[nagdu] Critical blind people

Sat Jul 31 23:32:52 UTC 2010

Hi Julie,

Loved your story- and I have another. I got on the elevator at work with my
dog, Abby, and my boss, a deputy assistant secretary,  was standing in front
of us. Since the elevator was very crowded with standing room only and the
dress code is business professional with suits that need dry cleaning, I
didn't want Abby's nose to make spots on people's suits, so I very quietly
said to Abby, "Don't sniff." Now, my boss knew exactly what I was doing with
Abby, but he responded immediately in a defensive tone, probably with a huge
grin on his face, , "I wasn't sniffing!" which led to an elevator full of
ROLOL  Wonder if I should teach my next dog German? /smile/
Rascals all those guys.

Cathryn (& Abby)
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 7:11 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Critical blind people

Dan,

I just have to tell this story.

Several years ago when I took Belle to convention, I was in the elevator 
with her.  anyway it was just Belle and me at first.  I was leaning on the 
side wall and Belle was facing the door standing in front of me.  I was 
holding her leash just a couple of inches from the collar.  A few floors 
down the doors open and a blind lady with a cane gets on.  she does this 
turn to face the doors and sort of steps back in the process.  Unfortunately

her backside was the exact height of Belle's nose.  I didn't feel the leash 
even twitch, but she says, "Your dog sniffed me.  Aren't you going to 
correct her?"  All I could think of was that quote from Bill Clinton, "I 
didn't inhale."  ROFLOL

Julie

----- 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: Saturday, July 31, 2010 5:15 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Critical blind people

> Charlene.
> Interesting story...the comment the person on the elevator made is 
> precisely
> the type of thing that makes me hesitate to be around a lot of blind 
> people
> with dogs--smile.
> Everyone's a critic, I seem to be the only one I know who doesn't try to
> tell other handlers what to do.
> Our fellow blind seem to be generally a rather judgmental lot who jump to
> conclusions.  I don't want another blind person or sighted person to try 
> to
> make me feel ashamed because I may find things harder, Hell, some things I
> do better than the self-appointed critics, some worse.
> This is actually a comment not meant only in terms of guide dog use, but 
> in
> general terms.
>
> You want examples, fine;
> I have  a hearing loss in one ear, I can't tell where sound comes from 
> very
> well, in other words I have problems with sound localization.
> If I had a dollar for every time some fellow blind genius has made asinine
> comments such as: "Oh, I wonder why they gave him a dog, why can't he 
> follow
> my voice", I'd be a rich guy.
> Of course, our sighted brother and sisters are champions of this type of
> brilliant and I believe deliberately hurtful comment.
>
> I know Rox here has hearing problems, have blind people acted like idiots 
> to
> you, too?
>
> We want acceptance as blind people but we seem to have very little 
> tolerance
> for diversity.
>
> Now when at Leader, several of my fellow American students made helpful
> comments like those. I say fellow American because I did notice the
> Brazilians and Spaniards, whom I can communicate with through my knowledge
> of languages, were not making snide comments.    When at Leader, it
> generally was gossiped that I couldn't find my chair at the cafeteria.
> Yes, why?
> 1. We don't work our doggies in the dorm for a long time.
> 2.  Unlike everyone else, I'm attempting to be considerate and not barrel
> through the place stepping on every one and everyone's dogs. Maybe that's 
> a
> slight exaggeration.
> Also, I felt I didn't get a very good explanation of where my seat was and

> I
> didn't have a chance to practice without a million people whom I had to
> worry about stepping on--smile.
>
> Now, that type of stuff used to piss me off big time. Obviously it still
> does--smile--but I was much calmer about it this time than say other 
> times,
> because I figured, I'm coming to guide dog school to better my quality of
> life and the other students won't be going home with me to hold my hand 
> and
> make fun.
>
> Any comments?--smile.
>
> Especially some of the partially sighted guys were giving everyone else a
> blow by blow description of my hesitant walking style. I suppose they 
> would
> have been happier if I lumbered barreling down the hall stepping on people
> and running them over because I couldn't hear where they were.  I'll make
> sure to two that next time so that everyone's happy.
> When I'm by myself I'm fast, actually--smile
>
>
> This has gone way off track, but I'd love to hear everyone's take on it.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Dan W. and the Carter Hound
>
>
>
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