[nagdu] Quick Question

Thu May 5 01:00:26 UTC 2011

Thanks all for your thoughtful and insightful responses.

Mark J. Cadigan
Kramc11 at gmail.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "GARY STEEVES" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 4:41 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Quick Question

>
> 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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