[nagdu] Note from the moderator Re: my day from yesterday

Thu Nov 15 17:38:43 UTC 2012

Hi Brenda,
Glad my e-mail helped you.  Just remember: Nobody is living in your body so 
they have no say in what you feel is best for you or what choices you make 
in life.  it is yours to make.

What ever decision about getting a dog you make, get as much information as 
possible.  Talk to guide dog users and even partially sighted guide dog 
users if there's any in your area.

Good luck to you.

Lyn and Landon
"Education creates tolerance towards diversity."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brenda" <bjnite at windstream.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2012 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Note from the moderator Re: my day from yesterday

> Thank you Lynn - so well said.
>
> As a person with lifelong partial sight that is now dwindling, I have 
> dealt with the issues you present and it is not easy.  Had it happen when 
> I went for some mobility training too, and I imagine some people with low 
> vision are not even considered in need of mobility training.  I need 
> continued reinforcement in the form of emails like yours.  This is 
> relevant to this list as I dread dealing with the second guessing when it 
> becomes time for me to apply for a guide dog.  I need to be reminded that 
> it is okay.  Also, I liked your description of looking around while using 
> a guide and using remaining vision in conjunction with a guide dog instead 
> of denying that remaining vision.
>
> Well said and thank you.
> Brenda
>
> On 11/10/2012 2:45 PM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>> Thank you, Marsha.  I am a partial and see this happen in the blind 
>> community in general during my 61 years of life as a visually impaired 
>> person.  I see this dynamic of "not blind enough" in many different 
>> communities.  People misunderstand partial vision.  They see things in 
>> black and white, missing the many shades of grey in between - our vast 
>> diversity in life.  People think blindness means total, blackness and 
>> that is not a good description.  Most blind people have some sort of 
>> vision - anything from light perception to seeing alot but not normal 
>> sight.
>>
>> People like Sean and I can see some things but not well enough to travel 
>> safely.  Here is how I see:  I have sight in one eye and it is fairly 
>> decent sight but in a very small area - a tube.  I have no depth 
>> perception.  I can see the traffic signals and the little white man or 
>> the red hand on the Walk Sign - but better in low light or darkness.  I 
>> can read signs if close enouogh or large enough.  I can read print books 
>> with magnifying glasses.
>>
>> But my vision is no way adequate for safe travel.  If a car gets into my 
>> little field of viaion, well, I can be dead after it has run me down.  I 
>> can't see curbs or steps.  My dog will keep me safe and show me curbs and 
>> steps or that car cutting in front of me.
>>
>> At the guide dog schools, they teach us partials how to use our remaining 
>> vision along with the dog's job.  They teach us how not to let our vision 
>> interfere with the dog's work.  My dog sees the important stuff that 
>> keeps me safe and I can look around with my head up and not looking at my 
>> feet.  I can see a building I want to go into and then I just start to 
>> suggest "Inside" to my dog and allow him to guide me safely into that 
>> building.  I can look at and enjoy scenery as I walk like a sighted 
>> person would but still allow my dog to do his job as trained.  I have 
>> "night blindness" so I can see NOTHING in the dark.
>>
>> In my own blind community, there was a woman who used to have sight but 
>> no longer has it.  She used to be nasty and jealouos of us wioth sight 
>> and used to say stuff about what are wwe doing with a dog when I coould 
>> see.  I told her about my sight and not being able to see after dark. 
>> She stopped complaining about me having a dog when she realized that my 
>> sight is like hers used to be.  I did tell her that schools will not 
>> accept a person if they have too much sight or if they can't give up 
>> control and let the dog do its job and trust thast dog.  It varies.  Some 
>> totals can't give trust to a dog and they choose to stay with the white 
>> cane.  Some partials will override the dog's decisions and they do better 
>> without a dog.  This is why the schools evaluate each applicant before 
>> acceptance and after you are in training.
>>
>> Marsha, I liked your answer - it has always been my answer to folks. 
>> Interestingly, I see the same sort of thing in other communities.  To 
>> bisexuals - you're not "gay enough".  To blacks who are light skinned or 
>> bi-racial - you're not "black enough".  In the transgender community - 
>> you're not "trans enough".  it is the same dynamic - a dynamic of not 
>> understanding each other and each person is different and each blind 
>> person sees differently.
>>
>> Partially blind folks, biracial folks, transgender folks all are in the 
>> same boat:  We get crap from both ends of the spectrum.  Totally blind 
>> from birth folks, and other folks who don't fit the sterotypes in any 
>> group get this crap.  As partials, we get "You're not blind!" from both 
>> the totals and the fully sighted.  Like we are faking it.  this is 
>> hurtful to hear.
>>
>> We all need to be more understanding of each other no matter what our 
>> situation is.  We all get crap for being something other than white, 
>> sighted, able bodied, straight, non-trans, non-male, non American in our 
>> society.  We need to stick together rather than tear each other down so 
>> that each human being on earth can live a life of safety, caring, and 
>> dignity.
>>
>> Hope this helps people to be respectful and understanding to one another 
>> on this list.
>>
>> Lyn and Landon
>> "Education creates tolerance towards diversity."
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marsha Drenth" 
>> <marsha.drenth at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2012 7:39 AM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Note from the moderator Re: my day from yesterday
>>
>>
>>> List,
>>>
>>> I am sorry first of all that I did not get to this thread before now. I 
>>> am currently in New York for their state convention.
>>>
>>> I will not tolerate anymore judgements on list members who have partial 
>>> vision. It is not our place to say how a person will mess up a dog. If a 
>>> school issued a guide to a partial, it is their judgement to make. Your 
>>> welcome to voice your opinion, but please. please. please. be nice!
>>>
>>> If I need to members off list about this I will do so. Please be 
>>> accepting of others.
>>>
>>> Marsha drenth
>>> Sent with my IPhone
>>> http://adventureswith2feet4paws.blogspot.com
>>>
>>> On Nov 9, 2012, at 12:51 PM, Sean Moore <seanmoore87 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks a lot for that, first nice word on this list  and my school list 
>>>> is just as supportive.
>>>>
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>>
>>
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