[nagdu] another perspective

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (IT)]

Rox, 
You have some excellent points here. 
If I can, I'd like to ask a couple questions which you can ignore if you
want. 
1. If bending down is a problem, why not get a dryer that is higher off
the ground and use something other then a typical laundry basket? 
2. What about a walk-in shower with a chair? 
I'm not trying to say your dogs aren't useful, I'm just curious as to
the two examples you site. 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of the Pawpower Pack
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 11:33 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] another perspective

Julie,

Thanks for bringing up this topic.  I am blind and profoundly deaf with
a vestibular disorder which makes it impossible to bend to retrieve
dropped objects or do things like empty the dryer.  I can't use a cane
and be safe, and that is just that.  How could someone like me attend a
center if my dog who is not only my eyes, but my ears and my balance and
my ability to walk upright in a straight line is forced to be in another
room away from me?

I depend so much on my dog that I have two.  No they do not work out in
public together at the same time, yes I switch them out and if one has
worked with me outside the home all day, the other does things for me
when I am home.  Things like alerting me to door bells, phones,
microwave timers, emptying the dryer, retrieving dropped objects,
helping me in and out of the bath tub.  I can't imagine getting through
eight hours in a day without a dog.  I wouldn't be very independent.
Also it would be very frightening for a D/deaf/HOH person to be without
a hearing dog to alert to smoke alarms.  People may say that of course
someone will come and alert the person with hearing loss but I have
found that this doesn't really work and in the rush and hustle to get
outside the D/deaf/HOH person is forgotten about.
I wouldn't want to put myself in that kind of situation because I was
not allowed to use a dog.


Rox and the Kitchen Bitches
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD and Laveau guide dog, CGC.
Do not meddle in the affaires of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste
good with ketchup.

  pawpower at cox.net

MSN: Brisomania at Hotmail.com
AIM: Brissysgirl Yahoo: lillebriss	


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