[nagdu] Soul Searching

Mon Jul 9 00:16:15 UTC 2012

I usually play it cool even at conventions.  I always get where I want to go 
and if I miss something, I find out about it later.  I get a lot of 
amusement out of folks running back and forth trying to find out where 
they're supposed to be and I'm still getting there before them!!  Usually, I 
find the room first and help others.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Juanita Herrera" <juanitaherrera1991 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2012 8:01 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Soul Searching


> Yes, we can all get frustrated by everything going on. I tried my best
> to stay calm, and whenever I encountered someone lost, I tried helping
> them as best as I could. My boyfriend would get frustrated by all the
> people who had poor cane skills, but he is very low tolerant of
> anything as it is. Oh well, convention is over, and it is what it is.
> As for your pup Cindy, I wish you the best of luck. I can imagine that
> it is difficult. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
> Juanita and Anise
>
> On 7/8/12, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Well, I'm not sure this premise is entirely fair. People with canes are
>> stressed at convention, too, and some aren't sure of themselves. They 
>> often
>> are struggling to find where they are trying to go, trying to prove they 
>> can
>> get there, and filled with their own certain doubts and fears. I wouldn't
>> want to be really hasty about accusations of their not accepting us; I 
>> don't
>> think that is particularly true. Convention is wonderfully fun, but it 
>> also
>> has its difficulties. When we have relatively new dogs, we may be even 
>> more
>> stressed, so we all have to try to be patient with one another. I guess 
>> the
>> lesson I took away from this besides all of the others mentioned is that 
>> I
>> want to make sure I am being kind to those who I think might be 
>> exhibiting
>> rudeness when they may simply be exhibiting frustrations similar to my 
>> Cindy
>> Lou
>> own.
>>
>> On Jul 8, 2012, at 1:02 PM, Juanita Herrera wrote:
>>
>>> Marsha,
>>> I ran into many folks with canes who were rude to me because I had a
>>> guide dog. In fact,a few times Anise got hit by canes, but she is so
>>> naive that she didn't even know what was going on. She just kept right
>>> on doing her thing. It upset me very much that people would do rude
>>> things like that just because we have dogs. I agree that something
>>> should be done or said to inform others of that. We are all
>>> blind/visually impaired, and we are all there because we believe in
>>> equality for all. If the cane users who don't accept us are going to
>>> continue being rude to their own kind then they don't honestly believe
>>> in equality for all.
>>> Juanita and Anise
>>>
>>> On 7/8/12, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi cindy, I am sorry to hear about the troubles with your pup at
>>>> convention.
>>>> I guess what bothers me even more than the trouble, is that another
>>>> handler
>>>> would be rude to you about your pups troubles. I heard others at
>>>> convention
>>>> being rude to guide dog handlers. People who use canes, have no
>>>> tolerance
>>>> for us or our dogs. Its very sad. But I also ran into handlers who were
>>>> not
>>>> aware of what their dogs were doing, who would get stepped on, ran 
>>>> into,
>>>> or
>>>> hit. Perhaps that is something we as a division need to dicuss at our
>>>> next
>>>> convention, is tolerance of guides and the handlers. We still have alot
>>>> of
>>>> NFB members who think that by us using a dog, we are not independent, 
>>>> or
>>>> we
>>>> are lower in rank than them because we choose to use a dog. We as nagdu
>>>> must
>>>> change that attitude or thinking.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> just my two cents
>>>>
>>>> Marsha drenthSent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 7, 2012, at 10:25 PM, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Some of those who judged me were, in fact, other handlers. However, 
>>>>> one
>>>>> particularly vocal one may have had some experiences that had created
>>>>> fears for her beyond what my dog was doing. But, Bibi, thanks. I do
>>>>> appreciate your kind words.
>>>>>
>>>>> CL
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jul 7, 2012, at 10:15 PM, Criminal Justice Major wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi, Cindy,
>>>>>> Despite the rough parts during convention, I'm glad you had fun
>>>>>> though.
>>>>>> Perhaps the reasoning for Fischer's growling or barking may be a sign
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> stress and probably being too enclosed.
>>>>>> I remember one time during an ACB/GDUI convention four years ago in
>>>>>> Louisville, KY, I came across a guide dog team where the handler
>>>>>> seemed
>>>>>> friendly and she was good for keeping on her dog.
>>>>>> Once we all got into an elevator, her dog started growling and 
>>>>>> despite
>>>>>> hard corrections and quiet, nothing worked.
>>>>>> She seeked help and advice from a GDF instructor.
>>>>>> I recommended her to do that since they were the ones who trained her
>>>>>> guide dog and they would know what's best.
>>>>>> I was honest with the handler, explaining that I was sensing her dog
>>>>>> was
>>>>>> enclosed and didn't like the feeling of being cornered.
>>>>>> Here comes the real truth.
>>>>>> One thing I, wish, is people who aren't dog handlers would stop 
>>>>>> judging
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> handler unless they see both the team working at all times.
>>>>>> Just because a dog may bark or growl doesn't make a blind or other
>>>>>> individuals with disabilities bad handlers, especially given that 
>>>>>> they
>>>>>> are trying to really work hard with their dog.
>>>>>> Yes, a dog's bark can be scary, if you're not expecting it.
>>>>>> For those who were trying to claim that you're not controlling your
>>>>>> dog,
>>>>>> how about they stop, put themselves in ours or the dog's shoes to see
>>>>>> how
>>>>>> they feel when they stress out.
>>>>>> i'm only saying this because I've had moments where I've just had to
>>>>>> stop
>>>>>> and think about Odie's feelings on how or what he feels.
>>>>>> Once I started doing that among talking to him, it helped the two of
>>>>>> us
>>>>>> more.
>>>>>> Also, please don't blame yourself for this happening as you had no
>>>>>> idea
>>>>>> how your partner was going to react and it's possible that he just 
>>>>>> may
>>>>>> not like huge amount of activities like crowds and being enclosed by
>>>>>> too
>>>>>> many other dogs.
>>>>>> When you do place a call to TSE, I do hope they will be able to help
>>>>>> you
>>>>>> out and be honest with sharing your feelings.
>>>>>> The more you're able to communicate, the better it will go for all
>>>>>> involved.
>>>>>> Please keep us posted on how it all goes and if there's anything I 
>>>>>> can
>>>>>> do
>>>>>> to help or offer suggestions or advice, feel free to write me off 
>>>>>> list
>>>>>> at:
>>>>>> orleans24 at comcast.net
>>>>>> Again, you're not a bad handler and things like this can happen to
>>>>>> experienced users too.
>>>>>> Bibi
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>
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