[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

[melissa padron]

Thanks Julie! 

That's an interesting way to decide on getting a guide dog... I'm actually curious about it as well. 

I truly understand the advantages. I've heard other guide dog users at my college say that it's a lot faster than traveling with a cane. Also, I have two pet dogs (a toy and a miniature poodle) so I understand the care and maintenance involved. It would just be a couple times larger than what I'm use to! Lol. 

When I was younger I always thought that completely blind people used canes and guide dogs and read Braille. And here I am using a cane, considering a guide dog, and teaching myself Braille! I believe it's lack of education of "blindness professionals." A majority of them are sighted and have no type of visual impairment so they really wouldn't understand what would help a person with some vision. 

Melissa


________________________________
 From: Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
 
Melissa,

Welcome!  It's really good to have you here!  I'm Julie, one of the moderators.  I'm working with Monty my lab and Boxer mix guide.  I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability and experience.

1. What made me decide to work with a guide dog?
Lots of things, but I think the main thing was curiosity.  Weird, I know.  I had heard a lot of claims about how fabulous working with a guide was and how it would make me more confident and an a better traveler and on and on and on.  I wanted to find out for myself.

2. Advantages and disadvantages.   A lot of the things people said that a guide could do did turn out to be true for me.  Snow travel is much easier with a dog.  Overhanging tree branches are easier to avoid with a dog.  A dog can find things with a simple request, like an empty seat, a door outside, an elevator etc.  They also remember places you've been before and make suggestions based on past experience.  I move a bit faster with a dog outdoors, inside it's about the same as with a cane.

Disadvantages for me are that sometimes I'm not aware of things in my environment because the dog takes me right past, whereas with a cane I would have probably contacted it.      There's more cleaning of the house too.  The bits of dog hair that escape the grooming session and the mud they drag in on their feet in the spring.  Depending on the particular dog you may need to make sure you don't leave food within reach or a trashcan without a lid.  And of course there's that whole picking up poop thing.  It's not that big of a deal, but I think if I'm to be really brutally honest, I'd really rather not pick up poop. *smile*
There are also the occasional access issues to deal with.  I've only ever had one issue, which was easily corrected with a bit of explanation.  Other people have varying levels of problems with being told no dog.

A couple of things that are neutral for me.  A dog requires a lot more daily maintenance than a cane.  There's food, water, grooming, playing, and making sure the training is consistent. I've always had dogs since I was a little kid.  This daily stuff is just a part of life for me.  I would have pet dogs that required the same sorts of things if I didn't have a guide.  So it's not really an advantage or disadvantage for me.  Although I really do enjoy teaching them new things.

another thing that is noteworthy with a guide dog is that you will spend more time interacting with the public.   Sometimes this is nice.  If the person is someone I'd like to get to know it helps get the conversation going.  Also if I'm in a waiting room or in line somewhere and small talk is socially expected the guide dog is usually an easy topic for everyone.   And the flip side to this is that there are some strange folks out there.  I've met some people who were enthralled with my guide dog to the point of downright inappropriateness.  There are people who know my dog's name, but not mine.   There are people who ask after my dog, but never ask how my day is going.

3. level of vision and a guide.
I've never attended a guide dog program so I don't have any direct knowledge of how this is a factor in the determination of suitability.  I know that for a long time that guide dogs were perceived as appropriate for only totally blind people.  I think this is unfortunate.  I view it the same as not teaching Braille to people with some remaining vision.  It goes back to the concept that the more vision a person has the better off they are.  I don't think this is so.  I believe that knowledge and attitude are better determinants of success than physical ability to see.   I think there is a social shift to this way of thinking, but it's a slow process.

Whew! That got long!  I hope you find something useful in there.  And again welcome!
Julie


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