[nagdu] Consumer report

Sat Aug 21 16:17:08 UTC 2010

Hi Julie

As one who has been working on a manuscript for eons, far be it from me to
interfere with your plan, and more power to you! 
So, if I understand correctly, we might proceed with a spread sheet with
page 1 containing  contact info, abbreviations for names, policies in
certain areas, and spread sheet  page 2 containing consumer feedback in
certain categories. 

Does a board of directors or similar body need to approve this? Sorry, I'm
not up on the actual organization of this group (yet).

Thanks 

Cathryn Bonnette 
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 8:04 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Consumer report

Cathryn,

It sounds great!  The old NAGDU website did have the names and contact info 
of all the American guide dog schools and some of the international ones. 
It would be easy enough to get particular program info like length of 
training and ownership policies for each.  Although that will take a lot of 
time.

The survey on consumer satisfaction will take quite a bit of time and 
legwork to complete.  I still think it would be an excellent resource.  If 
NAGDU as a whole wants to go forward with it, I willing to work on it.

but about the bit on owner training...unfortunately there is currently no 
resource or training manual on how to do such a thing.  I'm working on 
writing a book on the topic.  I am always happy to answer questions and 
share my perspective on a particular area of owner training.  However the 
honest truth is that I am hoping to sell the book not give it away.

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 10:54 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Consumer report

> 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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