[nagdu] [Nagdu] Walking in a blind person's shoes, at The Seeing Eye in Morris Township
Marsha Drenth
marsha.drenth at gmail.com
Wed Nov 30 02:10:28 UTC 2011
Buddy,
I have had all this happen, and yes the attention a guide causes can be
annoying at best. But I think the reason in your case is that you live in
Erie PA. you Know that all people who live in Erie PA are weird and strange.
*runs away* Just kidding, I promise.
Marsha
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Buddy Brannan
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:51 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] [Nagdu] Walking in a blind person's shoes,at The Seeing
Eye in Morris Township
Sorry, I never have bought the "social icebreaker" thing. Maybe I'm socially
inept (which is a distinct possibility), but it seems to me that all my dog
does is attract:
A) Weird people;
B) People who totally fixate on my dog and refuse, absolutely refuse, to
talk about anything else, or
C) People who talk to my dog, not to me, and, one presumes, expects my dog
to answer them or something.
Which is only different from the people who ignore you because you have a
cane, because they have some other eye contact making being that is,
presumably, more intelligent than us poor stupid blind people, upon which to
fixate.
I, personally, have seen this as a drawback, not an advantage, to guide dog
use.
Now if instead interesting, engaging people would talk to me instead, that
would be much better, but that has definitely not been the norm for me.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
On Nov 29, 2011, at 8:41 PM, rhonda cruz wrote:
> Marsha,
> Our guide dogs.
> Keep us safe wile traveling.
> they are great ice brakers.
> and also they are great friends.
> Smiles.
>
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Marsha Drenth" <marsha.drenth at gmail.com
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:02:40 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] [Nagdu] Walking in a blind person's shoes,at
> The Seeing Eye in Morris Township
>
>> This is also true. So in fact there those sighted folks who
> think we are
>> more independent, and those who think the dog takes care of us,
> and those
>> that think we are extraordinary for being able to dress
> ourselves. But with
>> that said, and this is not really guide dog related, if we are
> blind
>> parents, those sighted folks who think our young children who
> take care of
>> us too. So it really depends on the sighted person and their
> exposure to
>> blindness, to what they think.
>
>> Marsha
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf
>> Of Buddy Brannan
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:08 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] [Nagdu] Walking in a blind person's shoes,at
> The Seeing
>> Eye in Morris Township
>
>> Perhaps nit picking, but I really don't think that sighted people
> see those
>> of us who use guide dogs as more independent than those of us who
> don't. No,
>> in fact, they think that the dogs "take care of us", to use one
> turn of
>> phrase. And, since our dogs are "taking care of us", or "know
> where we're
>> going", or what have you, that means that they don't have to be
> as
>> responsible for our well-being as they otherwise would have to
> be. So, in
>> their minds, our dependence is just placed somewhere else.
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
>> On Nov 29, 2011, at 12:33 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:
>
>>> In the perspective that most blind people use the long white
> cane, and
>> that
>>> society views them as helpless. But that society sees those of
> us who use
>> a
>>> guide dog as more independent. Not to say that we are any
> different either
>>> way either using a cane or a guide dog, its just the way that
> society
>> views
>>> us. Yes our dogs are warm and fuzzy. Yes to some extent, our
> dogs do have
>> an
>>> internal GPS. Yes, this does not help us in the same respect
> that it tells
>>> us where to go, and gives us instructions on how to get there.
> But to some
>>> extent our dogs can say we walk two blocks north and then turn
> right. They
>>> can make the decision to go around a bench, or an open man hole.
> In the
>>> simple sense they are a GPS. As the handlers we must need to
> know where we
>>> are going, we must know how many blocks to walk north, and then
> which way
>> to
>>> turn, to instruct that guide. But because we can't see the
> bench or the
>> open
>>> man hole, our guides are doing that work for us. We as guide
> dog users
>> have
>>> that advantage over cane users, in that our dogs can be
> patterned to
>> routes.
>>> And as we all know this can be a good and bad thing. This is
> not an
>> argument
>>> over which is better, just views.
>
>>> I am not sure what the dog's internal GPS system is called or if
> it even
>> has
>>> a name. But how many of us have been completely lost? How many
> of us have
>>> gotten off the bus at the wrong stop? Or have been let off at
> the wrong
>>> house or business by a cab driver? Yes it's a combination of
> skills we use
>>> to figure this out, but to give our guides some credit; they do
> know where
>>> they are all of the time.
>
>>> One example in particular. My first guide, Heather, and I had
> just moved
>> to
>>> a new area. One very late night I got off the bus, I asked the
> driver to
>> let
>>> me know when to get off, even describing the stop. I counted
> stops, and
>> then
>>> arrived, got off. And the bus when on its way. I soon realized
> that I was
>>> not at my stop. I had never been to this area, never had been
> on that bus
>>> late at night. Once we figured out that I wasn't at the stop I
> should have
>>> been, I had no clue how to get home. I knew I needed to be
> home, but where
>>> that was not clear to me. So we started walking, turned around
> several
>>> times, walked about 30 blocks, in subfreezing temperatures, and
> finally
>> got
>>> home. I would like to think that my guide had an internal GPS.
> Maybe that
>> is
>>> an extraordinary situation, maybe our dogs aren't supposed to
> have
>> internal
>>> GPS, but to some extent I do think they do.
>
>>> The quote in question probably was not a good thing to say in an
> article
>>> where sighted folks do not understand what I just explained.
> But it did
>>> sound cute to me.
>
>>> IMO
>>> Marsha
>
>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf
>>> Of Jewel
>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 11:26 AM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Walking in a blind person's shoes, at The
> Seeing Eye
>> in
>>> Morris Township
>
>>> Marsha,
>>> Could you explain what it is you like about the quote? It's the
> one
>>> part of the article I objected to most, since it leans on the
>>> misconception that guide dogs are the ones plotting the course
> and the
>>> blind person is just along for the ride.
>
>>> My thoughts,
>>> Jewel
>
>>> On 11/28/11, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I love this quote, " A guide dog is simply the warm and fuzzy
>>>> version of a GPS system."
>
>>>> Marsha
>
>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
>> Behalf
>>>> Of Ginger Kutsch
>>>> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 8:40 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Walking in a blind person's shoes,at The Seeing
> Eye in
>>>> Morris Township
>
>>>> Walking in a blind person's shoes, at The Seeing Eye in Morris
> Township
>
>>>> Posted by Morristown Green Contributor on November 28, 2011 .
>
>>>> By Berit A. Ollestad
>
>>>> Source:
>
>
>> http://morristowngreen.com/2011/11/28/walking-in-a-blind-persons-
> shoes-at-th
>>>> e-seeing-eye-in-morris-township/
>
>>>> It's not until most of us are faced with adversity that we see
> things
>> with
>>> a
>>>> different perspective. What are some of the basic challenges
> confronting
>>>> blind people? I did not want to wait for adversity to find out.
>
>>>> When I decided to accept an invitation to be blindfolded and
> navigate
>>> around
>>>> The Seeing Eye's Morris Township campus with a guide dog, I was
> quite
>>>> surprised at the varied range of emotions I experienced during
> the
>>>> experiment.
>
>>>> I had looked forward to the opportunity, because it promised to
> take me
>>> far
>>>> from my comfort zone. It's important to mention what inspired
> me to delve
>>>> deeper into The Seeing Eye School and its training program. As
> I wrote in
>>> my
>>>> prior article, the mere mention of The Seeing Eye School evokes
> intense
>>>> curiosity and bewilderment among residents. Here in Morristown,
> The
>> Seeing
>>>> Eye is an integral part of the town's history and daily life,
> yet no one
>>>> seems to know that much about the organization.
>
>>>> Photos by Berit Ollestad. Please click icon below for captions.
>
>
>
>>>> When I arrived in The Seeing Eye lobby, I was greeted by a
> roaring fire
>>> and
>>>> the smell of cinnamon wafting through the air. Immediately, I
> felt right
>>> at
>>>> home. Doug Bohl, senior manager for instruction and training
> for more
>> than
>>>> 20 years, greeted me along with Craig Garretson, communications
> manager.
>
>>>> But the one I was most anxious to meet would be my lifeline, the
> one I
>>> would
>>>> depend on to keep me safe and guide me over the next couple of
> hours:
>>>> Alcott, my Seeing Eye Dog.
>
>>>> When I first saw Alcott, a petite golden retriever just shy of 2
> years
>>> old,
>>>> I knew she had the confidence and calmness required to get the
> job done.
>> I
>>>> got down on the floor with her and talked and caressed her silky
> fur,
>>> hoping
>>>> to create a rapport in a brief amount of time.
>
>>>> Alcott was trained by Peggy McKenna, a trainer at The Seeing Eye
> for more
>>>> than seven years. Alcott was eligible to be selected during the
> last
>>> class
>>>> of students to go thru The Seeing Eye. But for some reason she
> was not
>>>> paired with a student; she will have another opportunity when
> classes
>>> resume
>>>> in late January.
>
>>>> Peggy started out working in the kennels. Her love for each dog
> she
>>> trains
>>>> is immeasurable. "The moment one of the dogs I am training does
> something
>>>> that he/she has clearly learned in training, there are no words
> to
>>> describe
>>>> the feeling that it gives me," she said.
>
>>>> As one can imagine, it is only natural to feel sadness when one
> of your
>>> dogs
>>>> gets placed with a student and is no longer part of your daily
> routine.
>>> But
>>>> Peggy was quick to point out that her mission is meaningful and
>> rewarding.
>>>> "I feel so fortunate to do something I love," she said.
>
>>>> Completing the circle, Peggy married fellow trainer Brian
> McKenna last
>>>> month.
>
>>>> WALKING WITH ALCOTT
>
>>>> As I attempted to take Alcott's harness gingerly in my hand, I
> tried to
>>>> acclimate to my new (albeit temporary) status of being blind.
> This may
>> not
>>>> sound difficult, but imagine my surprise as I rooted around for
> her
>>> harness
>>>> and recognized I was at the wrong end.
>
>>>> My initial reaction was to rip off the blindfold because I felt
> so
>>>> vulnerable. But suddenly, by default, I noticed my other senses
> taking
>>> over.
>>>> The air smelled crisper and the sounds around me became clearer.
>
>>>> Although blindness is labeled as a disability, I would prefer to
> call it
>>> an
>>>> inconvenience. It surprised me how quickly I started to
> function in my
>> new
>>>> alternate reality. Granted, I was on a closed course with an
> instructor
>>>> close by my side, yet I still felt surprisingly normal.
>
>>>> As Alcott and I ventured around the campus, I quickly realized
> that I
>>> needed
>>>> to pay closer attention to her cues. This was never more
> evident than
>> when
>>>> she was indicating by her refusal to go forward that there was
> danger
>>> ahead
>>>> in the form of a pothole.
>
>>>> My first reaction was to gently tug on her leash and command her
> "to go."
>>> It
>>>> wasn't until Doug pointed out that she was practicing one of the
>>> principles
>>>> she was taught: "Intelligent disobedience."
>
>>>> Though I was commanding her to go forward, she recognized the
> danger
>> ahead
>>>> and ignored me. I couldn't help but be reminded that if you are
> someone
>>> used
>>>> to being in control, this will be humbling.
>
>>>> Sighted people make safety decisions based on their subconscious
>> awareness
>>>> when they are walking about town. I'm sure if someone were to
> ask how
>> many
>>>> potholes you averted on South Street you wouldn't have a clue.
> Yet for
>>>> someone who is blind, potholes are a major hazard. That is why
> guide dogs
>>>> are taught to make conscious decisions for blind individuals.
>
>>>> "Guide dogs are not taught to do certain things in particular
> situations.
>>> We
>>>> teach them to evaluate what is the safer option when given a
> choice to
>>> make
>>>> the safest decision," according to Doug.
>
>>>> Working with dogs, I found, is much like working with small
> children. The
>>>> dogs are brought into town daily for their training sessions,
> which
>>> average
>>>> 45 minutes per day. Anything past that and you risk losing the
> dog's
>>>> attention.
>
>>>> For trainers to get an idea of what would be an appropriate pace
> for each
>>>> student, trainers mimic a guide dog by placing a harness over
> themselves
>>> and
>>>> allowing students to "guide them." This lets them gauge their
> normal
>>> pace,
>>>> for choosing the appropriate dog. Students are assigned a dog
> after they
>>>> are at The Seeing Eye for two days.
>
>>>> After following behind Peggy with the rookie Coach and the
> seasoned
>>> Alcott,
>>>> I determined that the training itself isn't the difficult part.
>>> Essentially
>>>> the dogs are taught very few commands. Verbal commands such as
> left,
>>> right,
>>>> hup-hup ("let's go") and a few specialized ones seemed to be the
> extent
>> of
>>>> it.
>
>>>> The trainer also will use hand signals in conjunction with
> verbal
>> commands
>>>> if traffic noise, construction, etc., prevents the dog from
> hearing
>>> verbal
>>>> commands. The primary principle the dog is taught is to take
> the blind
>>>> person from the beginning of a street to the end of the street.
> The dog
>>> then
>>>> will await the person's command to go forward or turn left or
> right.
>
>>>> At the risk of sounding silly, I always had wondered how guide
> dogs
>> seemed
>>>> to know exactly where they were going. After speaking to a
> handful of
>>>> different people I realized I wasn't alone in my line of
> thinking. As
>> Doug
>>>> explained to me, "When you are getting in your car and heading
> to Newark
>>>> Airport, you need to have an idea of how to get there before you
> start
>>> out.
>>>> The car will get you there, but you need to know how to drive it
> there."
>
>>>> It then all made sense to me: A guide dog is simply the warm and
> fuzzy
>>>> version of a GPS system. Doug then told me to close my eyes for
> a minute
>>> and
>>>> give him directions on how to get to my house from the airport.
> This
>>>> illustrated how blind persons are just as capable of visualizing
>>> directions
>>>> as I am.
>
>>>> At the conclusion of my experience, I could see how being blind
> might be
>>>> considered a gift as well. It gives each of us the ability to
> relate to
>>> each
>>>> another with a slightly different perspective, and to relate to
> the world
>>>> differently.
>
>>>> I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation
> to
>> everyone
>>>> at The Seeing Eye School for the kindness shown to me, and for
> the
>>>> opportunity to learn about the school. The Seeing Eye is a
> vibrant and
>>>> valuable part of our community; I encourage everyone to reach
> out and
>> get
>>>> to know our neighbors a little better.
>
>>>> Berit Ollestad and Alcott, a Seeing Eye Dog who guided Berit
> around The
>>>> Seeing Eye's Morristown campus. Berit wore a blindfold to
> experience
>>>> training as a blind person would.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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