[nagdu] Quick Question

GARY STEEVES rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca
Wed May 4 20:41:00 UTC 2011


Hi Mark:

Forever behind in my emails. 

My personal opinion is that I think it would be best to learn the campus and deal with all the changes and stresses of the first year of school without the newness of a guide dog. From my several experiences at universities and the rigours of school, I know that having to learn with Bogart all the things I needed to learn would have added another layer of work that would have made things more challenging.

Of course, since getting Bogart last year, I've also learned that when the team is presented with problems that you don't know how to figure out, you'll figure them out together. No one can give you the anser of course, but we all just share our feelings or experiences.

I think whatever you do, based on how your asking the questions and thinking things through, you'll do just fine.

Gary

----- Original Message -----
From: Julie J <julielj at neb.rr.com>
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2011 4:38 pm
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>

> Mark,
> 
> You are too funny!  You think just like me.  I want 
> charts and graphs and lists and where are the numbers?  I 
> need me some scientific data!
> 
> I look at it this way...I am generally going to use a handful of 
> routes or variations of these routes in my day to day 
> life.  However I travel several times each year for 
> work.  I never go to the same place twice and I still need 
> to get to my meetings and find a restaurant and all that.  
> If I waited until I knew all the routes to every place I was 
> going to go before I got a dog, I'd never have a dog.
> 
> I ask questions.  I explore on my own.  I let Monty 
> make educated guesses. I get lost and discover new things in the 
> process.Most of the time it's fun and sometimes it's 
> frustrating, but I haven't noticed that my getting lost or 
> needing to ask directions has changed a whole bunch from cane to dog.
> 
> Best of luck in whatever you decide,
> Julie
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark J. Cadigan" 
> <kramc11 at gmail.com>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National 
> Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 8:12 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
> 
> 
> >I still don't know if I am going to go get a dog. I know that 
> if I was to go get a dog I would be able to take care of it and 
> make it work. What I don't know is would it be more beneficial 
> to spend a year and know the campus cold before getting the dog, 
> or will the month I will be spending on the campus this summer 
> with a mobility instructor be sufficient. After that, I will 
> know the routes I will need on the first day of school but, 
> still won't be familiar with the entire campus. I basically want 
> to do what's best for the dog and what will simplify things the 
> most. It is a huge campus covering the Beacon Hill and 
> government center areas of Boston. I know people feel strongly 
> both ways.
> >
> >
> >
> >I wish I could have some data to crunch. If only there was a 
> survey of people that got there dog before freshmen year, and 
> people that waited and I could compare some data.
> >
> >
> >
> >Thoughts?
> >
> >Mark
> >
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- From: "Sheila Leigland" 
> <sleigland at bresnan.net>>To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National 
> Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 7:59 PM
> >Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
> >
> >
> >>If you believe you are ready to get a dog go for it and have a 
> great time.
> >>
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: Mark J. Cadigan <kramc11 at gmail.com>
> >>Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 2:04 PM
> >>To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
> Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
> >>
> >>Good news is I am not much of a party person. In fact, I can't 
> stand crazy
> >>parties with all the noise and crowds. I am also 19 so a bit 
> older than you
> >>were when you started college for the first time. I am an 
> early riser
> >>anyway, so the taking the dog out in the morning won't be a 
> problem. I am
> >>normally up at 6:00 except those days when it is noon. Lol. 
> But those are
> >>not often.
> >>
> >>
> >>Mark
> >>
> >>
> >>----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie J" <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> >>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> >><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 10:07 AM
> >>Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
> >>
> >>
> >>>Mark,
> >>>
> >>>I never had a guide dog at college.  The first time I 
> went to college I
> >>>was 17 and just out of high school.  I enjoyed staying 
> up late, sleeping
> >>>even later, staying with different friends and their parents 
> on the
> >>>weekends, going to parties and generally enjoying 
> myself.  Having a new
> >>>dog in that situation would have been a disaster.  I had 
> no regular
> >>>schedule, only stayed at my dorm room weekdays, was 
> constantly running
> >>>around visiting new places and new people.
> >>>
> >>>Then several years later I went back to college.  By 
> then I was married
> >>>and had Kiddo.  I could have easily fit a guide into 
> life then.  I lived
> >>>in an apartment, had a regular routine,  and was much 
> more settled. I
> >>>actually had three pet dogs then.
> >>>
> >>>At both colleges I attended there were other students that 
> had guide dogs
> >>>One was a younger student with questionable orientation 
> skills.  the other
> >>>was an older gentleman who had good skills.  Both seemed 
> to be successful
> >>>with their dogs at college.  I think the difference was 
> in their
> >>>willingness to put the dog before parties and other random college
> >>>craziness.
> >>>
> >>>It's all you though.  Best of luck in whatever you decide!
> >>>Julie
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark J. Cadigan" 
> <kramc11 at gmail.com>>>>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National 
> Association of Guide Dog Users"
> >>><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>>Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 8:17 AM
> >>>Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Thanks for all the responses thus far. They are providing 
> food for
> >>>>thought.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Mark J. Cadigan
> >>>>Kramc11 at gmail.com
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "PICKRELL, REBECCA M 
> (TASC)" <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com>
> >>>>To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide 
> Dog Users'"
> >>>><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>>>Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 8:34 AM
> >>>>Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>Mark,
> >>>>>How do you feel on this subject and why do you feel a given way?
> >>>>>I got my first dog shortly after high school. She started 
> college with
> >>>>>me and completed it with me too.
> >>>>>Looking back, I don't know that it was the right call.
> >>>>>I had a few friends that could not adjust to me having a dog.
> >>>>>Irronically, now that I am no longer using a dog, these 
> people are back
> >>>>>in my life. One friend and I had the breakup from hell. The 
> dog was only
> >>>>>part of the reason why. We are friends again and looking 
> back, I'm sorry
> >>>>>for all the time we lost. I have missed him.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>My rationale for getting my dog when I did was that 
> everybody I met
> >>>>>would know me as having a dog and could either accept or 
> reject the
> >>>>>package.
> >>>>>Looking back, I'm not sure this is logical. We all change 
> over time and
> >>>>>friendships change over time.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>I'd almost urge you to wait, but this is only because of my 
> experience.>>>>>Interestingly enough, I met my husband when I 
> had a guide dog. He isn't
> >>>>>really a dog person and we still got together. So if you're 
> not sure,
> >>>>>I'd wait.
> >>>>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>>>From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-
> bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >>>>>Behalf Of Lisa Irving
> >>>>>Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 4:32 AM
> >>>>>To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide 
> Dog Users
> >>>>>Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Mark,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>I applaud
> >>>>>your maturity, your willingness to seek feedback.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>As an incoming freshman you will incur many new 
> responsibilities. It's a
> >>>>>lot
> >>>>>of work to be a college student. It's work whether you are 
> blind or
> >>>>>sighted.
> >>>>>The fact of the matter, it's even more work when you are 
> blind. Keep
> >>>>>this in
> >>>>>mind as you weigh your options.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>I think back to when I was a freshman, back in the 
> 80s.  I think I could
> >>>>>have handled caring for my guide dog. What I likely would 
> have had
> >>>>>trouble
> >>>>>with is not letting my dog become everyone's toy. I think I 
> would have
> >>>>>had
> >>>>>difficulties living in a dorm and setting boundaries with 
> room mates.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>There are a lot of us on this list who want to see you be 
> successful as
> >>>>>a
> >>>>>student as well as being a guide dog handler. Both are huge 
> jobs that
> >>>>>take
> >>>>>determination, consistency and some tenacity.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Lisa and Bernie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark J. 
> Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
> >>>>>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide 
> Dog Users"
> >>>>><nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> >>>>>Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 8:09 AM
> >>>>>Subject: [nagdu] Quick Question
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>Hi all. This is Mark with a quick question. Feel free to 
> respond either
> >>>>>>on
> >>>>>>or off list. I will be attending college at Suffolk 
> University as a
> >>>>>>freshman in Boston this September. I have been accepted to 
> attend the
> >>>>>>Seeing Eye July class. My question is, should I get a dog 
> now, or
> >>>>>>should I
> >>>>>>defer it for a year and go to the training the summer 
> before soft more
> >>>>>>year. I can see the merits of both, and just curious as to your
> >>>>>>thoughts.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>_______________________________________________
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> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>_______________________________________________
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> >>>>>
> >>>>>_______________________________________________
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> >>>>
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
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> >>
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> 
> 
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