[nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

Sat Apr 3 12:38:07 UTC 2010

Thank you . it does help. understanding the need to demonstrate our sense of
orientation, positioning, our gate and stride, all that needs to be assessed
and most probably assessed to determine our confidence and ability to take
to independent travel. The cane is the only other tool we have which affords
us independent travel outside of those of us who have usable vision and can
manage without either of the two options discussed herein. So it does make
sense, and it is not, in my opinion, about anything  more then our ability
to travel independently and confidently, additionally it could also be about
how we would fair handling another living breathing tool as opposed to the
lifeless cane which we control and which is not prone to distractions.
thanks

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 Michelle
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 6:00 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

Hi Albert,

I agree with you in part. What I'd like to say to you is that cane skills 
are necessary because it's better to get around with one than nothing at all

before getting a dog. I understand guide dogs are obviously better as a 
mobility aid, I have one myself! (big smile) I don't understand why some 
schools of thought hold to not having to use a cane as a kid or a toddler. 
Maybe it depends on the situation? I don't know. But I guess the instructors

want to know that you've got a good sense of direction so when you get a 
dog, you'll know that you can direct the dog appropriately most of the time,

and at least the instructors will feel safe about your travelling 
adventures.

I hope this helps,

Michelle
----- 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: Saturday, April 03, 2010 5:32 AM
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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