[nagdu] navigating without your cane

[Larry D. Keeler]

Thanks Marion, I didn't know that!  I guess I'm just a littl crazy because 
I've learned how to do it!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 08, 2011 9:51 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] navigating without your cane


> Dear All,
>    I think it borders on cruelty to forbid a blind person to use a cane in 
> an unfamiliar setting or in a place in which the individual does not have 
> absolute control over the environment. This is why NAGDU's  Guide Dog 
> Consumers' Bill of Rights, under the section entitled "Equitable 
> Treatment", states, "
> a.       The consumers freedom of independent travel with a white cane 
> shall not be restricted by the training program, unless doing so would 
> interfere with the training process or adversely impact other consumers."
>
>
>
> Fraternally yours,
>
> Marion
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Julie Phillipson" <jbrew48 at verizon.net>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, October 08, 2011 2:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] navigating without your cane
>
>
>> ok so I was on the right track, thanks for the more credible explanation. 
>> Is it also used to evaluate what dog might be the best match for the 
>> person like someone might need a dog to take more initiative then someone 
>> else does?
>>
>> Julie Phillipson
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
>> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, October 08, 2011 1:42 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] navigating without your cane
>>
>>
>>> Julie,
>>>
>>> One of the reasons guide dog programs ask that you navigate without your
>>> cane prior to receiving your dog, say during those first few days on 
>>> class,
>>> is to in part observe your skill at orientation and mobility and also 
>>> get
>>> you used to not having that cane input as you move around spaces. Most
>>> schools have you walk with your dog at heel in the building. When you do
>>> progress to harness work indoors, you're used to that form of input, but
>>> initially while heeling the dog, you are in charge of movement, 
>>> orientation,
>>> etc.
>>>
>>> At GDF we have the dogs guide on leash from the beginning and very 
>>> rarely do
>>> we ask you to heel your dog and simply walk around.
>>>
>>> For some people changing the input from the cane to the dog is hard, 
>>> harder
>>> than they thought. When traveling with a dog, we do lose important sound
>>> cues initially, replacing them with others eventually, but we also lose 
>>> cues
>>> about proximity to obstacles that we have to relearn with new inputs.
>>>
>>> Hope that makes sense.
>>>
>>> We do allow people to use their canes in the building prior to receiving
>>> their dogs but there are times when we do ask that canes be put away. 
>>> Once
>>> the dogs are issued, unless someone really needs it, we ask that all 
>>> canes
>>> other than support canes be put away when working the dogs and when 
>>> moving
>>> around the building.
>>>
>>> Jenine Stanley
>>> jeninems at wowway.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
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