[nagdu] Question about crossing streets - hope this is guide dog related

[cheryl echevarria]

I am putting 2 cents here!
Marilyn is a good friend and we disagree on things from time to time likes friends do, but I have to say, whether this is guide dog related or not, we are putting a little negativity to the people that use canes and are thinking about getting a guide dog, JMO!
I used a cane way before I got a dog, was taught how to cross the streets safely.  
So my concern with this, is when it comes to the person that for whatever reason, either dog is sick, without dog because in between dogs, etc. Should be concerned to be without a dog, because they might get killed crossing the street with a cane.
My own thinking on people interested in getting a guide dog, and this is Cheryl Echevarria's Philosophy on it, and not NAGDU or even NFB, it is that we should now all our skills, sighted guide, cane and guide dog.  We are all about independence, meaning NFB.  So, again, JMO, that if I am without a dog, I shouldn't travel or go outside without someone.
If I did that, I wouldn't leave the house at all.  Training at the guide dog school in this case, GDF, they recommend to use your cane, and not solely rely on the dog, so that the dog also gets used to being alone, once in awhile, which is good for all.
My thoughts are all over, but you are getting the point.
Not to be taken negatively, just to think about our independence, on all mobility skills.
Cheryl

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com

> Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:41:32 -0400
> From: t21114 at optonline.net
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nagdu] Question about crossing streets - hope this is guide dog	related
> 
> Hi All,
> yesterday I had a day off from work so I went to a library where  there was a guest speak there from the National Helen Keller Center who teaches mobility. He did a power point presentation and told us that when a blind or blind/deaf person tries crossing a street the driver pays more attention to a cane user than to a guide dog user. We were told they did some research in Maryland, Minnesota and I forgot the other state. They did suburbs and city. the man doing the presentation who can see and still drives a car did the research. he told us he has glaucoma. He said he dressed in regular street clothing , put dark glasses on and used a cane, then a flag and then held his hand up to stop traffic to cross.  
> They had a grant to do this study. I told him since every day I cross streets with my guide dog and have had close calls I would have been killed with a cane. My dog didn't go across until it was safe even if I give the forward command. I was told that a guide dog team was killed last year because the dog went forward and the person had a hearing problem besides being blind. I told him I cannot comment on what happened to this person because pedestrians who can see are hit by cars every day. 
> My question is do you think people who drive cars pay more attention to a cane user when your trying to cross a street or do people pay attention to a guide dog user?
> I asked why a study wasn't done about guide dog users crossing streets and was told there wasn't a grant for that study since more people use canes than dogs. 
> Marilyn and Anna
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotmail.com