[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

Thu Feb 2 19:21:10 UTC 2012

Bard is the website at National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to download digital books if you don't want to check out the cartridges from your lending library.

Cindy

On Feb 2, 2012, at 11:44 AM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:

> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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/bjnite%40windstream.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/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/cindyray%40gmail.com