to select a pet, it would be a GSD.  The only problem that I
> have encountered is that they tend to be dog aggressive.  Fidelco gets its
> breeding stock from Germany.  They are only a generation or two away from
> being working shepherds.  Every pure bred dog was selectively shaped to
> perform a certain task, even lap dogs.  Centuries ago, before central
> heating and indoor plumbing people seldom bathed.  As a consequence, they
> had fleas.  They would sit with a dog in their lap because, given a 
> choice,
> fleas prefer dogs.  Back to German Shepherds and dog aggression.  They 
> were
> bred to keep the flock together and protect it from predators.  Today's
> German Shepherds are "hard wired" to see other dogs as potential 
> predators.
>
>
> Like all of you, I have had my share of blind stereotypes tossed my way.
> When I was younger, slim and walked with a white cane, I went into a
> Wal-Mart's and the greeter asked me if I wanted a wheelchair.  I've been 
> in
> restaurants with my wife and had the service person ask her "and what will
> he have"   I guess we have all heard, "you don't look blind".
> Anyway, sorry to have gone on at such length.  I'm glad to have joined 
> this
> group and I'm sure that I will enjoy participating.  I don't usually talk 
> so
> much.  Just ask my spouse.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of lindagwizdak at peoplepc.com
> Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 5:42 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: New member
>
> Hi Mardi,
> I liked the part about "You don't look blind...".  That one had me stumped
> for years and years.  I didn't know what people meant by the remark.  I
> thoought it was people denying that I was blind. Well, a sighted friend
> finally explained the basis of the remark to me.  He said that people look
> at a blind person and see the blindness.  People have this view that blind
> people are people who rock, jam their fingers or fist into their eye. 
> They
> walk with a stiff-leggeed gait and don't look at people who are talking to
> them.  In other words, the crappy stereotypes people think of when you 
> say,
> "blind person".
>
> Marti, you used to be a sighted person.  Think back on your sighted days
> long before you ever met a blind person. What did your mind conjure up? 
> Now,
>
> me - I've always been visually impaired and I can't and never was able to
> see people's faces and the expressions on them.  I had no clue about "look
> blind" sinse I've spent a lifetime around blind people.
>
> My friend told me that when someone tells me that I don't "look blind" I
> need to take it as a compliment.  The statement really says that you look
> normal - like a SIGHTED person!  You and I do not have the so-called 
> "blind
> mannerisms" that so many sheltered congenitally blind people display.  You
> learned how to be as a sighted child - what was socially acceptable. As a
> child, I was taught by my parents how to be in public and that people can
> see what I do.  So, you and I behave in a normal socially acceptable 
> manner.
>
> We look at people who speak to us.  We don't poke our eyes with our 
> fingers
> or fists.  Our eyes may look pretty normal - well - mine wiggle with
> nystagmus.  We rock only to music or while seated in a rocking chair.
>
> I don't remember if you are totally blind or are partially sighted.  Being
> in a wheelchair, I can see how people think your guide is a wheelchair
> service dog.  There aren't too many of you out there. I know several
> visually impaired wheelchair users but they see too much to use a guide 
> dog
> and they don't have a service dog, either.
>
> I know it's annoying when people don't know.  People think you are either
> fully sighted - "Oh, you must be faking it!" or you are totally blind.
> People still don't seem to grasp the idea of all kinds of partial vision 
> in
> between. I tell them that I have enough vision to be dangerous.  We then
> have a laugh.
>
> Hope that helps!  Thank God we are normal people who can give the public a
> good impression of who blind people are.
>
> Take care and Happy Holidays!
>
> Linda and Landon
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mardi Hadfield" <wolfsinger.lakota at gmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 6:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] service vs therapy dogs and welcome
>
>
>> Hi every one,   I have had similar experiences with Therapy dog owners.
>> They seem to think they know it all. They seem to think,because I am in a
>> wheelchair that my dog is not a guide.They can't see beyond the chair. My
>> dog must be a  "wheelchair dog",because I use a wheelchair. I am told 
>> that
>
>> I
>> don't look blind. Can some one tell me what a blind person looks like? 
>> Do
>> they all look the same? I get so aggravated at these people, that I don't
>> even try to explain. I just roll away and ignore them. There are too many
>> other battles that are more important to take care of.           Welcome
>> Ted.  All my guides have been Siberian Huskies except for my current
>> trainee,Wanagi. She is a Husky/Shepherd cross, and I adopted her from the
>> pound. I have trained my dogs with the aid of a private trainer.  I am
>> sure
>> that whatever school you choose, you will get a wonderful, and faithful
>> partner.     Have a great day, Mardi and Nala, retired, Wanagi, gdit, and
>> Tokala,gdit.
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>
>
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