[nagdu] Consumer report

[Cathryn Bonnette]

Tracy, Marion, and All,

I think the idea of a consumer survey is excellent.

A list of questions regarding policies could be presented in a table or
spread sheet format and be very informative to persons who re considering
applying to a guide dog training school for the first time, to those who are
returning after their first guide, to family and friends of guide dog users,
etc.  One example of a policy question is the ownership status of guide dogs
upon graduation. The guide dog schools could be asked for written or
electronic copies of their policies and a table compiled on that basis. 
School contact persons, e-mails, telephone numbers, and addresses could be
included in the table and/or there could be links to the schools' web pages
embedded in the table.  Potentially, the draft table could be circulated to
the schools for corrections/updates as needed.  This table of policy
comparisons could be posted on the NAGDU home page as a basic resource.
Also, a note included with the table could be a disclaimer that because
school policies can change periodically, interested applicants should
contact the schools directly for copies of their current policies.  
Example policy areas might include, but are not limited to, the following:

Entry requirements (check all that apply)
Medical report
Eye doctor's report
Recommendations (number required if applicable)
Video
Orientation and mobility report 
Etc.

Local Home training 
(Yes/No)

Guide Dog ownership upon successful graduation  
(Check one. School/Guide Dog User)

And so on.

Does this make sense to anyone?

JMHO

Cathryn Bonnette
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 10:47 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] Consumer report

I think some kind of consumer report would be great, though I don't know
how it could be done right.
When I read "A Guide to Guide Dog Schools", it made some schools who have
a bad reputation sound great, and some with a good reputation sound bad,
so plain statistics don't really do the job.
Then you have those who think their school can do no wrong, and those who
have an axe to grind from something school X did 20 or 30 years ago.  And
those who are reluctant to talk about problems.  I find myself sometimes
hesitant to "air dirty laundry in public."  But, if someone can figure out
how to get around those problems, a consumer report would be a very good
thing.
Though of course it would have to be updated from time to time, as
schools' policies and training change.
Tracy



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