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

Cindy Ray cindyray at gmail.com
Fri Sep 7 01:29:26 UTC 2012


W ell, I would say that you should always be using the cane. And if I seemed harsh in my other message, I'm sorry, but I have honestly known of people who merely carried a cane to show they are blind. I guess that you wouldn't be likely to be asked to leave the program, but you would be encouraged to work on the trust issues. We all are. My first dog and did not trust, and this was because I was accustomed to a cane. It took a good while before I was able to truly transition.

Cindy Lou

On Sep 6, 2012, at 7:05 PM, Pauline Berger wrote:

> I realize that I should not want a dog to show other people that I am
> blind, however that will be part of what happens if I get one.  I want more
> than I can express to trust the dog to enable me to get around but my major
> concern is will I be able to because I have some usable vision.
> My peripheral vision (my side mirrors as I refer to it) is not good.
> Someone can blindside me very easily.
> 
> I guess my biggest fear is getting accepted into a program and then not
> being able to complete it because of being able to see to well or not
> trusting enough to pass the training.
> 
> I do use a cane when I am out by myself.  I probably should start using it
> all the time.
> 
> On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 4:52 PM, Doug Parisian <eggmann at shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
>> Seems to me that Pauline express her concerns fairly well and perhaps,
>> though hopefully unintentional, the tone of this message implies some form
>> of wilful miss-trust of folks with out of the normal vision issues.  The
>> vision issues are rarely black and white but more like shades of grey, and
>> unpredictable too; that really sucks!.
>> 
>> Firstly, that mobility destructor should be promptly fired, dismissed,
>> canned, buried, or something!
>> 
>> My friend Terry had what he referred to as pinhole vision; he could see me
>> almost half a block away, if I just happened to be in his field of vision;
>> the closer I got, the less likely he was to see me.  That has to be tough
>> but not as difficult as fluctuating vision.
>> 
>> Doug: I'm looking through you, where did you go?
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Cindy Ray" <cindyray at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 6:14 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] My concerns about getting a guide dog.....
>> 
>> 
>> : You won't want a dog, Paline, to show that you are visually impaired. You
>> have to be able to use the dog in ways that show you trust it. The more you
>> second guess, or make decisions based on what you see or by second guessing
>> the dog, the more it will come to realize that it doesn't have to work. You
>> have to be committed to being blind enough to really use a dog. Are you
>> using the cane, or do youjust carry it.
>> :
>> : Cindy Lou
>> :
>> : On Sep 6, 2012, at 4:59 PM, Pauline Berger wrote:
>> :
>> : > 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
>> : > _______________________________________________
>> : > nagdu mailing list
>> : > nagdu at nfbnet.org
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>> : > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> : >
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>> :
>> :
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>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 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
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com





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