[nagdu] Guide Dog Schools

[Laurie Mehta]

Hi Sheri, 

Pilot does do in-home trainings for certain situations.  Ask them if yours might be one.  (Ask Ray or Steve, as someone else already suggested.)  

In addition, Guiding Eyes and GDF have done in-home, or home and away, placements for people who have worked guide dogs with a different program than theirs in the past.  

I'm not sure whether or not GDB would do an in-home placement for you, but I think that it is worth asking them if they would consider that, too.  

Please do not limit yourself.  Your options might be more numerous than you think.  Calling the schools I mentioned will cost you nothing, but it will give you some helpful info.  

hth-- Laurie 

--- On Thu, 4/9/09, Sheri Anderson <sheri.k.anderson at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Sheri Anderson <sheri.k.anderson at gmail.com>
> Subject: [nagdu] Guide Dog Schools
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Thursday, April 9, 2009, 11:40 AM
> Good morning all,
> 
> I am quite new to the list, and in this, I hope I am not
> breaking a
> rule or two by asking the following question.
> 
> Long ago, before becoming a parent, I obtained a guide dog
> from Pilot
> Dogs in Columbus Ohio. My dog was a wonderful guide, and I
> never once
> had a problem with training, obedience, or the guiding
> itself. In two
> instances I was actually saved by my dog, in a construction
> zone that
> wasn’t properly blocked off. My guide dog used trained
> disobedience
> when I said forward, and went around. I was told minutes
> later about
> the construction, but obviously, it would have been to
> late.
> 
> Now I am faced with life as a cane user in working in
> Downtown
> Nashville TN. I would like to get a guide dog, but am
> conflicted.
> 
> While I love Pilot, and have been told I can come anytime,
> I truly
> can’t leave my children and job for two to three weeks.
> 
> I have contacted Fidelco, and been interviewed by the
> school. However,
> it seems to be a lengthy process, and after months, I still
> haven’t
> been notified if I even qualify by their board of
> directors. I am
> totally blind, and have been since birth, work all day, and
> have a
> family. Not to sure what it is they are looking for, but I
> have
> remained safe as a cane user, using public transportation
> crossing
> county lines daily.
> 
> My question is if anyone has any opinions not necessarily
> on the
> schools above, but perhaps how long Fidelco will take, and
> if I should
> just wait my turn?
> 
> Thanks so much.
> 
> Warmly,
> Sheri
> 
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