[nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

Fri Apr 2 21:23:22 UTC 2010

You are right about that. the parents on the list are so appreciative of the
nfb and their positions on the topic.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Wayne Merritt
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 4:55 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

>From what I've heard about the history, the NFB has been advocating
canes for kids long before the "professionals" in the field did. I
think there was even a video made by the NFB in the 80's promoting
canes for blind kids.

Wayne

On 4/2/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
> You have never been on the parents division chat line, many are precluded
> from using canes  while in school and it disturbs me. the nfb is one place
> in the blind movement where that is an option for kids. Not enough
mobility
> instructors or TVI's think that way, at least that is what I hear when
> listening to parents. Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of cheryl echevarria
> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 3:57 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>
> Albert you have never been to a convention, there are tons of blind kids
> using canes.
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Travel Consultant
> http://Echevarriatravel.com
> 1-866-580-5574
>
> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
CST-1018299-10
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 4:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>
>
>> Why is it a requirement for being considered getting a guide dog anyway?
I
>> would like to understand the rationale. I am not agreeing or disagreeing
>> just wondering about the reasons. Then too, if cane mobility is so
>> integral
>> to independence, why are there some schools of thought on not introducing
>> the cane to toddlers or blind youth as soon as they can hold one?
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> www.myblindspot.org
>> PH: 917-553-0347
>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
is
>> doing it."
>>
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
>> Of Tracy Carcione
>> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 2:33 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>>
>> Marion, I don't necessarily agree that good cane skills should be a
>> prerequisite for getting a guide dog.  It's a nice theory.  It would
>> certainly be helpful.  But I know too many people who don't have
>> spectacular cane skills, but do great with a dog.  Some of them are older
>> people, who started getting dogs when cane training was not very
>> available.  Some of them are from places where services for blind people
>> are not very good.  Some of them went blind as senior citizens, and quite
>> a few agencies don't serve that population very well, since they won't be
>> employed.  Should we tell these people they have to wait until they can
>> somehow get cane training?  I don't think so. I've met enough people for
>> whom the dog was the thing that got them back out, living their lives,
and
>> I think getting out and living one's life is a great thing. I'm not
>> willing to stand in someone's way over whether or not their cane skills
>> measure up to some philosophical mark.
>>
>> Should we take good orientation as good enough?  Or should the guide dog
>> schools offer cane training to prospective applicants who they feel
should
>> have it? They seem like reasonable approaches to me, and I believe they
>> are
>> the ones being carried out. Encouraging good cane skills is fine, but I
>> wouldn't make it a prerequisite for a guide dog.
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>
>>
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