[nagdu] My dream is gone

[Linda Gwizdak]

Hey Gail,
Don't give up!  GDB seems to reject lots of people for lots of strange 
reasons. I have a friend who got rejected from them for being "too active" - 
say what??? Another friend for not having a good sense of direction - she 
gets herself from point A to point B with her cane - duh!!  I was rejected 
because they chose to listen to lies from people with little credibility 
rather than see me for who I am or how I work my dogs - I'm on Dog Number 8!

As others have been saying, try other programs like Guide Dog Foundation, 
Guide Dogs of America, Guide Dogs of the Desert, try that Leader program. 
Guide Dogs for the Blind isn't the only act in town.

I can see the programs having reservbations aboout your inability to travel 
outdoors for much of the year.  Fact is, all the dogs need to work to stay 
in a safe, working order. However,a low key, mellow dog will be happy to 
have alot of down time but it still needs to work to keep it's skills.  Case 
in point:  I know a woman here who has a dog from GDA.  The lady is Asian 
with an American Caucasian husband.  Her culture is to stay behind the 
husband, don't make a fuss, and not to be too independent.  How GDA ever 
accepted her is beyond my thinking.  I've been places with this woman and 
her dog and she isn't safe at all.  Her dog's skills are almost gone - the 
dog didn't leave GDA like that.  She has the dog with her but never works 
the dog by herself - and it shows.

You'll have to demonstrate to a program that you will use the dog for what 
it has been trained for.  All are clear on that score - hey, they put alot 
of time and money into a dog and they want it to go to someone who needs and 
wants to work it for maximum independence.

I think you can do this.  See if you can find a program that can home train 
you. How about travel during the early mornings and eveniongs when the sun 
goes down?  The humidity wouyld still be there but not as bad without the 
hot sun blasting down on you.  Can you walk well after the summer during the 
spring, fall, and winter? I think it can work if you can do this.  You can 
walk in malls during the summer months.   You might have to take a cab or 
paratransit to do that.

You live in the midwest - forgot where you said?  I will tell you that it is 
cheaper to live there than here in California.  Southern California has the 
best weather - hot but dry with little rain during the winter months.  No 
rain at all in the summer and fall except for the mountains and desert.  But 
it is VERY expensive here!

I come from New England where it gets hot and humid as well - maybe less 
than midwest or the South.

Don't leave the list or do anything while you're upset - you usually make 
the wrong decision then! (grin!)  Folks on the list want to help you where 
we can.  Lots of people have other disabilities other than blindness and yet 
they have dogs so, don't give up yet! LOL!

Regards,

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gail" <deerskin at oct.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 8:31 PM
Subject: [nagdu] My dream is gone


>
>
> This, I'm sure, is no news to anyone here, but its the end of my dream for
> me. I got a call from GDB today, and I was turned down on two counts. One,
> because I dont have, and not likely to have, professional O&M training. 
> And
> two, because my health-my breathing-wont allow me to do weeks of walking
> blocks around and around our little town after getting a dog from them. In
> our state, the weather is miserabley humid, and for someone with asthma,
> there is only a short time in the spring when I am able to be outside
> without feeling I am suffocating from humidity.
>
> I had chosen GDB as the school I hoped to go to, because California 
> weather
> is dry, and I was sure I could build my stamina up to cope with the 
> training
> which would be approxamatly the level I was at when my last dog retired
> herself. But I will never be able to reach a level of stamina where I 
> would
> be able to walk the 7 to 8 blocks here that GDB expects graduates to when
> they get home. I can understand why they want this, that the bonding is
> important...it just never crossed my mind that it would have to be done in
> this way. I never had to with the dogs I trained myself-bonding and work
> went on at home and away from home.
>
> To hear this was the death knell to my dream. There is no hope of my ever
> getting a guide dog now...I'm sure that all the other schools have similar
> reqirements, and since I would have to go to one in a dry climate, so I
> could breathe well enough to go through training, even if there were a
> school elsewhere, I would not be able to go.
> I am utterly shattered, in tears all day, knowing now that the rest of my
> life will be spent sitting here in the corner of our living room. Learning
> that my life is only to be what I see on a computer screen.
>
> I wish to thank you all, for all your kindness, caring and good wishes. 
> But
> it will be too painful to remain here, with no hope for release from this
> prision of our house. So I think it best I leave.
>
>
> God bless and keep you all close to His Heart, all of you wonderful people
>
> Gail
>
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