[nagdu] Response to Lisa Re: $150: Then & now

Fri Mar 6 08:00:27 UTC 2009

There are also cases where the students do not and have not payed the fee at
TSE.  I was told this by the admissions director, and an instructor.  I was
also told that they can accept installment plans if someone needed to do
this.

Melissa R. Green
Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Angie Matney" <leadinglabbie at mpmail.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 3:09 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Response to Lisa Re: $150: Then & now

> Hi Lisa,
>
>>I understand how some people may feel empowered by paying something toward
>>the training of their dog, and that's fine.  But in the end, does this fee
>>really determine how well that person treats or works with their dog?
>>does
>>it mean that the school where the dog was obtained and/or the general
>>public
>>will think more of them as a blind person?
>
> Absolutely not. This actually has nothing to do with why I think TSE's fee
> policy is such a good idea. I think it reinforces for the school staff and
> for the students that blind people do engage in "normal" transactions.
>
>>Whether someone pays $150 or nothing to work with a dog who cost around 40
>>or 50 grand to breed, raise, and train is immaterial.  I've seen handlers
>>from many schools, including the Seeing Eye, and it's been my experience
>>that that person will either treat his or her dog well or he or she will
>>not.  It doesn't make that person a better handler or a more dignified
>>individual simply because they paid a teeny bit of the cost of their dog
>>guide or were granted outright ownership upon completion of training.
>
> Agreed.
>
>>I've heard that the Seeing Eye doesn't verify how the money is raised just
>>as long as the person has that $150.  I'm sure some people, especially
>>younger folks going up there for the first time have had that money given
>>to
>>them.  I'm sure some people just fork over the money, no matter how they
>>got
>>it, just to get a dog.  And, unfortunately, I'm sure there are people who
>>acquired that money by less than honest means.
>
> Sure. But what purpose would verifying the source of the money serve? In
> what domains of life does this occur? IMO, the fact that they*don't*
> verify how the money is obtained actually serves to differentiate the
> experience from dealing with
> social-service agencies and the like. As I said in another post, I was
> kind of amused by a TSE staffer going around hitting the students up for
> money. (grin) Applying an unnatural scrutiny to the whole thing would
> indeed render it pointless and
> ineffective.
>
>>I have to echo Rebecca's question and wonder why The Seeing Eye hasn't
>>raised their cost to reflect current economic conditions.  The original
>>intent behind this policy may have been honorable, but I'm not sure if
>>this
>>miniscule price is still a valid representation of the cost of training.
>
> It was never intended to be a representation of a certain percentage of
> the cost of training. Yes, economic conditions have changed (though I fear
> people with disabilities are more susceptible to the current economic
> downturn...but that's
> another post for another list). But simply modifying a number to comport
> with a pricing index doesn't represent the economic reality of blindness.
> I'm not suggesting that the fee *shouldn't* be changed; but it seems to me
> that doing so in any
> meaningful way would be a complex undertaking.
>
>>Because, if the cost isn't adjusted to reflect current economic
>>conditions,
>>this fee seems like nothing more than a condescending pat on the head,
>>IMO.
>>If you pay only a fraction of the cost of something simply because you're
>>a
>>blind person looking to obtain a dog, then it's charity. If you want to
>>imply that you or the school is better than the rest of us who  didn't pay
>>anything for our dogs (and I've had some vocal TSE grads come right out
>>and
>>say just that), have at it if  it makes you feel better, <smiles> but
>>you're
>>still taking advantage of charity.  It's like they're saying we know you
>>as
>>a blind person could never come up with the tens of thousands of dollars
>>needed to breed, raise, and train this dog and then train you, but we know
>>how you blind people like to feel like you're a full part of society, so
>>we'll let you contribute this small price that's not even one percent of
>>the
>>total cost for a dog.  We'll even let  you have ownership of your dog so
>>you
>>feel like real adults.
>
> Well...I think you've missed the point. At least, that was not at all my
> perception after having attended a school that charged nothing for my dog
> and then attending TSE. I think the policy is in place just as much for
> school staff as for blind
> handlers. Of *course* we know we're the recipients of charity. But I do
> believe that the fee does serve a purpose.
>
>>For my part, I'm conscious of the time, effort, and sacrifice that went
>>into
>>training Katy every time I snap on that leash.  Whether I paid nothing,
>>$150
>>or $150,000, a guide dog is always going to mean the same for me.
>
> I agree. There's no way that $150 could lead me to differentiate between
> Glaze and Yani. I do think, though, that the fee and unconditional
> ownership do have repercussions for the school's culture.
>
> Best,
>
> Angie
>
>
>
>
>
>
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