[nagdu] Drop-offs

[Tracy Carcione]

While it's nice to be lost with a partner, and, with a guide dog user
buddy, we'll go boldly exploring anywhere, the truth is that most of the
time when I get lost, I'm on my own, and I have to figure it out on my
own, without any moral support from anyone.  So I figure that's how a
drop-off should be.  And I've gotten lousy directions from sighted people
before, and had to figure out that they were lousy, sooner or later.

I remember one of my classmates flagging down a garbage truck at a traffic
light, and asking the crew what intersection it was.  Very funny, but also
pretty effective.
Tracy


> Occupaws did a drop-off with me the day before my graduation.  I
> had walked the sidewalks around my college where we trained
> countless times, but I admit the prospect of being dropped off
> and lost was a little scary.  I think it was a valuable exercise
> though because getting lost occasionally is an inevitible part of
> life.  The trainer wanted to prove that if it happens, it's not
> the end of the world, and he told me to start walking and when I
> hear a pedestrian coming, get their attention and ask them what
> street I'm on.  There was a lot of fumbling, and the trainer, who
> was watching at a distance did have to come to my rescue after a
> pedestrian gave me bad directions.  But I think it was a great
> confidence builder, and a great exercise in trusting strangers.
> Since then, I have gotten lost occasionally.  Of course when I
> get myself lost, it is a little easier because usually I know
> where I started from, and can figure out where I went wrong.  I
> used to panic when I was lost, but now when I am lost I think to
> myself, "I survived a drop-off, so I will survive this (grin)."
> I do think that when schools do drop-offs, students should have a
> partner with them.  When I had my training, the blind person who
> founded Occupaws came to observe some of the lessons.  Since she
> was there on the day of the drop-off the trainer had her and her
> guide dog accompany me.  She couldn't really help me because she
> was unfamiliar with the area.  But there is something comforting
> about being lost, but not alone.
> Allison and Gilbert
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com
>>To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 10:52:05 -0400
>>Subject: [nagdu] Drop-offs
>
>>Someone asked me recently which schools still do "drop offs"
> where they
>>drive you around a familiar area until you are basically lost
> then turn you
>>lose to return to the lounge or van or whatever is the agreed
> upon landmark.
>
>>The person asking was mortified that this was actually done at
> some schools,
>>including the one from which she obtained her dogs, obviously
> prior to her
>>time there though.
>
>>So, I'm pretty sure GDB still does this for most students,
> correct? What
>>other schools currently do "drop offs"?
>
>>If you've done one of these recently, would you care to share
> your feelings
>>about them?
>
>>I can tell you GDF does not do "drop offs", not since I have been
> attending
>>class, 1990, unless it was an individual instructor's practice
> for some
>>students.  They may have done it in the past though.
>
>>Personally, I see great value in doing this if appropriate
> preparation is
>>done in advance.  I'm a fan of solos too though.<grin
>
>>I do recall in my very first class at Pilot, our instructor did
> such a "drop
>>off" route, letting us out on a street, not telling us its name
> but telling
>>us to follow our dogs because they knew where  they were and how
> to get back
>>to the school.  It was only three blocks straight back but whew,
> that trust
>>exercise was harrowing but good in the end.  I've never done
> another one and
>>have always wondered how people feel about them.
>
>>I completely understand and appreciate anyone who has serious
> anxiety about
>>"drop offs".  Believe me, I hate being lost or feeling as if I
> may be lost.
>>So no judgment calls on liking or disliking such training
> exercises.
>> Jenine Stanley
>>jeninems at wowway.com
>
>
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