[nagdu] a couple questions

[Jordan Gallacher]

The training was pretty good at TSE.  I find that GDB to be quicker and you
get the same information and much more customization to your training is
done.  You also don't have the application fee if you are tight on money.
GDB works really well with fitting into your schedule, and since the classes
are only two weeks long, at the Oregon campus and three weeks long, at the
California campus, there are more classes per month which gives you an
opportunity to pick the best time to go.  I can't say anything bad about GDB
because there isn't anything bad to say about the school.  It's all good
unlike what I obviously say about TSE.
Jordan

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Nimer Jaber
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2010 11:57 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a couple questions

Hello,

I Applied to all those schools. I only attended Seeing Eye. GDB would've 
been my second pick. Leaderdog has a very lengthy app and I believe they 
require six references and a video for their app, although I could be 
wrong about that. Also, I've known a few leaderdog teams, and they 
didn't work as well as, in my experience with knowing people, GDB and 
TSE. GDB's staff were extremely kind and their app process was very fast 
and smooth. TSE's a good school. My issues with them were as a result of 
issues with one or two staff members, and not the instructors, the 
training, the accommodations, or anything else about the school. The 
stay is very comfortable, the app process was very smooth, and the 
training was excellent and very individualized. Abbie is a great guide 
and more importantly a better dog. Any times I've had slight issues with 
navigation (most if not all were my fault), the support I received both 
over the phone and in person was very quick and always solved my 
problems in one or two calls. I've never needed more than one visit from 
an instructor to resolve a problem. I was able to get help from an 
instructor navigating a college campus as well as some pretty busy and 
complicated intersections near my place when I moved to Austin. So if 
you want my recommendation, I'd pick TSE because I haven't found anyone 
who has attended there and has had any major issues that were 
unresolvable. If you don't wish to, from what I've heard and observed, 
GDB is an excellent choice as well, and they do have two campuses, so 
you will get to choose whether you wish to work in a more populated area 
or in a more country setting, although from what I hear they still work 
hard, as TSE does, to put graduates in all types of different environments.

Thanks, and hope this helps.

Nimer J

On 12/05/2010 11:44 PM, Terra Syslo wrote:
> Hi. I am in the process to start applying to guide dog schools, and I
think
> I have it narrowed down to 2 or 3 schools I'm looking at. Can anyone give
me
> some information as to your experiences with Leader Dogs for the Blind?
I'm
> also considering GDF and maybe Seeing Eye. Thanks for any info.
>
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