[nagdu] dogs and dignity

[Michael Hingson]

Hi,

The Webster on-line dictionary defines dignity as follows:

1: the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed
2 a: high rank, office, or position b: a legal title of nobility or honor
3archaic : dignitary
4: formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language

I must respectively disagree that any guide dog provides dignity.  The first
guides provided an aid to independence, but they did not provide dignity.
Self respect comes from within.

Guide dogs help build confidence.  You do not automatically gain dignity
because you use a guide dog.  For many years guide dog schools used the fund
raising argument that the dogs they trained provide "dignity for the blind".
I believe some schools use that line today.  It is simply not true.

Guide dogs help make us better than we were if we learn to have confidence,
dignity, self respect, and if we develop the inner tools to work with guide
dogs wisely.  The burden is on us and not the dog.


Michael Hingson,
 NSA   
President,
The Michael Hingson Group
84 Bahama Reef
Novato, CA 94949
Phone Direct number (415) 827-4084
Fax number (415) 883-6220
Mobile/Pager (888) 965-9191
Email 
info at michaelhingson.com
 <
mailto:
info at michaelhingson.com>
For information on Michael's speaking topics, his availability, and his
consulting services on Diversity and Access Technology for blind persons
please
visit <
http://www.michaelhingson.com>
For information on Guide Dogs for the Blind please visit <
http://www.guidedogs.com>

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Sarah and Loretta
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 10:05 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] dogs and dignity

It is helpful for me to remember that when the first dog guide schools were
established, there was no such thing as O&M training. No one used white
canes. The dogs did provide independence and dignity. "Independence and
dignity" is a historical reality. It certainly does not mean that nothing
else provides independence and/or dignity.

Sarah J. Blake
http://www.growingstrong.org
sjblake at growingstrong.org 


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