[nagdu] Heels (shoes) and Guide Dogs

Fri Oct 15 04:37:33 UTC 2010

Hey, whatever works for you!

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 7:20 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Heels (shoes) and Guide Dogs

> Actually, no. Not these stiletto heels! They aren't *quite* stiletto
> heels, since they don't come to a point, but the diameter of the heel
> at the tip is about a quarter inch. However, these shoes are much
> better for my balance than many lower heels because of the ankle and
> foot support.
>
> Because they are ankle boots, they support my ankles, which are weak.
> Also, it is important to make sure the boots fit properly when bought.
> These fit me very snugly with dress socks, with barely a finger
> thickness room left at the top, and because of the zipper, it is much
> tighter at the ankle and below.
>
> I require a support cane because I lose my balance at times, but I
> actually lose my balance *less* when I'm wearing my heeled ankle
> boots. I double-checked with my boyfriend on that, and he agreed that
> I wear them well, and that I lose my balance less when wearing them.
> It's a combination of proper size, comfort, ankle support, and lots of
> practice.
>
> Not ranting, just raving!
>
> On 10/14/10, Lyn Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net> wrote:
>> Ummm, Jewel - why wear stiletto heels while having to use a suport 
>> cane???
>> Don't the heels destabilize you? Not to be critical - just curious. 
>> (grin!)
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 2:02 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Heels (shoes) and Guide Dogs
>>
>>
>>> So...is there any of you who wear actual high heels? What do you do for
>>> *those*?
>>>
>>> I have a pair of ankle-boots I wear for most dress occassions. They
>>> have four-inch stiletto heels. I don't have a guide dog yet, but I
>>> have a support cane that depends on height like a guide dog harness.
>>> It is adjustable, though...so I put it at its longest when I wear my
>>> boots, and almost the shortest when I'm in sneakers. Are there any
>>> adjustable  harnesses (doubtful)?
>>>
>>> My two cents,
>>>
>>> On 10/13/10, Mark J. Cadigan <kramc11 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I know that men's dress shoes are different, but you still get the same
>>>> lack
>>>> of traction issues. Because my school dress code allows it, I ware
>>>> something
>>>> like fancier type work boots in the winter. Bad description I know, but
>>>> really handy for walking on icy sidewalks.
>>>>
>>>> Now back to the regularly scheduled programming.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- 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: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 3:18 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Heels (shoes) and Guide Dogs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Once upon a time I used to have these really cute dress flats that had
>>>>> rubber soles, like tennis shoes.  You couldn't tell they were
>>>>> comfortable
>>>>> just by looking though! *smile*  I'd love to find something like that
>>>>> again. I think I had those shoes when I was in high school.  I doubt
>>>>> they
>>>>> even make anything like it anymore.
>>>>>
>>>>> I wanted to add that in addition to walking a bit slower I also have 
>>>>> to
>>>>> get Monty to pull lighter because my dress shoes don't have the same
>>>>> sidewalk grip power as my rubber soled shoes.  I don't think Mitsy is 
>>>>> a
>>>>> hard puller though.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best of luck!
>>>>> Julie
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
>>>>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 2:06 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Heels (shoes) and Guide Dogs
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> That's how it's gone on our few practice trials and the one gig I did
>>>>>> where
>>>>>> I wore girl shoes once I got to the client's building.  I sure did 
>>>>>> walk
>>>>>> slow, though, because all I could see was me greeting the client an
>>>>>> dpromptly falling on my face!  Mitzi did fine, too.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Still, it's always good to know how others manage it.  /girn/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>> Of Julie J
>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:22 AM
>>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Heels (shoes) and Guide Dogs
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm totally with you.  I despise dress shoes.  Yet I'm wearing a pair
>>>>>> right
>>>>>> now.
>>>>>> I really only notice that I walk slower in dress shoes.  I use the 
>>>>>> same
>>>>>> length of harness handle, but I don't wear heels either.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm thinking as long as you can comfortably hold the harness handle,
>>>>>> you
>>>>>> aren't leaning over, I think the same length should be fine.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Julie
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ~Jewel
>>> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
>>> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>>>
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>>
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>
>
> -- 
> ~Jewel
> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>
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