[nagdu] Drop-offs

Garry and Joy Relton relton30857 at cox.net
Thu Apr 23 14:08:29 UTC 2009 

Julie,

It definitely makes sense to me. For one thing, when you accept assistance
it often becomes much more than you bargained for. You may find yourself the
prime possession to be toated through the airport in what, the individual
thinks, is a kindly fashion. Then, the individual would like to escort you
to the seat next to the door of the gate where your plane will be leaving
with the unstated condition that you "sit there until someone tells you that
it is time to get on the plane. Please understand that I do not have ill
feelings toward those kindly individuals, but I am not willing to accept the
other baggage that goes with that offer. 


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J.
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 4:07 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Drop-offs


I don't know about everyone else but for me I try to minimize the amount I 
ask for assistance for two main reasons.  First I like to do things myself. 
It's not a blindness thing.  I've always been like this, even when I was 
sighted.   the second reason has to do with getting more than you ask for. I

find that sometimes asking for assistance is a bigger hassle than figuring 
it out on my own.

I don't mind asking for assistance in a store or directions and that sort of

thing.  I do not like asking for help for things that I feel I can or should

be doing myself.  For example my paycheck is contingent on filling out a 
time sheet.  the payroll office has no problem with helping me fill that out

every two weeks.  Me, I'd rather do it myself.  So I asked for the 
accommodation of getting an electronic copy and doing it on the computer.

I've talked before about my airport experience and how horrid it was.  So in

the future I won't be asking for assistance in advance from airport 
personnel.  I'll just ask as I need directions from whoever is convenient.
Does that make sense at all?  reading it back it seems like a super 
simplified version of what I think about help.

Julie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (IS)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at ngc.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:43 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Drop-offs


> Don't ever accept anything you don't want, and that goes for anything 
> in any context. If you don't want it, just say no.
> The other question I have though is why some of us feel we can't ask for
> assistance.
> Sighted folks can and do ask for assistance when needed, why
> can't/shouldn't we do likewise?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Julie J.
> Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 7:24 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Drop-offs
>
> I can't help you with the publication/information question.
>
> I did want to say that you can decline assistance without being rude. 
> Just say "no, thank you" in a polite but firm tone.  Most folks will 
> be respectful of your wishes.  There will be a few that don't, but I'd 
> say they are being rude.
>
> HTH
> Julie
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andrew J. LaPointe" <alapointe89 at comcast.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 2:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Drop-offs
>
>
>> Hi, sorry to post this but, I am interested in this topic.  Now, I 
>> remember being dropped off years ago just once.  I had some usable 
>> vision then.
>
>> Are
>> there any publicationsout there that could give me some good read on
> drop
>> offs?  I know when I get lost, or misplaced, I have a tuff time
> getting
>> back
>> on track.  Sometimes, I end up with sighted assist due to here in
> Salem,
>> MA.
>> people come out of the woodwork to help.  The problem with that is,
> you
>> don't have the chance to get back on your own.  I don't want to be
> rude
>> so,
>> I except.  Andy
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
> Behalf
>> Of
>> Wayne Merritt
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 3:52 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Drop-offs
>>
>>
>> There was no greater confidence boost for me than when I successfully 
>> returned to the Colorado Center after being dropped off on the side 
>> of the highway out in the middle of nowhere. Let me tell you, you 
>> don't really know where nowhere is until you're out in the middle of 
>> nowhere. Then all the rules of addresses and street patterns in a 
>> given city go out the window. Granted, those were in the between dog 
>> days, but I was also on cloud 9! When on NFB center drops, you are 
>> only allowed to ask one question. It might sound cruel, but by that 
>> point of your training, toward the end, you can do it.
>>
>> Wayne
>>
>> On 3/10/09, sblanjones11 <sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>> I experienced a drop-off last time I was in class at Guiding Eyes. 
>>> There is a good bit of detective in me, and I love the exercise of
> using
>> my
>>> clues, and working at figuring out where I am.
>>> One of the things I love about working with a guide dog is, I don't
> feel
>>> stuck, b/c she and I keep moving.
>>> With my cane, I often got stuck in places where I could hear where I
> was
>>> supposed to be, but couldn't get there, b/c there was a wall in the
> way,
>> or
>>> I was inside a maze, etc.  (I experienced that in the renaisance
> Center
>>> in
>>> Detroit where we're going this summer) but my dog can see the 
>>> logical
> way
>>> out, where as I might be walking around for a long time, trying to
> find
>>> it
>>> with my cane.
>>>
>>> Anyway, I admit, when I was younger, and not so patient, and
> unskilled at
>>> using my clues, I didn't like drop-offs very much.  Now I find them
> kind
>> of
>>> fun, and challenging.
>>> Susan & Rhoda
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>>> Behalf Of Allison Nastoff
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 2:23 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Drop-offs
>>>
>>> Occupaws did a drop-off with me the day before my graduation.  I had
>> walked
>>> the sidewalks around my college where we trained countless times, 
>>> but
> I
>>> admit the prospect of being dropped off and lost was a little scary.
> I
>>> think it was a valuable exercise though because getting lost
> occasionally
>> is
>>> an inevitible part of life.  The trainer wanted to prove that if it
>> happens,
>>> it's not the end of the world, and he told me to start walking and
> when I
>>> hear a pedestrian coming, get their attention and ask them what
> street
>>> I'm
>>> on.  There was a lot of fumbling, and the trainer, who was watching
> at a
>>> distance did have to come to my rescue after a pedestrian gave me 
>>> bad directions.  But I think it was a great confidence builder, and 
>>> a
> great
>>> exercise in trusting strangers.
>>> Since then, I have gotten lost occasionally.  Of course when I get
> myself
>>> lost, it is a little easier because usually I know where I started
> from,
>> and
>>> can figure out where I went wrong.  I used to panic when I was lost,
> but
>> now
>>> when I am lost I think to myself, "I survived a drop-off, so I will
>> survive
>>> this (grin)."
>>> I do think that when schools do drop-offs, students should have a
> partner
>>> with them.  When I had my training, the blind person who founded
> Occupaws
>>> came to observe some of the lessons.  Since she was there on the day
> of
>> the
>>> drop-off the trainer had her and her guide dog accompany me.  She 
>>> couldn't really help me because she was unfamiliar with the area.  
>>> But there
> is
>>> something comforting about being lost, but not alone. Allison and 
>>> Gilbert
>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com
>>>>To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
>>> Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>Date sent: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 10:52:05 -0400
>>>>Subject: [nagdu] Drop-offs
>>>
>>>>Someone asked me recently which schools still do "drop offs"
>>> where they
>>>>drive you around a familiar area until you are basically lost
>>> then turn you
>>>>lose to return to the lounge or van or whatever is the agreed
>>> upon landmark.
>>>
>>>>The person asking was mortified that this was actually done at
>>> some schools,
>>>>including the one from which she obtained her dogs, obviously
>>> prior to her
>>>>time there though.
>>>
>>>>So, I'm pretty sure GDB still does this for most students,
>>> correct? What
>>>>other schools currently do "drop offs"?
>>>
>>>>If you've done one of these recently, would you care to share
>>> your feelings
>>>>about them?
>>>
>>>>I can tell you GDF does not do "drop offs", not since I have been
>>> attending
>>>>class, 1990, unless it was an individual instructor's practice
>>> for some
>>>>students.  They may have done it in the past though.
>>>
>>>>Personally, I see great value in doing this if appropriate
>>> preparation is
>>>>done in advance.  I'm a fan of solos too though.<grin
>>>
>>>>I do recall in my very first class at Pilot, our instructor did
>>> such a "drop
>>>>off" route, letting us out on a street, not telling us its name
>>> but telling
>>>>us to follow our dogs because they knew where  they were and how
>>> to get back
>>>>to the school.  It was only three blocks straight back but whew,
>>> that trust
>>>>exercise was harrowing but good in the end.  I've never done
>>> another one and
>>>>have always wondered how people feel about them.
>>>
>>>>I completely understand and appreciate anyone who has serious
>>> anxiety about
>>>>"drop offs".  Believe me, I hate being lost or feeling as if I
>>> may be lost.
>>>>So no judgment calls on liking or disliking such training
>>> exercises.
>>>> Jenine Stanley
>>>>jeninems at wowway.com
>>>
>>>
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>>
>> --
>> My blog:
>> http://wayneism.blogspot.com
>> My websites:
>> www.wayneism.com
>> www.whitecaneday.org
>>
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