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

[Marsha Drenth]

Steve, 

I also find this to be true. Cane equals people wanting to help. Guide dog
equals people pay attention to me because of the cute pup. 

In a funny thought, I wrote a paper lately about my observations of my
environment, it was for sociology. And I explained in my paper, when I use
my cane, I become invisible girl. When I have my guide dog, it's the pup,
but not me. Crazy phenominom. 

Marsha 


-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Steven Johnson
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 1:58 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question about crossing streets - hope this is guidedog
related

Hi Marilyn,

I absolutely believe this.  In fact, as I transition to a new guide, I am
using a white cane in the meantime, and ironically, have had this exact
concept really jump out at me.  In fact, I am offered more assistance when
using the white cane than I have ever with a guide.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of marilyn
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:42 AM
To: nagdu
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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