[nagdu] Consumer report

Sat Aug 21 03:27:00 UTC 2010

Tami-

Welll,  uh, I'm a bit confused - reading your response- but... How about if
I draft a spread sheet with suggested labels for cells and attach it to an
e-mail to you? Can that be done on this list? Or, do I have to send it to a
private individual e-mail address? (Just in case you are still wondering, I
am so not the computer geek!/grin/).

But, that said, possibly, I can be of some limited assistance at setting up
the grid in a spread sheet and outlining some steps to get the grid filled
in. Let me know what you think- and if you started a draft, we could compare
versions-
Thanks

Cathryn
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 9:36 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Consumer report

Cathryn,

That makes perfect sense.  We do have a section on guide dog programs on the
site, but I have been tearing my hair out trying to get myself to the point
that I can plan how to not only update the list but to add in the very
details you mentioned.  Also wondering how to go about recuiting volunteers
to do some of the information gathering.  Hint, hint.  /grin/

Okay, honestly, i'm making my list and checking it twice to start asking for
specific assistance with projects such as that one while I continue doing my
geek thing now that I've finally found a way to do that with what I have at
home to work with...  If that makes sense.  /smile/

Anyway, great ideas.  And thank you for writing my list of ideas for the
guide dog section before I started sitting down typing my abc's or some dang
thing while I try to think of ideas.  /smile/

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Cathryn Bonnette
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 4:25 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Consumer report

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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