[nagdu] Drop-offs

[Jen]

Jenine:

I am a GDB grad, and the drop off exercieses has been eliminated from the
trianing program. It is optional. When I was in class, one student in my
class wanted to do it and one of the supervisors took the student out and
dropped him off somewhere. They have found that this particular exercises
was too stressful on a lot of students, although the types of drop offs I've
been told the students were encouraged to request help in finding what
street they are on etc. They do bus-to-lounge routes, where the instructor
gives the student directions to the lounge, but they are there to direct you
along the way if you are unsure of yourself.

Hope that answers your question Jenine. 

Jen and Nixon 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 7:52 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
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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