[nagdu] Blind Inc.

Fri Apr 2 18:21:41 UTC 2010

Exactly. NFB seems to have no idea that there are people with other
disabilities that also happen to be blind. 
Also, NFB touts independence but only their flavor of independence. 
Kind of like a parent saying to a kid "You can be whatever you want when
you grow up, and I'll even let you choose which type of doctor you want
to be". Promoting independence also means allowing people to make
choices that and individual may dislike. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 11:55 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Inc.

Marion, I think a person can live "fully and vibrantly" even if they
don't
have great cane skills.  I know a guy who often seems confused while
traveling, but he gets where he wants to go.  More than that, he goes
places I'll probably never go, like Iraq and Korea, as well as
travelling
all over the U.S.  Now he has retired his dog, and because of declining
health has not gotten another, but he still gets where he wants to go.
Isn't that what the oft-cited Nature of Independence speech was about? 
Basically, stop judging each other on how we get where we want to go, so
long as we get there?
Cane skills are very handy, but people who don't have them can still get
where they want to go, and that's what counts.  I do get tired of this
veneration of the sacred long white cane.  It's just a long stick.
Using
it is not rocket science.

I found what Rox said about her travel very interesting.
Tracy

> Jewel,
>     If you are going to attend a center, I think it would be best if
you
> did
> so before getting your guide dog. Their very intensive O&M training
will
> make you a superior guide dog handler. If you choose to go after
getting
> your guide dog, I would suggest you do so well after you and your dog
have
> bonded. During the day, you will be using your white cane. You will be
> able
> to see your guide dog during breaks and for relief, as well as before
and
> after training.
>     Just for the record, there are those who will try to spin this
policy
> to
> be an "anti guide dog" policy; however, I am of the opinion, from
talking
> to
> and listening to what they believe and how each of the centers
approach
> this
> issue, that it is not anti guide dog, rather it is pro sound O&M
training.
> I
> am of the opinion that, like the general public, many blind people see
a
> guide dog as the answer to their O&M problems, rather than as an
> enhancement
> to them. Both the white cane and guide dog have their advantages and
> disadvantages. Without the flexibility to choose the one that works
best
> for
> a particular application, a blind person limits their independence and
> their
> ability to participate in all aspects of society and life! A carpenter
> learns how to use a hammer, but cannot build a house with just one
tool!
> In
> order for us to live fully, we must have several blindness tools in
our
> tool
> box. Of course, if one is comfortable with limiting their choices,
that is
> their prerogative. My choice is to live fully and vibrantly. Sometimes
my
> guide dog is not a part of this choice. JMHO!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:36 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind Inc.
>
>
>> Hi, this makes me curious. I am considering going to Louisiana Center
>> for the Blind. Should I go before I get a guide dog? What are the
>> rules at LCB for guide dogs?
>>
>> ~Jewel
>>
>> On 3/31/10, Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net> wrote:
>>> Hi Martha.
>>> There are people on this list who have been through the Colorado
Center
>>> with their dogs, or there used to be.  Jen was one of them, I
believe.
>>> She
>>>  said it was fine.  I don't know if the dog arrangements are
different
>>> at
>>> Blind Inc.  They have always appeared to me to be the most anti-dog
of
>>> the
>>> bunch, but that's my opinion.
>>> I wouldn't do it myself, but others have and it's been OK for their
>>> dogs.
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>>
>>>
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