[nagdu] Biological Family Support for Service Animals

Tue Jun 19 01:19:44 UTC 2012

I went to a rehab center in 1999 to take medical transcription courses for one year that was a two year course, yikes.  

That was the first time I was really allowed to be a full and unapologetic blind person, as they had every talking device known to man, and I taught myself braille.

After that, Well, during that time, I noticed my vision start to get weird, and I accepted the fact that, even though the doctors don't know what's happening, I was losing my vision, slowly but surely, and that I had better get it together before it went altogether.  

It still took my step Mom to kick me in the behind to get a guide, but even though I've been through hell with the three guides I've worked with, I wouldn't go back to a cane on the permanent basis.  

I'm using one now in between dogs, while I'm waiting for acceptance at the school of my choice, but I promise you I will get another successful dog this time, and won't go back to a cane without absolute necessity.

I have also made it a point to have my home a blindness sanctuary.  If it can talk, the appliances talk, if it can't, they are marked.  I no longer struggle to see things that I always have had a hard time seeing anyway.  My husband is also totally blind, so we have both made it a blindness sanctuary.  

We can't always get things that talk, due to financial reasons, or just the fact that most things aren't made that way, but we make our home, and for me, transportation choices, as blind friendly as possible.

Up until the time I was 26, I lived a life of trying to see things I couldn't, or strained my eyes to do so, and since then, no more.

I can't wait to have a dog that I can finally trust.  I have never had a dog I could fully trust, so I'm a little afraid to go back to school, though it's a different school, and trust a dog.  I don't know how to trust a dog when I've had three that couldn't be trusted.  

Please pray and cross your fingers, which ever you're most comfortable with, that I can do this.

Oh yeah, the last peace of my medical stuff went to the school, so it's up to the nurses to look things over, and then, of course, the home interview, and juno walk.

Jenny      
On Jun 16, 2012, at 1:52 PM, rhonda cruz wrote:

> Jenny,
> I  feel like having great support in getting a guide dog was the best choice i've ever made.
> i'm a totally blind person.
> and i feel like i've got my freedom back.
> i will never go back to a cane.
> i still keep it as a back up.
> but it is worth it in the end.
> i've got great support  now.
> from friends, and family.
> etc.
> but no matter what it is your choice.
> i'm prouf=d of you!] it is ok to be blind.
> 
> hugs.
> 
> 
> On Jun 16, 2012, at 11:40 AM, Jenny Keller wrote:
> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> When I started losing my sight, I kicked around the idea of getting a dog for a long time.  
>> 
>> My Step Mom, who is a dog freak to begin with was supportive when no one else was.  
>> 
>> finally, after backing out of the dog idea a few times, and she had taken me to a doctor's appointment one day, she said to me "I know you've talked about getting a guide and backed out, why?"  I couldn't really answer her questions well, I just told her that it was because of all the things I would have to handle with getting a guide.  
>> 
>> she asked me what those things were and I told her, things like the hair in the house, grooming, cost, etc.  
>> 
>> She then said, "OK, I've heard your excuses, now give me legitimate reasons."  
>> 
>> I couldn't give her any other than the ones I gave her, so she told me that I knew I would get help with all that and that those were excuses at best.  
>> 
>> I said I agreed with her, and that she was right.  She then asked me, or rather said to me, so when are you going to fill out an online application, when you get in the house right?"  
>> 
>> that was just the kick in the pants I needed.  
>> 
>> though I have gone through hell with guide dogs, and never could fully trust Brooks, I don't regret it and I can still hear those words over four years later, as she can barely speak now due to the ravages of alseimer's.  
>> 
>> those are one of the many conversations I can clearly remember, and will always remember, as she slips away from us because of that horrible disease.  
>> 
>> Most of us don't have that support, and my father was not supportive at all, but I thank GOD for Diana, one of the few people in my life that supported me through just about anything.  without her, I would still never have had the opportunity of working a dog, no matter how bad the trust issue was.  
>> 
>> At least I know now, that some day, I hope, I will be able to fully trust a dog.
>> 
>> Jenny
>> p 
>> On Jun 14, 2012, at 5:17 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>> 
>>> Greg,
>>> 
>>> I'm still catching up since being out of town.  Sorry if you've already gotten more info than you know what to do with! *smile*  Here's my contribution.
>>> 
>>> It honestly didn't occur to me to discuss my using a guide dog or doing the training myself with anyone in my family, excepting the people I live with.  When I started using a cane many years ago this is the same approach I took then.  I simply incorporated the cane and then the dog into life as it seemed relevant, logical or natural.  I never made a big deal out of it.  To this day I honestly have no idea what some of my family members think of my blindness or my dogs.  It doesn't keep me up at night wondering.  I feel like it's my decision and really doesn't concern them.  That's just me though and how I usually do things.  I don't ask their advice on purchasing a home, getting married, or where to go on vacation.   It's not that I don't care what they think, it's more that I'm just comfortable making those decisions on my own and don't feel that their input would be helpful.  I'm not explaining well, but I hope it's a bit understandable.
>>> 
>>> All the best in getting it all sorted out,
>>> Julie
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
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