[nagdu] Question about crossing streets - hope this is guide dog related

[GARY STEEVES]

Hi Tracy:

That is interesting to know since I'm going to London for the Paralympic games in August. Might help me get across crazy intersections if I'm sure to have a cane to pull out when necessary.

Does anyone on this list know people who are visually impaired who use dogs in the UK? I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to take Bogart with me or not. I've just learned that my person who generally looks after Bogart when I'm away is  also on holidays at that time. This adds complications to him staying home. However, I want to make sure that he would be of assistance to me and that he wouldn't be too stressed out. If I fly on Air Canada he will get his own seat space so he won't be cramped up for the whole flight and we'd have to find ways to do a bit of walking around the plane to keep the circulation moving a bit. (now that could be very fun! :)

Thanks
Gary




----- Original Message -----
From: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Date: Sunday, April 29, 2012 9:43 am
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Question about crossing streets - hope this is guide dog related
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>

> I have heard that, in England, guide dog users also carry a 
> short white ID
> cane, and wave it when they come to an intersection, especially a
> complicated intersection.  It gives the drivers two clues 
> that the
> pedestrian is blind.
> It's an interesting idea, although I like to have a hand free, 
> so wouldn't
> really want to hold a cane and work my dog, under most circumstances.
> Tracy
> 
> > Hi Marilyn,
> >
> > I absolutely believe this.  In fact, as I transition to a 
> new guide, I am
> > using a white cane in the meantime, and ironically, have had 
> this exact
> > concept really jump out at me.  In fact, I am offered 
> more assistance when
> > using the white cane than I have ever with a guide.
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-
> bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> > Of marilyn
> > Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:42 AM
> > To: nagdu
> > Subject: [nagdu] Question about crossing streets - hope this 
> is guide dog
> > related
> >
> > Hi All,
> > yesterday I had a day off from work so I went to a library 
> where  there
> > was
> > a guest speak there from the National Helen Keller Center who 
> teaches> mobility. He did a power point presentation and told us 
> that when a blind
> > or
> > blind/deaf person tries crossing a street the driver pays more 
> attention> to
> > a cane user than to a guide dog user. We were told they did 
> some research
> > in
> > Maryland, Minnesota and I forgot the other state. They did 
> suburbs and
> > city.
> > the man doing the presentation who can see and still drives a 
> car did the
> > research. he told us he has glaucoma. He said he dressed in 
> regular street
> > clothing , put dark glasses on and used a cane, then a flag 
> and then held
> > his hand up to stop traffic to cross.
> > They had a grant to do this study. I told him since every day 
> I cross
> > streets with my guide dog and have had close calls I would 
> have been
> > killed
> > with a cane. My dog didn't go across until it was safe even if 
> I give the
> > forward command. I was told that a guide dog team was killed 
> last year
> > because the dog went forward and the person had a hearing 
> problem besides
> > being blind. I told him I cannot comment on what happened to 
> this person
> > because pedestrians who can see are hit by cars every day.
> > My question is do you think people who drive cars pay more 
> attention to a
> > cane user when your trying to cross a street or do people pay 
> attention to
> > a
> > guide dog user?
> > I asked why a study wasn't done about guide dog users crossing 
> streets and
> > was told there wasn't a grant for that study since more people 
> use canes
> > than dogs.
> > Marilyn and Anna
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