[nagdu] Introduction and Questions

Tue Jan 31 02:02:14 UTC 2012

Marion,

This does not mean we are not certifiable, though. Just not because of 
the dogs. /lol/

Tami

On 01/30/2012 05:50 PM, Marion Gwizdala wrote:
> Robert,
> Well, as to training one's own dog if they are "certified", there are
> several individuals on this list who are not certified - at least to
> train dogs (grin) - who have trained their own.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <Harris.Robert at epamail.epa.gov>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 4:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>
>
>> Hi Marion:
>>
>> My wife has RP so I know all that. I can only say how I felt when a
>> school in 1980 or 1981 had the balls to tell me I wanted the dog as a
>> pet made me feel. I also think (I'm an old fox with a lot of years and
>> experience now) that I saw a dog guide user with a day time drivers
>> license. I'm not buying any of that but I'm just me:0). When Pilot
>> took me on at 19 they basically saved my life. I'm a fast traveler and
>> was a top notch cane user who taught others that were blind, but, I went
>> to many many different places and knew in my heart that I needed four
>> legged help.
>>
>> I can tell you many instances where "self trained dogs caused me a lot
>> of problems, but, I think it is possible to train your own dog, if your
>> a certified trainer.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>> Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: 01/30/2012 03:16 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>> Sent by: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert,
>> Individuals with retinitis pigmentosa may have fairly good acuity
>> but
>> their fields of vision may be seriously compromised. narrow fields of
>> vision
>> can distort depth perception so that individuals may not realize they
>> are
>> standing at the top of a flight of stairs or at the threshhold of a
>> loading
>> dock. Furthermore, since the periphery of the retina contains a high
>> concentration of rods cells that are responsible for sight in dimly lit
>> areas and the ability to see moving objects, those affected by this
>> condition benefit from using a dog to travel safely under those
>> conditions.
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion Gwizdala
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <Harris.Robert at epamail.epa.gov>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 2:30 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>
>>
>>> I'm not sure why somebody with very high vision would need a dog guide
>>> and have said so in school. Somebody and bodies were in training with
>>> me and could see faces, identify cars and see the surrounding area
>>> pretty clearly for well over 50 yards? I'm an honest person and didn't
>>> hesitate to ask why the hell they were getting a dog. Answers off
>> list
>>> only but I was not happy & hope they didn't get a dog guide.
>>>
>>> There are waiting lists for people who are very low partials &/or
>>> totally blind to get a dog guide so its not just a cut and dry "get a
>>> dog". there is a evaluation & process for reasons mentioned above.
>>>
>>> Hope I don't come across as brash but I have very strong feelings
>> about
>>> this topic.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
>>> Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Date: 01/30/2012 12:58 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>> Sent by: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Good choice! For me it was a case of the more the merrier!.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Melissa Pasron" <fuzzylucky2021 at sbcglobal.net>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:47 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>>
>>>
>>>> Thank you for giving me a different perspective. I am really trying
>> to
>>>
>>>> weigh the options before I make a decision. My current deciding
>> factor
>>> is
>>>> that I currently have a pet dog and I don't know if I'll be ready to
>>> do
>>>> all the grooming and caring for two dogs. Not to mention if a guide
>>> dog is
>>>> right for me at the current moment. I think I'll just sit on the
>> issue
>>> for
>>>> a while and think about it. I don't want to go rushing into a
>> decision
>>>
>>>> without giving it a lot of thought.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 30, 2012, at 9:37 AM, "Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)"
>>>> <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> In making your decision, think about what you most want to do when
>>> you
>>>>> return home from being out someplace. Do you want to spend time
>>> grooming
>>>>> and caring for a dog, and doing it every single day, or would you
>>> rather
>>>>> do something else.
>>>>>
>>>>> I worked two dogs. Then I had my daughter and found that all I
>> wanted
>>> to
>>>>> do was hang out with her, especially after being at work all day.
>>> Taking
>>>>> care of the dog became more of a chore then something I enjoyed.
>> And,
>>> at
>>>>> times it became very difficult to balance, baby wanted to eat or be
>>> held,
>>>>> dog needed to be brushed, you can't do both at the same time. And,
>>> while
>>>>> an obvious answer may be "get help with the baby" I enjoyed and
>> still
>>>
>>>>> enjoy taking care of her.
>>>>> Think about how you'll feel when the dog wakes you up to go potty,
>>> will
>>>>> you be okay with it or will it mentally wear you out as "one more
>>> thing I
>>>>> have to do".
>>>>>
>>>>> What are your hobbies and are they comptible with a guide dog? You
>>> can
>>>>> always leave a cane, and a cane is easy to replace. Not true with a
>>> dog.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have had a couple access issues. I can tell you that when that
>>> happens,
>>>>> the very first thought that goes through your head is "This really
>>> f***s
>>>>> up my plans".
>>>>> I'll add that I like dogs. They are neat animals, and I think have
>>> much
>>>>> to teach us. At times I miss having one. On a day when the sun is
>>>>> shinging, and it's 65 degrees, I'd love to take a guide dog and walk
>>> on a
>>>>> bike path, as the feeling of you being in synch with a dog is
>>> amazing.
>>>>>
>>>>> Right now, I can't deal with the 24/7 nature of a guide dog. I
>> can't
>>> do
>>>>> it with a pet dog either.
>>>>>
>>>>> You can bring a guide dog anywhere, but you also need to plan on
>> that
>>>
>>>>> with food, water, rest, appropriate supervision, things like that.
>>> It's
>>>>> difficult to "just stay a bit longer" when you didn't plan on it and
>>>>> don't have food for your dog.
>>>>>
>>>>> So, the answer is that it really depends. I offer my perspective
>>> because
>>>>> this list is made up of people who are currently using dogs and who
>>> like
>>>>> doing it. It would be useful for you and others to have a different
>>>>> perspective.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf Of melissa padron
>>>>> Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 10:35 PM
>>>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>> 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/rebecca.pickrell%40tasc.com
>>
>>
>>>
>>>>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message and any attachments or files
>>>>> transmitted with it (collectively, the "Message") are intended only
>>> for
>>>>> the addressee and may contain information that is privileged,
>>> proprietary
>>>>> and/or prohibited from disclosure by law or contract. If you are not
>>> the
>>>>> intended recipient: (a) please do not read, copy or retransmit the
>>>>> Message; (b) permanently delete and/or destroy all electronic and
>>> hard
>>>>> copies of the Message; (c) notify us by return email; and (d) you
>> are
>>>
>>>>> hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of
>>> the
>>>>> Message is strictly prohibited.
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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/fuzzylucky2021%40sbcglobal.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/lkeeler%40comcast.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/harris.robert%40epamail.epa.gov
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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/blind411%40verizon.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/harris.robert%40epamail.epa.gov
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/blind411%40verizon.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/tamara.8024%40comcast.net
>
>