[nagdu] Consumer report

Sat Aug 21 18:26:27 UTC 2010

Sounds good - and practicable.

Going grocery shopping- back soon.  Keep me posted.

Thanks

Cathryn

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 1:15 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Consumer report

Cathryn,

I'm not sure if there are specific rules on approval from the board.  I 
wouldn't feel comfortable with doing such a project without their approval 
and endorsement though.

A third info page on owner training could be added, but the amount of 
information to explain how step-by-step is probably more than can even be 
contained in a single book.  So the web page would have to be more of an 
overview thing or things to consider if a person is thinking about it.

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: Saturday, August 21, 2010 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Consumer report

> 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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>>
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