[nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

Michael Hingson mhingson at sbcglobal.net
Tue Apr 6 18:41:01 UTC 2010


Occasionally the poor mindless cane does like a new tip.  Perhaps a new coat
of scotchguard?


The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
     “Speaking with Vision”
                 Michael Hingson, President
                         (415) 827-4084
                   info at michaelhingson.com
                   www.michaelhingson.com


for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com





-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Ann Edie
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 10:02 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog

But Albert, I failed to mention that I am a "Positive Reinforcement" 
trainer--I wouldn't think of punishing the dear skinny, white, hairless pogo

stick!

Maybe I'll have to shop for a Gentle Leader to fit its curious little nose.

I haven't been able to identify any treats that the slim darling likes more 
than the depths of those sidewalk cracks though, so it's difficult to reward

it for the rare occasions when it controls itself enough to pass up the 
opportunity to go spilunking.  (How do you spell "spilunking" anyway?)

Anyway, I wish you luck with your presentation in DC.  Are you there now, or

are you back in NYC already?  I hope you got to enjoy DC in cherry blossom 
season.  I attended undergraduate school in DC, so am familiar with the 
charms and pleasures of the nation's capital.

Best,
Ann

----- 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: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 12:52 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog


> lol. if it continues to focus on the distractions you mentioned, then put 
> it
> in a crate and remind the cane in a stern force, bad cane very bad cane.
>
> 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 Ann Edie
> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 10:50 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>
> Hi, Albert,
>
> Please tell me how you trained your cane to ignore distractions.  Mine is
> continuously poking its little nose into cracks in the sidewalk and
> insisting on stopping so abruptly to explore what's in there that i take a
> kick in the diaphragm from its butt end.  I would truly appreciate 
> learning
> the secret of training the dear hairless creature to guide me around those
> cracks and holes instead of persisting in thoroughly investigating each 
> one
> to my frequent pain and frustration.
>
> Thanks,
> Ann
>
> ----- 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 8:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] cane skills as prerequisite for guide dog
>
>
>> 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."
>>
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>
>>
>>
>> -----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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nagdu:
>>>
>>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
>>> org
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nagdu:
>>>
>>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/m-johnson%40bigpond.c
>> om
>>
>>
>>
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----
>>
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2784 - Release Date: 04/01/10
>> 18:32:00
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
>> org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/annedie%40nycap.rr.co
> m
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.
> org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/annedie%40nycap.rr.co
m
> 


_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/mhingson%40sbcglobal.
net





More information about the NAGDU mailing list