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

Tue Aug 28 21:32:27 UTC 2012

Yeah, it seems like some "grownups" never mature and some kids are wise 
beyond their years!  I think it all has to be a case-by-case thing because 
you can't lump all kids or all adults in one bunch.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie McGinnity" <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] High School students and Guide Dogs...

> 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
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> 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
>
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