[nagdu] No mailRe: partial vision, white canes and guide dog use

Fri Feb 3 19:19:47 UTC 2012

You and Carter have a fun, safe trip, Dan.
Best,
Nat and Liam Joshua

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 12:50 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] No mailRe: partial vision,white canes and guide dog use

> Hey,
> , sorry to clutter the list with this, but I don't know how to put my
> subscription on nomail and I need to do it because I'm going out of town.
>
> Thanks in advance for all the help  and I wish you all the best on this
> beautiful Tuesday.
>
> Dan and the Carter Dog
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Cindy Ray
> Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 2:16 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: No mailRe: [nagdu] partial vision, white canes and guide dog use
>
> Pretty much (in many areas anyway) all are taught the cane to a greater or
> lesser degree. At least that seems to be my observation.
>
> On Jan 31, 2012, at 12:50 PM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>
>> Hi Julie J,
>> I am one of those people who has some vision - enough to be dangerous!
> LOL! During the 1950s and 60s, those of us with some vision weren't taught
> Braille or mobility with a white cane.  The TOTALS weren't even taught how
> to use a cane!  But they did get Braille.  Is this still the case now?
>>
>> My vision is tunnel vision and in good light, I can see fairly decently
> through that tiny straw-sized field.  Obviously I miss a hell of alot!  I
> also can't tell steps or curbs by vision but can sometimes use shadows to
> tell steps or curbs - mainly in places I know.  I have no night vision at
> all.
>>
>> I feel more relaxed using my dog over the cane; although I can do fine
> with the cane.  With the dog, Landon sees the important things for safe
> travel while I can use my vision to see some landmarks or to look at
> something other than my feet and where I'm putting them.  Walking straight
> upright with head up is better and won't attract the people who would want
> to bother you on the street.  They look for inattentive people with their
> heads looking down to pester.
>>
>> As far as Braille goes, I've tried to learn it a few times as an adult. 
>> I
> find that I don't have the sensitivity in my fingers to decern the dots
> properly.  I can still read most print with my magnifying glasses and am 
> so
> happy about that so I can read the LGBT books I want as well as the other
> political ones I find that NLS for the Blind wouldn't touch with a ten 
> foot
> pole! LOL!
>>
>> When I took cane travel lessons in the 1970s, I took it under blindfold
> and I fouond this VERY useful and am glad the NFB centers teach this that
> way. You really do pick up on stuff that vision tends to overpower.  Like
> the fact that roads slope slightly as you leave the curb, cross and 
> approach
> the opposite curb with the street at a hump at the center of the crossing.
>>
>> I make my dogs go to the curbs and work as if I had no sight so he works
> just as well at night when I have no vision with the exception of the
> traffic signals and streetlights and the lighted signs on businesses.
> Everything else is black.  But landon sees quite well in light or dark.
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 5:55 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>
>>
>>> Robert,
>>>
>>> I think that any blind person who wishes to improve their skills, 
>>> options
> and to better themselves should be given that opportunity.  By blind 
> person,
> I mean any individual whose vision is so impaired that it requires use of
> alternative techniques of daily living.
>>>
>>> There are loads of blind people that are told they have enough vision to
> read standard print.  It doesn't seem to matter if they can only read that
> standard print in certain light sources, or in certain color combination, 
> at
> the rate of 10 words per minute or for only 10 minutes at a time.  They 
> are
> encouraged to use their vision at the expense of all else.  It doesn't 
> seem
> to matter that Braille would be faster, less stressful and doesn't cause
> headaches.
>>>
>>> The same goes for orientation and mobility.  Lots of blind people are
> coached to only use a cane in certain situations or not at all, relying on
> their vision.  It doesn't seem to be a problem if these same individuals
> can't go out after dark because of their particular visual condition.  Or
> perhaps they have to stop in the doorway of the movie theater for a few
> minutes so their eyes can adjust.  The people behind them won't mind, I'm
> sure.  It won't be stressful or embarrassing to be trying to follow 
> someone
> and miss stepping over a curb because all their available vision was being
> used in the other task.    I'm sure it's perfectly acceptable to be
> continually scanning the environment for obstacles, nervous that you will
> miss something.
>>>
>>> I used to be one of these people.  Most of my remaining vision is gone
> now, but I very clearly remember the days when accepting an invitation to 
> a
> friend's home, out to dinner or a movie was contingent on a long list of
> things...what time of the day would it be when the movie is over, are 
> there
> steps, have I been there before, do I already know what's on the menu and 
> on
> and on.   My life dramatically improved when I got my first cane and 
> learned
> Braille as an adult.  Suddenly I didn't have to have an anxiety induced
> meltdown when I needed to take a night class at college. I could go to
> restaurants that I hadn't been to before.  I could actually read the notes 
> I
> had taken in class.
>>>
>>> I also believe that both a long white cane and a guide dog are equally
> respectable mobility options.  Both offer blind people the ability to move
> about their environment safely and conveniently.  Both have advantages and
> disadvantages.  I don't believe that one is better than the other.  Of
> course individuals have their preferences, but to say that chocolate is
> better and everyone must give up strawberry is pretty judgmental and I 
> think
> should be avoided.
>>>
>>> Why then would we want to take away an opportunity for some blind 
>>> people?
> It seems that the answer to this question can only be answered in one way.
> We must view people with less vision as less capable and the guide dog as 
> a
> superior mobility tool, making it the preferred method of mobility for the
> lower functioning among us.
>>>
>>> I don't think vision has anything to do with the potential of an
> individual.  I think attitude and knowledge are the factors that determine
> success in this world.
>>>
>>> I'd love to hear others thoughts on this issue, level of vision and 
>>> using
> a guide dog.
>>>
>>> Julie
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> m
>
>
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