[nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

Wed Apr 21 05:06:35 UTC 2010

Cheryl,

That's pretty much why we're considering it, too.  Also, we do like the
people.  /smile/  DD pretty much needs his VA medical benefits, and the VA
here is really, really good.  Still, he could retire fully or maybe even
work part-time for his same employer, I could afford to get my medical taken
care of and the fibro fully out of the way (it's close, but the process is
expensive, and I can't always afford treatments, so that slows things down a
lot!) and still save money out of my SSD to order the adaptive tools I need
to consult, which I can do most of online, then travel to the client...  I
understand this is getting fairly common.  In fact, the reason we've
discussed it in the past is because DD knows people who have moved down
there and have quite a nice life, which they couldn't have here.

It is interesting to hear how you and guide dog work in that culture and
environment.  /smile/  He starts getting retirement in a few weeks, although
he plans to keep working for a few more years and just take time off now and
then.  I'm still working on the adaptive tech angle -- or figuring out how
to earn some income to add to the pot without more than the very basic
adaptive tech...  Frustrating, although I've pretty much got my
organizational framework and such worked out.  But now I'm getting to
babbling.  /smile/

Thanks for the insight and info!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Cheryl Osborn
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:11 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

Hi all,

Sorry, but I have forgotten whom I am addressing at this point.  It
appears to me, in the lake Chapala and Guadalajara areas, that most
mexicans are leary of dogs in general.  I do not feel that I am
treated with less respect because I am blind.  Wish I could say that
about my experiences in the US, grin.  Attitudes are a funny thing,
much depends on the interpretation.

As for why We retired to Mexico, that is a pretty simple answer.
Being retired on Social Security Disability and having no other
income, it is pretty tuff to pay for medications, help, and general
living expenses in the US.

On 4/20/10, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> wrote:
> What is the viewpoint though? And how are people without dogs treated?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Hope Paulos
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 5:00 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
>
> Just to put my 2 cents in here, this seems to be the belief for all
> hispanic
> culture. Had the same views of me and my guide dog from my friends in
> Peru
> and Chile. Think it's that there aren't very many blind peole with guide
>
> dogs in these parts of the world.
> Hope and Beignet
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 3:27 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
>
>
>> Rebecca,
>>
>> I believe that there is quite a difference in attitudes, blind Mexican
>> or blind gringo.  From what I have experienced, Mexicans are very nice
>> and helpful  to me and amazed that I am capable of doing anything.
>> The only blind Mexicans that I have run into, literally, have been
>> beggers.
>>
>> On 4/19/10, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
> wrote:
>>> Hi Linda.
>>> If I can ask, why did you bring your dog to Mexico in 1992, and why
> did
>>> you not bring a cane?
>>> Am not trying to judge, just understand even if it is "I wasn't
>>> thinking".
>>> To Cheryll, how are attitudes towards blind people in Mexico? Any
>>> difference in attitude between blind men and blind women?
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Linda Gwizdak
>>> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 12:37 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
>>>
>>> Hi Cheryl O,
>>> Welcome to the list!
>>>
>>> I see you live in Mexico.  Would you please tell us about life in
> Mexico
>>>
>>> with a guide dog?
>>>
>>> I am Lyn and I'm working with my eighth dog - foourth one from Seeing
>>> Eye.
>>> My dog is Landon, a red Golden/Lab cross and I got him in 2007.
>>>
>>> We work as pet assisted therapists at a military hospital and in two
>>> programs with our local Humane Society.  Landon LOVES this work! LOL
>>>
>>> I live in San Diego so we are very near Tijuana, BC, Mexico. I
> haven't
>>> visited there since 1992 and don't feel like going there again.
> there
>>> is a
>>> warning from the US State Dept. about traveling to Mexico because of
> the
>>>
>>> drug cartels "activity" along the border towns.
>>>
>>> When I brought my guide dog there, the restaurants didn't want me to
>>> bring
>>> my dog inside.  After my explanations of the dog being my guide, they
>>> compromised by having me sit by the door!  Also, I had someone come
> up
>>> to me
>>> to ask if I'd sell him my dog! I said no and told him in Spanish that
>>> the
>>> dog was my eyes - a perro de guia. He then left.  After that, I
> thought
>>> about what if the guy reacted differently and grabbed my dog from me
> and
>>>
>>> there I would be, in a foreign contry, without a mobility aid! I
> didn't
>>> even
>>> have a white cane with me.  Along the border towns, they steal dogs
> to
>>> sell
>>> to labs even though reputable labs will NEVER take a microchipped or
>>> tatooed
>>> dog as it is very illegal.
>>>
>>> The other thing is that Mexico has no laws regarding having dogs
>>> vaccinated
>>> against Rabies or other diseases. Do you know if any of this has
>>> changed?
>>>
>>> Again, welcome and look forward to hearing from you about life in
>>> Mexico!
>>>
>>> Lyn and Landon
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 1:05 PM
>>> Subject: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
>>>
>>>
>>>> Thanks for the welcome Marsha.
>>>>
>>>> Your Q is certainly not too personal.  I live in a very small town
> in
>>>> central Mexico.  My husband and I retired here about 4 years ago.
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> ox.net
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Cheryl in Mexico
>> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>>
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-- 
Cheryl in Mexico
chapalacheryl at gmail.com

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