[nagdu] The Process of Getting a Guide

Tue May 22 17:56:27 UTC 2012

Greg,

Well, true. If the school can work with the applicant to get the needed 
information in another way, that's what counts. If not, then I have that 
to consider in whether I want any more to do with that organization. 
/smile/ I understand that the programs do need accurate information to 
use in making a match. You would think an O&M instructor would provide 
an accurate assessment of the applicant's real travel skills, and many 
do. Probably most do. Then there are those who observe a person perform 
"surprisingly well" under sleep shade and conclude that the person is 
using her really great vision to do that... So the guide dog program 
then goes with that assessment... That the applicant has really great 
vision! This will certainly cause the applicant to wonder about quite a 
few things. /lol/ Then be too busy to wonder because she's training her 
own dog, which seems to be working, so... /lol/ Now I have a guide and 
plan to owner-train again because I really do love training. However, 
rolling my own won't always be possible, so I do a lot of head 
scratching about how to get past some of the application hurdles if our 
VR agency doesn't shape up. Or doesn't survive... Sigh.

That affects me in other things besides getting an assessment of my O&M 
skills... So I am applying myself to my studies to get my nonvisual 
skills up to snuff with my former working skills... While wondering how 
I will manage the process of working with a prospective employer on 
acquiring the right tools for a job when the agency doesn't show up for 
the employer consultation, stuff like that. I wonder for more than me, 
since this happens in my state with blind people who just want to go to 
work or keep working. Hm...

And so on. So when I think of applying to a program for another guide 
dog, I pay attention to which programs will accept another means of 
getting the information they need another way. Then it is up to me to 
provide accurate information, a realistic video without a bunch of cuts 
and takes, which I never thought of until Jenine mentioned it. Well, for 
me to show I'm perfect would require entire camera crews and 
professional directors and editors. Teehee.

Tami

On 05/21/2012 02:32 PM, NCBootman wrote:
> We must always remember (and I forget too) that we visually impaired 
> and blind folk are so diverse that when requirements and directions 
> are written for programs like guide dog schools, they have to assume 
> some specifics. I think it is generally thought that people might be 
> somewhat newly blinded rather than those of us who have been around 
> since before anything like todays system was in place. So, if a person 
> was blinded five years ago, went to a Rehab center and took mobility, 
> that piece of paper sure helps out in school's documentation. But, 
> then, an odd situation like me and others comes along and they just 
> deal with it and serve us and get the necessary information in the 
> best way possible. So, I hold no fault with schools with such 
> statements when they say they are willing to help me get what they need.
>
> Greg
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 12:57 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Process of Getting a Guide
>
>
> If a school insisted on an actual statement from an O&M instructor, I'd
> find that rather patronizing.  Some places seem to assume that every 
> blind
> guy gets cradle-to-grave services, and it just ain't so.  Like Greg, I
> haven't talked to an O&M person for at least 25 years, except for those
> who happen to work for a dog school.  Imagine that.  I've actually been
> rehabilitated, and escaped from the rehab system. And I know for a fact
> that many other blind people have, too.  Isn't that supposed to be what
> rehab is all about?
> Tracy
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
>> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 11:49 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Process of Getting a Guide
>>
>>         Bibi makes a great point re mobility.
>> We're all here meaning that however we learned it, we do manage to get
>> around.
>> What do the schools do if someone wants a dog but can't prove via
>> paperwork
>> that they can navigate safely?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Criminal Justice Major
>> Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 12:13 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] The Process of Getting a Guide
>>
>> I've been trying to go through that process of getting O&M refresher
>> through
>> Denver Vocational Rehabilitation here in denver, Colorado.
>> No, I didn't get anywhere at all, despite filling out paperwork with an
>> O&M
>> teacher in January, 2012.
>> That same teacher ended up having another baby last month and from that
>> time
>> on despite me contacting my rehab counselor, I never got any calls or
>> emails
>> from her.
>> I was originally going to do O&M in the hopes that GDF would 
>> reconsider me
>> to go through training there as they turned me down last year: 
>> claiming I
>> needed more mobility skills.
>> Main reason for wanting to go through GDF is to have a guide dog trained
>> to
>> not only be a guide, but being able to guide me while I do have to use a
>> support cane or walker on the days when I don't have the physical 
>> strength
>> due to arthritis or having a seizure happen.
>> I'd also like to be able to have the dog still be able to guide while I
>> would have to use a power chair.
>> Since I haven't gotten anywhere with DVR, I figure it was best for me to
>> just go train with another guide dog through Pilot Dogs.
>> I definitely understand that mobility is important, but what if a blind
>> individual doesn't have a rehab case, then what are they supposed to do
>> from
>> there?
>> Truth is that there are a lot of other visually impaired individuals who
>> aren't able to get Vocational Rehab to help them out and even with 
>> filling
>> out the necessary paperwork, a person would either end up on a waiting
>> list
>> for probably a year or not be taken in.
>> Yes, I'm aware that SEGDI (Southeastern Guide Dogs Incorporated) does
>> wheelchair training, but I'm way out of their bounds for any follow up.
>> TSE (The Seeing Eye) will do wheelchair training, but I would have 
>> already
>> had to be a graduate in order to receive the training.
>> GDB (Guide Dogs for the Blind) is doing  wheelchair guide do 
>> training, but
>> I'd still would like to know more.
>> A grad is willing to talk to me more on a handler she knows who did go
>> through training there, but I just haven't had a chance to contact her
>> personally as of yet.
>> No, Pilot doesn't do any wheelchair training and I don't think they 
>> would
>> plan on going that route either.
>> So, I'd have to teach the next dog myself directly.
>> Back to the mobility thing...
>> I do have an outtpaitient therapist from Denver Health Medical who is
>> willing to help me deal with contacting my rehab counselor and I 
>> admitted
>> to
>> her it was better that she'd end up speaking with my rehab counselor 
>> on my
>> behalf so I won't stress that bad.
>> Well, I guess I'll end right here and hide out underneath my quiet rock
>> again.
>> Bibi
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