[nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful

[Julie J]

Mark,

Welcome to the list!  There are list members who are just starting into 
their college years with their first guide dogs.  There are other older list 
members who got their first guides during high school or in college. 
There's definitely a lot of pros for using a guide dog, but it's not  always 
a walk in the park, so to speak.

Can you think of reasons that your parents might not want  you to get a 
guide dog?
How are your cane skills?  Have you demonstrated a high level of 
responsibility in other areas of your life?  Do they like dogs?  Are they 
unsure about your leaving home and going off to college?   Do they tend 
toward over helpfulness and feel the dog isn't necessary?  Are they clean 
freaks and feel the dog will mess up the house?  Are they self conscious or 
embarrassed by being seen in public with a blind person?  Would they  feel 
"on display" if they were seen in public with you and your guide dog?  Are 
they concerned about possible expenses?  Do they feel that you are doing 
just fine and guide dogs are only for people who can't travel independently? 
Have you or your parents ever had an opportunity to meet a guide dog team in 
person?

You don't have to answer any of those questions.  It's just stuff to think 
about.  I think at one time or another with various friends and family all 
of the above issues has come up in my life.

Hopefully you will be able to figure out what the underlying issue is so you 
can move forward.

Again, welcome to the list!
Julie
NAGDU list moderator


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 12:16 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful


> Hello list,
>
> I am new to this list, and I am thinking of getting a guide dog for when I 
> go to college. The only problem I am having is convincing my parents that 
> a guide dog is a useful mobility tool.  As you can probably guess, that is 
> a large obstacle. I am currently in high school, so I have to abide by my 
> parent's wishes, or at least for now. What I am asking for is how best to 
> explain to them, that guide dogs are useful mobility tools, that will 
> enhance my independence rather than detract from it. I have given them 
> literature, DVDs and have attempted to talk to them. Any instructional 
> materiel finds its way into the circular file, and they change the subject 
> when I talk to them. Any and all suggestions are welcome.
>
> Thanks
> Mark
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