[nagdu] New member

Ted Shelly tshelly at optonline.net
Thu Nov 27 01:08:40 UTC 2008


Hi Jeff,

I'm practically a neighbor of yours - I'm just down the road in Stamford.  I
also have RP.  I'm 57 and have been using a cane full time for the last
decade or so and I'm just now working on getting my first guide dog.  I've
applied to Fidelco and I'm hoping they will accept me without too much of a
wait.  Welcome to the list.

Ted 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jeffrey Schwartz
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:28 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
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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