[nagdu] My concerns about getting a guide dog.....

[Pauline Berger]

Hello everyone,

I just found this list last night and I am hoping to chat with someone who
might be in the same situation that I am in.  I am legally blind but just
barely.  I have a lot of functional vision left and for the most part
people around me do not even realize that I have vision problems.
 Especially if I am in a familiar area, my visual handicaps could not even
be noticed.  Lighting is what makes the difference in me.  Either too much
or not enough can really blind me.  I have trouble with any printed text
unless it is blown up to about 6 or 7x.

So my concern is this:  I do have enough functional vision that may get in
the way of training a dog to see for me.  Sometimes I do see the cracks in
a sidewalk or sometimes I don't.  I have walked off a set of stairs twice
in my life that I did not see.  So, my hubby and daughter would like me to
get a dog for my own protection.  It is not just them, I would love one
too.  What I am afraid of is that the people at the guide dog training
place will wonder if I am faking...I know.... you may think this is silly,
but I do wonder if they will be able to work with me since I do have the
ability to see more than others that need a dog.  I would be able to go
around town on the bus and such with him and to go to my volunteer job at
the hospital with him and not feel vulnerable like I do with my cane which
advertises to everyone that I am visually impaired.

Any thoughts for me???

Thanks

-- 
When you are at the edge of a cliff........*a step back* is progress!
.....heard at Pacific Coast Camp

*Knowledge* is knowing that a tomato is classified as a fruit....
*Wisdom* is knowing not to put it into a fruit salad!
.....author unknown

Two things in life you should never scrimp on.......
*Mattresses* and *shoes*.......you will spend your lifetime in one or the
other!
author unknown

Talk to yourself.......you will be guaranteed at least *ONE* listener!
by Pauline Berger