[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

Lyn Gwizdak linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Thu Feb 2 17:44:08 UTC 2012 

I don't know what NLS BARD is.  I know that the Braille Institute NLS 
Library in LA has it.  Ed Eames did write another book about service dogs 
which I haven't read.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brenda" <bjnite at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions


>I just looked on NLS BARD and could not find the book under the author's 
>last name or the tityle.  There was another book by Ed Eames about service 
>dogs.  I hope someone can point us in the right direction for reading this 
>book.
>
> On 2/1/2012 6:22 PM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>> Welcome, Milissa,
>> I have partial vision and have been a guide dog user for most of the time 
>> from 1973 to the present.
>>
>> There are many people who have some vision and are sucessful guide dog 
>> users.  If the instructors at the school think your vision is interfering 
>> with the dog's work, they will work you in sleepshades.  Bottom line: 
>> You have to learn to trust the dog!  Many adapt to this and some never 
>> do. Thiose people need to wait for a significant loss of vision before 
>> trying a dog again.  Don't be afraid to ask.
>>
>> When using my dog, Landon takes care of the safety issues around 
>> traveling and I can use my vision for other things like spotting many 
>> landmarks or watching the scenery. I can walk with my head up and not 
>> looking at where i'm putting my feet.
>>
>> I am 61 and am on my 8th guide dog.  I do pet assisted therapy and do 
>> political work with my Democratic club.  I have a male Lab/Golden cross 
>> named Landon and he is six years old.  He is from The Seeing Eye in New 
>> Jersey.
>>
>> Why did I get a guide dog?  I met my first guide dog in 1971 when I went 
>> to college in Boston.  My vision was still fairly good except for night 
>> vision which is non existant.  When I was a kid I rode my bike around 
>> like all the other kids and visual impairment wasn't such an issue then. 
>> In 1972, after graduating from college, I lost a lot of my vision causing 
>> me to go to white cane usse full time instead of just at night.  My 
>> roommate had a guide dog and I got to see what it was like realistically 
>> and on a day to day basis. Having grown up with animals all my life, I 
>> had no issue with animal care. I liked how much easier it was to navigate 
>> crowds with a dog rather than the cane that was always being stepped on 
>> and people expecting ME to move out of their way on the sidewalk.  After 
>> almost getting run down by a car and stopped by my friend's guide, I made 
>> the decision to get my own dog.
>>
>> Enjoy the list!  Pick our brains!  That is what we are here for - support 
>> for each other in guide dog use and in trying to decide if a guide dog is 
>> for you.  Ask anything.  Making the decision to use a dog is a very 
>> personal one that others cannot make for you (although they seem to try!) 
>> and we are here to help youi make that decision.  Oh, a book that is 
>> excellent for people exploring if a dog is for them is Toni and Ed Eames 
>> book called "A Guide To Guide Dog Schools" and this is available 
>> throuoghn the NLS Talking Books.  It was written in the 1980s and revised 
>> in the mid 1990s.  Toni is still around but her husband and co author Ed 
>> died a few years ago.  Some of the information and resources are outdated 
>> but the general body of the book is not outdated.
>>
>> HTH,
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "melissa padron" 
>> <fuzzylucky2021 at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 7:35 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>> I am new to this list so I though I would just start off with an 
>> introduction and then some questions.
>>
>> Well, first of all, my name is Melissa and although I am not a guide dog 
>> user I am a cane user. I'm in college pursuing a degree in psychology and 
>> I will be moving back to my hometown once I graduate. I'm considered 
>> legally blind, so I do have vision.
>>
>> Because of the condition I have, I was not taught to use a cane until my 
>> senior year of high school. I actually had to fight in order to get cane 
>> lessons, but since then, I just about take my cane everywhere with me. It 
>> helps a lot more than using my vision and stressing my eyes....
>>
>> Now, some questions:
>>
>> I am not considering getting a guide dog now but I do want to keep it as 
>> an option if I decide that it would help me in my travels. So my question 
>> is, what was ultimately you deciding factor in getting a guide dog?
>> What are some advantages and disadvantages in using a guide dog?
>> For those of you who have vision, did you encounter problems with the 
>> guide dog schools saying that a guide dog would not benefit you because 
>> you have "too much" vision?
>> Ultimately, this is my greatest fear. I'm scared of encountering 
>> criticism by guide dog schools and "blindness professionals" about 
>> whether a guide dog would benefit me or not. A lot of people with my 
>> condition function well without a cane or a dog so would this be used 
>> against me if I were to apply?
>>
>> I am looking forward to hearing your responses and advice.
>>
>> Melissa
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