[nagdu] [Nagdu] Walking in a blind person's shoes, at The Seeing Eye in Morris Township
Buddy Brannan
buddy at brannan.name
Wed Nov 30 02:15:53 UTC 2011
Nah. While it might be something in the water, I think the weird and strange people follow me. Birds of a feather, perhaps (before you can say it)? Well, you know, if there are two empty seats on the bus, the weirdos will pick the seat next to me.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
On Nov 29, 2011, at 9:10 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:
> 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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