[nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful

Joy Relton jrelton at verizon.net
Sun Feb 14 22:49:56 UTC 2010 

Julie,

Thank you for you kind words. I do miss that little yellow rascal. She kept
life very interesting and gave lots of love. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:26 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful


Joy,

I'm sorry for your loss.  I wish you much peace as  you move forward without

Belle.

Thinking of you,
Julie


---- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joy Relton" <jrelton at verizon.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 11:43 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful


> Hi Mark,
>
> Yes, Seeing Eye does teach the follow command. It's not one I like to 
> use often but it can be very helpful in a crowd.
>
> I have used my Trekker with my dog and it works very well. I've now 
> had an opportunity to use it with a cane since I had to put my dog to 
> sleep a few weeks ago. There are some very helpful techniques that 
> I've learned when using the cane that I hadn't needed with the dog. 
> The GPS has helped me know when I veered when crossing a street. For 
> example,  if you go to far to your
> right the GPS will announce that you are on another street. This is of
> course, assuming that the satellites pick up correctly and everything.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 10:56 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>
>
> Does the Seeing Eye teach the follow command? Also, anyone have
> experiences
> with GPS and guide dogs?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julie J" <julielj at windstream.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 9:18 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>
>
>>I don't think a dog would be able to keep up with your friends either. 
>>Not all guides are taught the follow command.  If they are taught 
>>follow I'd advise caution when using it.  Most guides will follow the 
>>person to the exclusion of all other concerns.  If you tell your dog 
>>to follow and your friend darts across the street...well I'm not sure 
>>about others, but I'm pretty firm about never entering the street 
>>unless it is at my specific command.
>>
>> Perhaps you and your friends could agree on a place to meet should you
>> become separated?   Or I guess the thing that would be more in keeping
>> with the times would be to call each other on the cell phone! LOL
>>
>> HTH
>> Julie
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 5:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>>
>>
>>>I think a dog would be useful in situations ware I have to negotiate 
>>>a crowd, or times when I am out in the city. If I am with friends, 
>>>they usually seem to wander aimlessly. By this I mean, they switch 
>>>sides of the
>
>>>street, seemingly at random, dart into stores, and whatnot. The only 
>>>way
>>>I
>
>>>can keep up with them is by taking a guide. I feel as if a dog, would 
>>>allow me to keep up with friends, be useful in crowds and do things 
>>>such as helping find open seats, doors, and things like that. Also I 
>>>feel as if
>
>>>a dog is useful socially, people don't seem to be as intimidated by a 
>>>handler and his dog as they do by a cane. I don't know how a cane is 
>>>intimidating, it might be the fear of the unknown, but there is a 
>>>noticeable reaction in people when they see my cane even when it is 
>>>folded
>
>>>up and under my seat or otherwise out of the way.
>>>
>>> ----- 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: Friday, February 12, 2010 2:27 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are 
>>> useful
>>>
>>>
>>>> How will a dog help you do that? I ask because you seem like you do 
>>>> just fine with a cane, yet you mention certain things not being 
>>>> available to you, things that other high schoolers have access to. 
>>>> How would a dog give you access to these things?
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>>>> Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
>>>> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 1:01 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are 
>>>> useful
>>>>
>>>> By success I meant the ability to travel independently every ware 
>>>> at any
>>>>
>>>> time.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- 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: Friday, February 12, 2010 11:25 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are 
>>>> useful
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Mark, The only secret to your success is you. A dog may help, but 
>>>>> a
>>>> dog
>>>>> will not make you successful.
>>>>> Maybe this is what your parents are pushing back against?
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>>>> On Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 2:15 PM
>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are 
>>>>> useful
>>>>>
>>>>> Albert,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have had my parents talk to several blind professionals that say
>>>> that
>>>>> there dog is the secret to there success, but it hasn't worked 
>>>>> yet. Thanks for your offer Mark
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
>>>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
>>>>> Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:54 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are 
>>>>> useful
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> as a new entrant into the blind community I would be hard pressed 
>>>>>> to
>>>>> not
>>>>>> be
>>>>>> an advocate for guide dog use over the cane any time any day and 
>>>>>> any where. My guide helps me navigate the rigors of new york city 
>>>>>> seamlessly and adeptly. I also never feel insecure or unsure of 
>>>>>> my path as he is extremely dependable  and reliable  more so then 
>>>>>> a cane would or could be in my life.
>>>>>> Maybe your parents would like to call me to get my feedback. I am
>>>>>> available
>>>>>> to help you realize your wish for securing a guide. They make  for a
>>>>> great
>>>>>> option in mobility and they are true companions in the simplest 
>>>>>> sense
>>>>> of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> word. I would also think that moving onto college, that having a
>>>> guide
>>>>>
>>>>>> would
>>>>>> make perfect sense for oh so many reasons. Peace.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>>>>>> CEO/Founder
>>>>>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>>>>>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>>>>>> New York, New York  10004
>>>>>> www.myblindspot.org
>>>>>> PH: 917-553-0347
>>>>>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>>>>>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the 
>>>>>> one
>>>>> who is
>>>>>> doing it."
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>>>>> On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>> Of Dan Weiner
>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:33 PM
>>>>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
>>>>>> Users'
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are 
>>>>>> useful
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, first question is "Is the reason your parents don't support
>>>> your
>>>>>
>>>>>> idea
>>>>>> of getting a dog that they don't like dogs?"--smile. Second of 
>>>>>> all, what is your parents objection, I mean presumably
>>>>> you're
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> one who's blind so maybe you might know a little better than they 
>>>>>> do whether a dog would enhance your lifestyle or not. I'm 
>>>>>> fortunate that by the time I wanted a dog, my parents had figured
>>>>> out
>>>>>> I'd pretty much do what I wanted without permission, so my Dad 
>>>>>> just
>>>>> asked
>>>>>> one or two feeble questions and then left it alone.
>>>>>> He asked "Are you sure a dog will be worth the trouble, how do 
>>>>>> you
>>>>> know
>>>>>> it'll work out."
>>>>>> I explained that, never having a dog, a guide dog, that is,  I'd 
>>>>>> need
>>>>> to
>>>>>> find it out for myself and I really wanted to take care of the 
>>>>>> dog
>>>> and
>>>>> was
>>>>>> ready.
>>>>>> When I got home, he admired the dog enormously. But he asked the
>>>>> second
>>>>>> day
>>>>>> back home if the dog really had to go out with us to breakfast. I
>>>> said
>>>>> it
>>>>>> did, when he seemed to balk I said "I love you Dad, and enjoy 
>>>>>> going
>>>>> out,
>>>>>> but
>>>>>> this is important to me and if you don't want my guide dog than 
>>>>>> I'm
>>>>> afraid
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> won't be going".
>>>>>> Dead silence ensued, and the issue never came up again.  As a 
>>>>>> matter
>>>>> of
>>>>>> fact, my Dad adopted my first hound after he retired and loved 
>>>>>> him.
>>>>> The
>>>>>> dog, Grant, even went to my Dad's funeral's
>>>>>> The only thing I wasn't really ready for was the access issues. 
>>>>>> Being
>>>>> the
>>>>>> brilliant young man I was--smile--it never occurred to me that 
>>>>>> people would have issues with a dog, I mean access issues to 
>>>>>> public places.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, tell us more what the problem is and we'll be happy to talk 
>>>>>> about
>>>>> it.
>>>>>> There are some folks on this list who can be very good role 
>>>>>> models
>>>> and
>>>>>> mentors, I wish there had been such a list when I started out. 
>>>>>> But,
>>>>> then
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> don't think there were such things as computer lists--smile.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Good luck
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dan W. and the Carter Dog
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>>>>> On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>> Of Mark J. Cadigan
>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:17 PM
>>>>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> 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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>>>>>> et
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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