[nagdu] High School students and Guide Dogs...

Tue Aug 28 19:57:20 UTC 2012

Hi list,

I received my dog when I was 17 years old.  That was the kind of
response I got from my school at first--that I would have to work hard
and take extra responsibility if I was to have a dog in high school.
Most of you know this...  What you all may not know is how I had to
handle peer pressure while I had my dog my senior year of high school.

I didn't get much pressure from my friends.  They were eager to
understand how I worked with my dog, and many of them respected that I
didn't want her playing while in harness and things like that.  I got
the most pressure from an adult.  I worked with one adult in
particular who didn't like that I gave my dog leash corrections.  She
was adament that I was hurting my dog, and she kept trying to stop me
from giving the dog leash corrections.  Now...  It's not like I gave
leash corrections every second of every day or anything, but I had a
new dog in a highly stressful environment, and that was what I learned
at my school.  I tried to explain to this person that I wasn't hurting
the dog or causing any harm, but she would not listen.  She was not
the only one.  Many adults just didn't want to understand and didn't
want to learn from a high schooler.  My dog and I are still a working
team, and we do well, but I had to defy those adults in order to do
what I thought was right.

If you are a teenager and want a dog in high school, you have to be
ready to stand on your own two feet and not bend to the will of
others, even adults.  It's difficult, especially when your parents
tell you always to obey and respect adults, but having a dog means
that you are old enough to show them that you can handle that
responsibility.

On 8/28/12, Lyn Gwizdak <linda.gwizdak at cox.net> wrote:
> Debbie,
> This makes sense because not all 16 year old kids have the maturity to deal
>
> with every aspect of guide dog use and ownership.  It sounds to me that GDD
>
> isn't totally saying no to all 16 year olds but is open to ones they deem
> mature and responsible enough to train with and use a guide dog sucessfully.
>
> Key word, SUCESSFULLY.  I agree with them.
>
> I was watching something on TV about the brain and teenagers - in particular
>
> 16 year olds and driving a car.  At age 16, the doctor on the show said, the
>
> part of their brain that regulates compulsion and reasoning is not yet fully
>
> matured yet.
>
> I think the GDD and other schools who say no youth under 18 can be accepted,
>
> understand this fact.  Why set someone up for failure when they may just not
>
> be ready for the scope of responsibility for the care and use of the dog but
>
> also the ability to withstand public - read peer pressure - pressure to
> relent and do things that harm the integrety of the team just so they can
> remain popular in their circle of friends?
>
> I don't think 16 years olds in general are mature enouogh to drive cars.
> Again, some may be very mature and responsible at age 16, but many ARE NOT
> and the accidents they cause show this.  Here in California, one cannot
> drive carrying any other teens until they are 18.  But this is not so in
> many other states.
>
> I know that there are many 16 year olds who sucessfully work guide dogs in
> high school and I think it is almost more challenging to do that because of
>
> having to deal with all the other kids who are not mature enough to
> understand that their actions can cause harm to the guide dog team's safety.
>
> As adults, we encounter this on a lessor degree from other adults.
>
> If you are 16 and are considering a guide dog in high school, read all yyou
>
> can about the realities of guide dog use and also talk to others who have
> also gotten dogs in high school.  Know what you are really in for!
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Debbie Cole" <debbieanne1124 at gmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 10:29 AM
> Subject: [nagdu] High School students and Guide Dogs...
>
>
>>I inquired at Guide dogs of the Desert in White Water/Palm Springs
>> California about their accepting High School Students.  Here is the
>> reply I received.  Just for future references.
>>
>> We can take individuals as young as 16, however, this is on a very
>> special case-by-case basis.
>>
>> As you know caring for and working with a Guide Dog is a lot of
>> responsibility.  Working a dog in high school can be especially
>> challenging.
>>
>> We will often encourage individuals to finish high school before
>> applying for a dog.
>>
>> However, if this student believes that they are ready for the work and
>> responsibility, they may apply with us and we can look into it from
>> there.
>>
>> --
>> warmly,
>>
>> Debbie Cole
>>
>> debbieanne1124 at gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/kaybaycar%40gmail.com
>

-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, National Federation of the Blind
of Missouri recording secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and proud graduate of Guiding Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16