[nagdu] Jury finds IA Dept. for Blind'sguidedog policy does not discriminate

Sat Feb 21 23:05:18 UTC 2009

and my guide dog doesn't hide my blindness either.

I still have to know where I'm going.  I still go places.

margo and Elmo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Jury finds IA Dept. for Blind'sguidedog policy does not 
discriminate

> Just that, it undeniably says I am blind and I can't and won't hide it. 
> Some people want to carry a folding cane and put it away whenever 
> possible.  The long white cane makes that not possible.  For many people 
> carrying that cane is tied to their own self acceptance of their 
> blindness.
>
> Dave
>
> At 10:08 AM 2/21/2009, you wrote:
>>What exactly do you mean by "the cane is the ultimate symbol of 
>>blindness"?
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
>>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 3:05 AM
>>Subject: Re: [nagdu] Jury finds IA Dept. for Blind'sguidedog policy does 
>>not
>>discriminate
>>
>>
>>Alysha:
>>
>>As I have tried to say in another message, cane travel at NFB centers
>>is there in part to accomplish other goals besides just literally
>>teaching cane travel.  The cane is the ultimate symbol of blindness,
>>and learning to carry it with confidence is where the rubber hits the
>>road for most newly blind persons.
>>
>>Most people think the dog does more than he/she does, but they think
>>it nonetheless.  I suspect some blind persons attribute more to the
>>dog then they should too.  So, they wouldn't be developing confidence
>>in their own skills.
>>
>>People from the dog community should come together and start a
>>dog-oriented center I think!
>>
>>Dave
>>
>>At 07:07 PM 2/20/2009, you wrote:
>> >As others have mentioned in their posts, I think we need to consider
>> >that much more than just cane travel is offered at training centers.
>> >So say there's a guide dog user who is comfortable with mobility but
>> >who needs some work on cooking or technology or braille. Then, there
>> >doesn't seem to be a program out there this person could attend to
>> >learn the necessary skills without risking damage to their
>> >relationship with their dog. I do think that cane travel is quite
>> >important and that all guide dog users should be comfortable with
>> >it, but it seems like all the training centers I've heard about
>> >mandate it as the only means of mobility to be used during the time
>> >one is there. So I suppose I'm wondering why there are no programs
>> >(that I know of) that accommodate the potential needs of guide dog
>> >users instead of expecting them to essentially temporarily give up
>> >their chosen mobility aid. The important thing is that we can get
>> >around independently, not whether we do so with a dog or a cane. Why
>> >is it that people seem to link mobility classes only with cane
>> >travel? I think a guide dog user could still benefit from mobility
>> >lessons that aren't focused on the training of the dog. The problem
>> >solving and orientation skills taught in good mobility programs are
>> >useful to you no matter what mobility aid you use. So I think it is
>> >fair for a program to demand competency with a cane, but I do not
>> >think that it is right to restrict the choices of guide dog users to
>> >either doing without training in the myriad of skills taught at
>> >centers or giving up the use of their dogs for a significant
>> >fraction of the day.
>> >
>> >Alysha
>> >
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>> >
>> >
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>
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