[nagdu] Jury finds IA Dept. for Blind's guide dogpolicydoes not discriminate

[Angie Matney]

Hi Dave,

Actually, I don't view this as simply "skills training." I do agree with you that cane travel is extremely liberating. But I also happen to believe that assumptions are made about possible detrimental effects on dog use, possibly from one or two 
specific incidents. I'm not suggesting that someone should be able to use their dog in all travel lessons at an NFB center; I have never made that argument. I am, however, challenging people to look at things from more than one perspective. 
Yes, I realize that people who have been trained to teach cane travel have more expertise than I do in certain subjects. But I just don't believe that allowing a dog user to be accompanied by a dog in certain situations will erode the person's 
confidence in their own abilities. 

I'm not suggesting that integrating more dog use into a center's curriculum would be easy. But I don't believe it's beyond the capabilities of the extremely knowledgeable individuals we're fortunate to have within our organization. 

I hope this has made my position clearer.

Best,

Angie



On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:56:46 -0600, David Andrews wrote:

>Angie:

>I think that you are just seeing this as a "skills training" kind of 
>thing, and I think it is more than that.  NFB-type centers are 
>teaching specific skills, but much more than that.  The skills are 
>part of the way they get at it.  They are teaching people how to be 
>blind persons in a sighted world, how to handle your blindness, 
>confidence, self reliance, independence, and a belief in alternative 
>techniques and the power of blind persons.
>You learn to believe in yourself.

>With a dog you talk about the partnership, and while the person is in 
>charge and makes decisions, I think there are things you hand over to 
>the dog, so to speak.  So, it is possible that some people would not 
>develop as much confidence in their own skills if they used a god, 
>because of what they believed they were doing, and what the dog was doing.

>I have said, on this list, in the past, that I think it would be 
>possible for a nfb-type center that used dogs to be designed.  I 
>think it would need to be done from the ground up though, and the 
>people involved would really have to understand what and how NFB 
>centers were doing with the cane.  They could then find ways to 
>impart the same lessons and confidence using other things.  People 
>would need to get past just viewing as straight skills though, and 
>past being mad and feeling left out.  If the guide dog community 
>wants this then they should find a way and come forward and do it.

>Dave


>At 03:02 PM 2/20/2009, you wrote:
>>We don't know all the facts behind the verdict. If, for example, she 
>>was denied the opportunity to use her dog at all during her program, 
>>I would say that the jury made a bad decision, and I would hope the 
>>verdict would be reversed on appeal. If, on
>>the other hand, she was denied the opportunity to use her dog during 
>>cane-travel courses, I can be a bit more sympathetic to the Iowa 
>>Department's position. Still, I really don't see why guide dog use 
>>during mobility training at centers must be an all
>>or nothing deal. I think the NFB really should consider ways to 
>>incorporate *some* guide-dog use into O&A training, and that would 
>>include *some* guide-dog use during travel courses. The current 
>>system does not accurately reflect the reality of the
>>lives of many potential center students.
>>
>>Best,
>>
>>Angie
>>
>>On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:52:25 -0500, Marion & Martin wrote:
>>
>> >Well, this woman did sue....and lost!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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