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

Sat Apr 28 18:09:18 UTC 2012

Marilyn's questions was not which method is safer, or which is better. It
was merely which method do you think drivers pay more attention to. We
aren't going to get into a discussion about which is better, or which the
NFB sees better, or which is safer. But how drivers see us, and which they
pay attention to better. Lets keep it at that, okay?

Marsha 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 1:51 PM
To: nagdu
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question about crossing streets - hope this is guide
dog related

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
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