[nagdu] another road to independence

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Julie,

Wonderful addition to Rox's post about when a guide dog is a necessary tool
for independence as opposed to an option of one tool over another.

How each of us assesses our options for ourselves will depend on a lot of
variables...  For me, I had to stop using my cane meaningfully over the dog
before the dog was actually trained...  But that worked because she took
naturally to walking in front of my making sure I didn't trip or fall or run
into things, probably because she didn't want my little problems to
interfere with her sniffing and testing and pulling and being all over
everywhere.  Strange pup.  Thought she would never have basic leash manners!
But she would stop dead at the curb.  Or dash between my cane and an
obstacle in our path, like a kid's bike or a trash can or whatever.  What I
needed then was to get out and walk for rehab in the hopes I would have a
need to a guide dog for real life in case the little monster ever shaped up
into a professional working guide.  /lol/

So as it turned out, my black curly kinda dog-like thingy was an excellent
mobility choice for my needs at the time, and she did turn into a
professional.  Whew!  Still working on getting me into a profession show she
can use all those things she learned.  Meanwhile, I also have a very good
dog for just getting out and walking.  It's what I need now, so it's just
great.

I still could not do that with a cane, not if I ever want to finish getting
that left arm and hand truly functional again.  I'm a southpaw, so I'm
pretty interested in doing that.  It's all mostly usable these days, but I
still spend a lot of out of pocket money to keep it that way and don't
practice with my cane unless I know have a treatment scheduled that week.
End of story.

For myself, I do want to keep my cane skills up to speed enough to that the
cane is and option for me when and if I need it to keep on going.  I am
hoping that left hand will keep healing enough that I *cane* use the cane as
a backup for need without re-crippling myself for read, typing, daily
life...  We'll see.  Like you, the thought of being dependent on someone
else just to get to the grocery store from the car is somehow horrifying.

So I now wonder how much that I project onto others when we're discussing
keeping up cane skills when you have a guide dog?  We all have individual
needs and goals and priorities to balance.  I would recommend maintaining
good cane travel skills for guide dog users in general.

But you and Rox are both right.  Sometimes, that's not a cut and dried a
decision -- or an indicator of personal independence -- as it appears from
the outside.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 6:14 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] another road to independence

Rox'e,

thank you for saying this!

I used to be  firmly in the camp that using a guide is a choice.  I used to 
think that a guide dog enhanced mobility, but is not a necessity.   I used 
to feel like a guide dog was like a luxury mobility tool.

I'm not so sure anymore.  As I age my physical abilities are changing.  I 
have arthritis and although it has been a part of my life for years, it has 
only recently started to make a substantial difference in how I am able to 
do things.  It is much worse through the winter.  Several years ago it 
really only limited my ability to stir cookie dough and scoop hard ice 
cream.  By a year ago it had gotten to the point where I couldn't hold onto 
my cane for more than two blocks or so.  Last winter there were many days 
that I would be in serious pain by the time I got to work, a ten block or so

walk.  Some days all I could manage was to sort of push the cane in front of

me and hope for the best.

This past winter was the worst we've had in twenty years.  If I didn't have 
Monty, there is absolutely no way I would have been able to use my cane 
through the heavy snow to get to work.  I would have been dependent on 
others to drive me there.   There is no public transportation where I live.

I'm sure if I didn't have Monty, I would have hired a driver or worked out 
something.  However my measure of being independent is being able to do what

I want, when I want with minimal inconvenience to others.   I don't think I 
would be very independent if I didn't have Monty.

JMHO
Julie



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