[nagdu] choosing a school

[Julie J]

AnnaLisa,

I don't have any answers for you, but wanted to send a sincere thank you for 
being so open and honest about the hard choices.  It is definitely a lot to 
think about.

While not guide dog related, I do participate in a service organization that 
I'm not 100% comfortable with their beliefs about blindness.  I did join 
with the hope of helping at least a few people get a better understanding. 
I can understand and appreciate that approach, yet I do also feel sometimes 
that I'm not making enough progress to balance my membership in the 
organization.  I don't know.  It's tough.

All my best,
Julie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AnnaLisa Anderson" <annalisa at sector14.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] choosing a school


> Hi Steve and all,
>
> Steve, I hear ya.  I have had two wonderful dogs from LD, and I have
> established a good relationship with them over the years.  I have also 
> made
> so many friends from there, handlers and raisers, it would be pretty 
> painful
> for me to break ties with the school over ownership.  Part of me feels as 
> if
> I would be betraying them, not the school so much, but the people there 
> and
> the good friends I have made.  Not to mention the hassle of applying to
> another school and being put on a waiting list for who knows how long...
> But Sunny is almost 8 years old, so I am being forced to think about it
> more.  She is not ready for retirement yet, but who knows how much longer
> she has, a year, two years, three?  If I did decide to make the switch, 
> how
> soon would I have to think of starting the application process?  I really
> strongly disagree with the ownership policy, but there are so many other
> positive things the school has done, and is doing to improve things, such 
> as
> the Trekker program, the accelerated mobility program, the wonderful new
> dorm they built a few years ago, reducing class sizes etc., I just don't
> know whether ownership is a big enough deal to me to switch schools.  And 
> I
> ask myself, by not switching schools with the current policy as it is now,
> am I only helping to perpetuate this paternalistic policy?  I know what
> Marion would say, a definite and resounding yes! <smile>  On the one hand,
> would it be better for me to stay there and voice my strong objection and
> maybe by doing so try to change things, or on the other hand, would it be
> better for me to leave and tell them why I am choosing not to go there
> again?  I truly am doing a lot of soul searching about this, and I want to
> hear from you on this list because you can be more objective.  It would be
> great to hear from anyone but especially other LD grads on this.  Of 
> course
> I know in the long run, the decision is mine, but I value your opinions as
> well and want to hear from all sides of the issue to help me decide.
>
> Thanks.
>
> AnnaLisa and Sundance
>
>
>
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