[nagdu] Consumer report

Sat Aug 21 03:54:53 UTC 2010

Julie,

What about a combined resource as a tool for those seeking to compare guide
dog schools for training etc.? One page of the resource could be a list of
questions as you listed with cells showing the number of respondents giving
each answer with row and column totals.
Another page could compare policies of the different schools in areas I
listed. The combined effect would show what the schools require and provide
according to their policies. The other page would show user responses and
satisfaction with performance of the schools. Anyone who reads the resource
can decide what is most important to them and choose accordingly. Finally, I
can envision a separate page with information about owner trained guide
dogs. This page could inform readers that the ADA does not require training
from a school, and provide information about steps/resources for beginning
to train your guide dog, sources for puppies, breeds and considerations,
foods, harnesses, leashes, shampoos, grooming supplies, for all the
different stages etc. etc. etc. 

Thus, the final result is a more sophisticated and well informed population
of guide dog users who are no longer victims of guide dog schools, guide dog
trainers, with all related attitudes toward "the blind" etc. This population
will be enabled to take more control of their lives, to start deciding which
breed they want, how long they will take off from work for guide dog
training, whether they prefer to own their guide dog or not, etc. These are
the obvious decisions most adults would expect to make about their own
lives. How it has happened that human beings who happen to be blind have
allowed some normally sighted "professionals" to maintain inappropriate
control is beyond me! It doesn't matter- it needs to stop! 
JMHO

Cathryn Bonnette

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 7:47 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Consumer report

Cathryn,

Yes, it does make sense.  However GDUI has already done an inventory of all 
this information.  It is very thorough.  I believe it was updated in 2006.

What I am suggesting is more of a user satisfaction sort of thing. 
Questions might include:
How well do you feel your dog was trained?
How well do you feel your dog matches your lifestyle and needs?
How well do you feel prepared to handle an access challenge?
Does your dog have any health concerns?
And so on.  A follow up survey could be done a year later to see if the team

is still together.  There could also be additional questions about 
satisfaction with follow up services.

Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cathryn Bonnette" <cathrynisfinally at verizon.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 6:25 PM
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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