[nagdu] Guide dogs and Rolling book bags

Fri Jun 10 00:27:38 UTC 2011

Tami, that's exactly why I think I need to switch to the rolling bag.
There have been too many times that I have needed to bend over to make
sure Brie is ok or   praise her and make sure she is wagging her tail.
 I just  never want to fall on her.  And, what's really fun is when
I'm late to my afternoon class and have no choice but to bring all my
stuff outside with me while I park the dog.  There's nothing like
picking up after a dog with a 20 or something pound backpack on.
(Don't try this one at home, everyone.)

Julie, yes, the push button doors are great, perfect.  In every
building, I do very well, except, unfortunately the music building.
It's an old house (which a lot of buildings are on my campus), so that
means no push buttons at the doors and no elivators.  Even better, I
need to climb up a step when going through the door.  When I was there
today, I had Brie guide me to the door and stop.  Then, I opened the
door with my right hand, dropping the harness handle in my left.  I
had her go in the door first without me holding on to the harness
because there was no room.  I switched the hand holding onto the door,
so that my left hand was holding the door and her leash.  Then I
dragged myself and my bag through the door.  Very complicated, but
that's what I was doing.  I'm sure it looked like an absolute mess.

Thanks guys for the suggestions.  I'm willing to try anything.

On 6/9/11, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Julie, et al.,
>
> Have you ever gotten so much stuff crammed into your backpack (or whatever)
> that when you had to stop for a breather and bent down to pat your dog, you
> nearly fell over the dog and squished it?  /lol/  Oh, of course I've done
> it.  It never seems that heavy when I put the pack on, and it's not that far
> from the grocery store home...
>
> I also tried borrowing a neighbor's granny cart, as she calls it, which is
> supposed to be better for your back because you can push it.  I had been
> assured that this would work, since I could use the cart as a cane, people
> do it all the time, this person (O&M instructor, you bet) was sure of it.
> Maybe other blind people do that all the time and it works great for them,
> but this blind person was just relieved she didn't have to buy the neighbor
> a new cart.  /lol/
>
> I don't know how parents and college students do it, since you have so much
> extra stuff to carry everywhere all the time...  When I think of ever going
> back to school, I picture myself with a guide dog...  And a sturdy pack
> pony!  Then when I think about the ever dimming prospect of getting back
> into consulting, I get the same image only I'm wearing better clothes.
> /lol/  Sure, Tami, no problem with that scenario.
>
> Oh, well, I like hearing what others come up with that is possible in the
> real world.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Julie J.
> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 2:03 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dogs and Rolling book bags
>
> I'm still trying to figure this out too.  Usually I hold the door open with
> my back and push the bag in front of me.  I give Monty enough leash so he
> can move ahead or where ever he needs to be to be out of the way.
>
> It's not perfect, but we make it work.  Sometimes I have too many things
> that are too heavy that carrying them in a shoulder bag isn't a possibility.
>
> Mostly I like the rolling bag, but you're right the doors are a pain.
>
> I just had a thought...do the doors you're using have a push button to open
> them?  I've not tested this idea, but it might work.
>
> Good luck!  I'd be interested to know if you come up with something that
> works well.
>
> Julie
>
>
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-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16