[nagdu] just a couple of additional comments about the9-year-oldboy and his guide dog

Tue Feb 9 16:28:20 UTC 2010

Rebecca,
    In the 1950s, there was very little in the way of rehabilitation for the 
blind. Blind people were not expected to be able to travel very 
independently nor was it believed they could do much in the way of gainful 
employment other than work in a sheltered workshop.
    Though he did not work in the workshop, he did sell the resulting 
products - brooms, mops, etc., stamped with the label "Blind Made Products. 
I also know that he had an entrepreneurial spirit and also purchased other 
cleaning supplies, such as buckets, squeegees, detergents, and floor wax to 
add to his line of products and income stream. My cousin (his son-in-law) 
who acted as his chauffeur, told me he would often complain about the low 
margin for selling the brooms and mops, so I guess he was treated much the 
same way as those who actually worked in the workshop making the items. 
Again, it was not expected of a blind person to do anything more than 
workshop labor and selling workshop products. Eventually, my uncle ditched 
the workshop products and bought them on the wholesale market at a better 
price!
    He was very active in his church, trimmed his own trees, cared for a 
beautiful flower garden, raised a family, and was always having parties at 
his house. Unfortunately, there was very little training in independent 
mobility, so he never used a white cane. He did have a Leader Dog, though, 
but was pretty much unable to travel independently without it. For this 
reason, when his first dog passed away, he relied upon others in the family 
to guide him.
My uncle was a caretaker at a city park when he lost his eyesight and had to 
hide it from his supervisors. He took his vacation to get his guide dog. 
When he returned to work with his dog, he was dismissed and there was 
absolutely nothing he could do about it. There were no state or federal laws 
prohibiting such discrimination and very little in the way of compensation 
for those who were blind or otherwise disabled.
    I guess that, even by today's standards, my uncle was a pretty 
independent person, despite the lack of available rehab services, 
opportunities, and legal protections.
    If given the same circumstances today, I believe my uncle would have 
received a great deal more rehabilitation, including O&M and vocational 
training. then again, perhaps his vocational training would have simply 
helped him continue as a caretaker and he may not have been the successful 
entrepreneur he was.
    I know that my family didn't expect much from him. They never really 
talked much about his business accomplishments. I always remember how they 
would comment on how "amazing" he was because he did the simplest things. 
This attitude and misconception was part of what kept me from admitting I 
was blind and getting the rehab I needed. I was an ordinary kid! If I needed 
to be "amazing" or "extraordinary" to be successful, I wouldn't be able to 
cut it!
    So, as I write this, I realize that, even by today's standards, my uncle 
was very independent. By the standards of the 1950s & 60s, I guess he was 
pretty "amazing"! He didn't let his blindness limit him nor did he let the 
lack of quality services and low expectations keep him from achieving his 
dreams!His name was Alexander White, but everyone called him "Dud"! Uncle 
Dud taught me much more than I ever realized, not only about blindness but 
about life!

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC Inc)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 8:33 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] just a couple of additional comments about 
the9-year-oldboy and his guide dog


> Marian,
> How so? How was your uncle independent by 1950's standards but not so
> now?
> Very curious.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Marion & Martin
> Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 1:22 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] just a couple of additional comments about
> the9-year-old boy and his guide dog
>
> Charlene,
>    There is a very different attitude today, even among those of whom
> we
> would say are custodial. Even the most custodial of the agencies today
> would
> have been considered progressive in the 50s! My uncle was a very
> independent
> blind person in the 50s & 60s; however, as I look back on his life, I
> would
> not consider him so by today's standards! I also believe that he would
> agree
> with me, were he alive to do so!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Charlene Ota" <caota at hawaii.rr.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 2:55 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] just a couple of additional comments about the
> 9-year-old
> boy and his guide dog
>
>
>> After seeing some of the comments, I just wanted to add a couple of
> things
>> about this situation that might be interesting and might clarify.
>>
>> When I spoke with Tim about this experience, I could sense that it was
> a
>> very important part of his growing up years and is a very vond memory.
>
>> It's
>> kind of like he speaks of it with great pride and fondness. It meant a
> lot
>> to him that I asked about it and wanted to share it with the list.
>>
>> I think for much of this country, the philosophy about kids traveling
>> independently, whether with a cane or a dog was very different 50
> years
>> ago.
>> I hessitated to add one of Tim's comments, but decided to share it
> because
>> it just shows how different philosophy was at that time, not to start
> any
>> arguments or offend anyone. When Tim's Mom was looking into getting
> Tim
>> the
>> dog, she called The Seeing Eye for their suggestions or feedback and
> they
>> told her she should basically be put away for even allowing her child
> to
>> travel independently. I just share this to say that we have come a
> long
>> way
>> today, I don't share it as an example of Seeing Eye's current
> philosophy.
>>
>> Tim is a unique person with a unique experience that I feels hould be
> a
>> part
>> of the history of traveling with guide dogs. It's not really about
> whether
>> kids should have dogs as I also agree it's probably not something for
> most
>> kids but it was very visionary of this Dr. Ford to have thought about
> it
>> and
>> given it a try and much more so back in the 50's. It's a good thing
> that
>> we
>> always have people who are thinking outside the box and trying new
> things
>> and going in new directions. somethings they're successful, somethings
>
>> it's
>> just a learning experience and even then sometimes someone still
> benefits
>> from it.
>>
>> ALoha,
>> Charlene
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