[nagdu] Who are guide dog users?

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Rebecca,
You are doing it the smart way. You don't want to make room in your life for 
a dog right now.  that is just as valid a reason as the folks who don't have 
dogs due to health reasons and there's no reason for you to feel guilty or 
bad for your own life choices.

I'd much rather see someone not have a dog if it's not the thing for them 
than to have one and not work or care for it properly - which I have seen 
around here at times.

My sister does not want a dog and people always ask her why not because they 
see me with a dog.  I have told her and others that having a guide dog is a 
very personal thing.  That's why the guide dog schools interview the 
prospective student alone to determine that the person has decided that a 
guide dog is right for them or not and not the person complying with the 
wishes of a family member.

Stay true to yourself and do what YOU feel that is best for yourself.  Glad 
you are on the list and contribute.

Lyn and Landon
----- 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, May 23, 2011 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Who are guide dog users?


>I don't know.
> I consider myself highly motivated and healthy and I am not using a dog 
> because my lifestyle does not really allow for it, or rather, I don't want 
> to make the room a dog would require.
> My problem with the way this is phrased is that it implies that if you 
> don't use a dog, you are old, unhealthy, and unmotivated.
> I'd love to hear what the list has to say. Some of you have health 
> problems that are quite serious and use dogs. Others are older by a long 
> shot then I am.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of Philip S
> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 6:44 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] Who are guide dog users?
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'm curious to know what you agree or disagree with this research
> findings about guide dog users.  Do you think there are certain types
> of blind people who are more likely to use guide dogs here in the
> United States and elsewhere? If so, what are some characteristics of
> guide dog users?
>
> Here's what the research findings say:
>
> Health and social profiles of guide dog users
>
> Only 96 out of an estimated 28,000 registerable visually impaired
> persons, resident in Northern Ireland, currently make use of guide
> dogs for the blind. Results from this study indicate that guide dog
> owners represent a young, healthy and highly motivated subgroup of
> blind persons who have been profoundly visually impaired for prolonged
> periods of time.
> Thanks.
>
> Phil
>
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