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

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Yeah, Julie, that pretty much sums it up!  We also have to become an 
educator at times as well.  And we have to stand up to the crap people send 
our way.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] My concerns about getting a guide dog.....


> If a white cane advertises to everyone that you are blind, a guide dog is 
> a huge banner complete with neon blinking lights and party tunes.
>
> I'd suggest that you get comfortable with your visual impairment/blindness 
> before getting a dog.  I'm meaning cane skills, but more than that too.  I 
> mean that it's important to be at a place with your blindness where 
> answering questions won't stress you out.  You'll have all sorts of people 
> asking questions, some about the dog and some about you.  You'll suddenly 
> become more approachable, at least that has been my experience.  Sometimes 
> that's nice and other times it's not.
>
> You'll also need to come to understand the limits of your vision and to 
> not over ride the dog.  that can be tough, like bite your nails and turn 
> your hair gray tough.  I remember curling my lips over my teeth in an 
> attempt to keep them from being knocked out because I thought there were 
> branches coming up and I was going to get a face full.  It never happened, 
> but still I had to learn to stop trying to see, stop thinking I could see, 
> stop remembering what I saw and let the dog do his thing.
>
> All my best to you, and a big welcome to the list!
> Julie
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net