[nagdu] An O&M self teachig site

[Julie J]

Gail,

A few more ideas...

What do you think about working on general stamina in your home?  I'm 
meaning an exercise video or audio workout or some set of exercises that you 
like or find in a book.  I think it might have a lot of benefits for you, 
including helping with your ability to walk longer and longer when the 
weather cooperates. I think it might also be very helpful for your general 
health and outlook.  I'm saying this is the most gentle, empathetic way I 
know how.  I know that exercise, even just dancing in the living room has 
helped me tremendously, especially in the long winter months when we 
literally cannot leave the house because we are snowed in.

What do you think about some sort of mask for when you are outside?  I know 
nothing about these sorts of things, but I'm wondering if there is some 
piece of equipment that would allow you to breath easier while outdoors.

I am 99.9% confident that going through the O&M program that Leader Dogs 
offers does not mean that you are committed to getting a dog through them. 
Hopefully Leader grads will speak up, but I'm remembering a story of one 
person who went through the O&M program and then decided that the cane was 
going to work for them and didn't get a dog at all.  I'm remembering a story 
of another person that went through the program and then went somewhere else 
to get a guide dog.

All my best,
Julie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gail" <deerskin at oct.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] An O&M self teachig site


>
> Hello!
>
> Yes, I know the best thing to do is to have a teacher, and believe me, I
> would by far prefer that! But as far as I have found so far, all the old
> State instructors were fired, and in the weeks I have been searching, I 
> have
> not found even one who is still working. I have a list of phone numbers as
> long as your arm, that I've been calling, including orgs like Envision, 
> but
> every single one has the person on the other end who says 'I'm going to
> start checking around and I will get right back to you tomorrow/in a day 
> or
> two/fill in the blank time frame. When I call back, they all say the same
> thing -"still looking", sounding peeved I didnt trust them to call back.
>
> About the street corners- we live in a very small Kansas town, and in our
> whole county, there is only one stop light! <g> So all corners are
> unprotected'. And yes, they give me the willies, along with the fact that 
> on
> some streets, there is no sidewalk, very few crosswalks (and even fewer
> drivers who give a turkey if someone is in one...a fact that really is 
> scary
> because those drivers are mostly semi drivers, or half drunk kids). Even
> walking from here to church will be a nightmare of crumbled sidewalks, 
> curb
> cuts full of sand (guess I can use that as a signal I'm at a corner, after
> all! <G>) and crazed kids who shouldnt be let behind a wheel till they are
> old enough to have to pull a long white beard out of the way, and throw
> their crutches in the back seat before getting in the car.
>
> What makes this hunt for an O&M teacher bad is that every guide dog school
> insists that I have professional O&M before they will take me, which is
> beginning to limit me down to the only school in the country that teaches 
> it
> as well as training you with your new dog. And I **really** dont want to 
> go
> there, unless forced by no other option. I cant handle working outside in
> Midwest weather, in any season, summer or winter, because of my asthma. 
> But
> if I have to, I'll bite the bullet and hope the school will realise though 
> I
> m 50, I am more like someone 10 or 20 years older, when it comes to 
> walking
> speed.
>
> Just hope I can find an O&M teacher first....rrrrr!
>
> Gail
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Message: 10
> Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:07:07 -0400
> From: "Ann Edie" <annedie at nycap.rr.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] An O&M self teachig site
>
>
> Hi, Gail,
>
> Dona Saurerburger is a well known O&M instructor, and the site looks very
> Good and packs lots of good information. The self-study guide you posted
> The link to is designed to help O&M instructors teach their blind students
> How to cross streets where there is no traffic light or stop sign. It is
> Not meant for blind persons as a self study guide for O&M skills. While 
> you
> May gain some very useful information from this site and this study guide, 
> I
>
> Wouldn't advise starting with this particular information, since crossing
> Streets where there is no traffic control mechanism is a rather advanced 
> O&M
>
> Skill. But if there is contact information on this site, you might want to
> Write to Dona and ask her for other resources that might be more 
> appropriate
>
> For your purposes.
>
> Best of luck,
> Ann
>
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