[nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful

cheryl echevarria cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Sun Feb 14 23:25:24 UTC 2010 

Caroline I am in Brentwood on the South Shore also.

Cheryl Echevarria
Independent Travel Consultant
http://Echevarriatravel.com
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----- 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: Sunday, February 14, 2010 6:27 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful


> I agree. Where do you live? I am in Bellport on the south shore.
>
> 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 solsticesinger
> Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:54 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>
> Albert,
>
> I, too, am a huge GDF fan. I'm currently working my second dog from them,
> and, in fact, will be taking her to visit the vet there a week from
> tomorrow. Maybe I'll con them into letting me stay for a meal or two. 
> (Grin)
>
> Shannon and Caroline
> ----- 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: Saturday, February 13, 2010 9:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>
>
> Do not rule anything out. there are scholarships for college bound blind
> students from the nfb and the lighthouse international. Then too, you 
> could
> look into your local lions clubs as they also grant scholarships to 
> students
> in their districts, could come in very handy for books and supplies. I am 
> a
> big fan of the guide dog foundation here on long island. Their
> accommodations and food are remarkable, the staff is supportive and warm,
> and you are a hop skip and a jump to Manhattan if you wanted to go with me
> or someone from the area. 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 Mark J. Cadigan
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 10:18 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>
> I was definitely thinking about going to the NFB convention. I just was 
> not
> planning on dragging my parents along kicking and screeming. As for
> scholarships, I am not eligible for any as far as I know.
>
> Thanks
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 12:59 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
>
>
> > Mark,
> >    The best advice I can give you on transitioning to a dog or
> > transitioning to college is "Don't let it stress you out!" As for doing
> > them simultaneously, see previous sentence! (smile) You may not be able 
> > to
>
> > control the pressures from the outside, but yu can control your 
> > reactions
> > to them. Don't sweat the small stuff....it's all small stuff!
> >    Hey, did you ever think of asking your parents to go with you to an 
> > NFB
>
> > convention? You would have an awesome time and your parents would, as
> > well!"Oh, sure!" you say to yourself sarcastically, "How much fun it 
> > would
>
> > be to have 3000 blind people in one place!"
> >    Your parents might learn how many mentors there are for you! You 
> > could
> > bring them to the NAGDU meeting so they could meet 100 or so of the most
> > dedicated guide dog users in the country! Yeah, that might be fun!
> >    Also, have you thought about applying for an NFB scholarship? Maybe 
> > you
>
> > getting $3000 - 12,000 might be a way to get them there! What do you 
> > plan
> > to study in college?
> >
> > Fraternally yours,
> > Marion Gwizdala
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Fraternally yours,
> > Marion
> >
> > ----- 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: Thursday, February 11, 2010 10:13 AM
> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
> >
> >
> >> Thanks again for all of your suggestions. I will use the points made on
> >> this list next time I talk to the parents. Any thoughts about
> >> transitioning to college and a dog simultaneously?
> >>
> >> ----- 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: Thursday, February 11, 2010 9:50 AM
> >> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
> >>
> >>
> >>> Hi Mark,
> >>>
> >>> When I went to college I shared my suite with two other women but my
> >>> room
> >>> was a single. Fortunately I was able to do this, but my reason for
> >>> electing
> >>> this arrangement had to do with the amount of equipment and the type 
> >>> of
> >>> equipment that I used to study, not my dog. In those days, and I'm now
> >>> dating myself, we had reel-to-reel machines to use to read the books 
> >>> and
>
> >>> all
> >>> other kinds of equipment like a typewriter, a Braille writer and more.
> >>> There
> >>> weren't computers, Victor Reader Streams or any of that stuff and I
> >>> thought
> >>> spreading all of my stuff all over the room and taking up more than my
> >>> share
> >>> would be unfair. My dog, slept next to my bed in the center part of 
> >>> the
> >>> suite with the other two women and was never a problem. When I shared
> >>> apartments it was never a problem with my room mates. In fact, one of 
> >>> my
> >>> room mates went to the doctor and he asked her if there were any 
> >>> animals
>
> >>> in
> >>> the apartment that she could be allergic to and she said no. Then the
> >>> doctor
> >>> asked if she wasn't rooming with me and didn't I have a Seeing Eye 
> >>> Dog?
> >>> She
> >>> said, oh I didn't even think of Vikki as a dog or any other animal. 
> >>> When
>
> >>> it
> >>> was in the dorms or apartment buildings my friends all enjoyed my dog
> >>> along
> >>> with me. There were rules about not petting while in harness but she
> >>> enjoyed
> >>> many a game of ball down the halls of the dorm and traveled with me 
> >>> and
> >>> my
> >>> friends everywhere. I have never had anyone tell me that my dogs were
> >>> not
> >>> well groomed, or that they smelled and they've been welcome pretty 
> >>> much
> >>> anywhere that I have gone. If they weren't and it was a legal issue I
> >>> addressed it, if it was the other persons preference I let them deal
> >>> with it
> >>> and didn't invade their space and ensured that they did the same with
> >>> me.
> >>>
> >>> In fact, the last two dogs that I have had to put to sleep have been 
> >>> so
> >>> well
> >>> accepted by my church that the members of the choir donated money 
> >>> toward
> >>> hymnals and made contributions to the Seeing Eye in their honor. I'd 
> >>> say
> >>> that was acceptance. I'm guessing that you'll work out your issues 
> >>> with
> >>> your
> >>> parents when you let them see that you are an adult who is capable of
> >>> handling your life and your life decisions. Be gentle with your 
> >>> parents
> >>> though, as the song says "teach your children well, their children's
> >>> hell
> >>> will slowly go by". In other words, it's probably premature to push 
> >>> the
> >>> dog
> >>> issue since you don't know yet where you will be. In the mean time,
> >>> collect
> >>> the facts and meet some folks in the area who are using dogs
> >>> successfully.
> >>> Then, make your decision based on what's best for you and nicely 
> >>> inform
> >>> your
> >>> parents. That's what my kids have done. We have the type of 
> >>> relationship
> >>> that my husband and I have always sought to ensure that they have the
> >>> tools
> >>> to make their own decisions and the understanding that, if they make a
> >>> mistake they can come for help and support whether or not we agree 
> >>> with
> >>> their decision. Talking to your parents on some of these issues will 
> >>> go
> >>> further than talking to us, except for gathering information and 
> >>> facts.
> >>> Good
> >>> luck.
> >>>
> >>> -----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 7:59 PM
> >>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Thanks all of you for your suggestions. I like both the Seeing Eye, 
> >>> and
> >>> GDB.
> >>>
> >>> Ware as I live in MA the Seeing Eye is a lot closer. I am a junior in
> >>> high
> >>> school so I haven't yet decided what college I will be attending. What 
> >>> I
>
> >>> do
> >>> know, is I want to be in a big city with access to a good public 
> >>> transit
> >>> network such as the MBTA. I currently take the T to and from places 
> >>> all
> >>> over
> >>>
> >>> Boston using my cane. Because of this independence I am having
> >>> difficulty
> >>> explaining to my parents that a dog would only enhance it making me a
> >>> more
> >>> competent, safer, and faster traveler. Have any of you ever 
> >>> experienced
> >>> complaints about your dog either shedding or smelling bad? Is this a
> >>> problem
> >>>
> >>> with roommates in college? Like most teenagers my room is never clean
> >>> for
> >>> long, but it is never that messy. I always take excellent care of all 
> >>> my
> >>> equipment, and don't see how the maintenance of a dog will be a 
> >>> problem.
>
> >>> My
> >>> parents seem to have concerns of how I will maintain a dog in college.
> >>> Any
> >>> thoughts?
> >>>
> >>> ----- 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 2:29 PM
> >>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> First, where are you located? Maybe there is a guide program in your
> >>>> area which would allow you to sort of host a dog for sometime until
> >>>> the guide is matched up with a handler. This would help to introduce
> >>>> your parents to the
> >>>> concepts  and strength having a guide could and would lend to your
> >>>> life.
> >>>> You
> >>>> could also let them know that their role in your life is to make you 
> >>>> as
> >>>> completely independent as possible and that the introduction of a 
> >>>> guide
> >>>> dog
> >>>> into your life would do just that. you could also play on their
> >>>> sympathies
> >>>> by letting them know you are looking to be able to walk independently
> >>>> with
> >>>> friends and thereby depend less on their eyes and more so on your own
> >>>> senses
> >>>> coupled with the security and independence a guide would lend to your
> >>>> life.
> >>>> Where are you intending on going to college? If you are hoping to go
> >>>> away,
> >>>> your parents would need to understand  that a guide would help you to
> >>>> move
> >>>> swiftly and securely through a campus ensuring your timely attendance
> >>>> to
> >>>> all
> >>>> your classes. Again, maybe a talk with a teacher/principal  might 
> >>>> help
> >>>> advance your crusade.
> >>>>
> >>>> 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 Mark J. Cadigan
> >>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 2:11 PM
> >>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Explaining to parents that guide dogs are useful
> >>>>
> >>>> Dan W,
> >>>>
> >>>> My mom claims to be terrified of dogs, but yet we have a pet dog.  My
> >>>> parents claim that a guide dog will smell, then I point out that if
> >>>> you take
> >>>>
> >>>> care of it properly it won't. Then I point out people we know with
> >>>> guide dogs that don't smell. My dad's response to this is to tell 
> >>>> this
> >>>> story of his friend's son's roommate's friend had a roommate with a
> >>>> smelly guide dog.
> >>>>
> >>>> This happened so long ago, and is so far removed from the situation
> >>>> that I can't see how it possibly has any bearing on the current
> >>>> situation. Also that story is so convoluted that is impossible to
> >>>> verify. And the argument goes on and on Ad nauseam. It is getting to
> >>>> the point that I think they are just attempting to exorcize there
> >>>> ability to make arbitrary decisions.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>> From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
> >>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog 
> >>>> Users'"
> >>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:33 PM
> >>>> 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
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> nagdu mailing list
> >>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> >>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> >>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> >>>>> for
> >>>>> nagdu:
> >>>>>
> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dcwein%40dcwein
> >>>> .cnc.n
> >>>>> et
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
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> >>>>
> >>>>
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> >>>
> >>>
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> >>
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