[nagdu] teaching the public

Sat Apr 6 11:38:09 UTC 2013

Eve,

I just did presentations for the Boy Scouts.  They had a disabilities 
awareness day, which I think could use some improvement, but that's another 
post for another list.  Anyway I had only 10 minutes with each small group 
of boys.  I first explained that I'm blind, which means I need to use other 
ways of doing things instead of looking at them.  This would seem obvious, 
but I've learned that a lot of people don't really get "blind".  Then I move 
on to the two main ways blind people use to move about, cane or dog.  I tell 
them that both methods work just fine and that every blind person has to 
figure out which they like or works best for them.  I introduce Monty, who 
was laying beside me.  I explain that when he is guiding me I hold onto the 
handle and walk a step behind his shoulders.  I feel which way he is moving 
from his shoulder movement, which travels through the harness handle.  This 
is where I get a lot of odd questions.  I've found explaining it like 
dancing gets my point across about the best.  I explain that Monty will stop 
if there's something he wants me to know about or if we can't go around, but 
that I make all the choices of which way we are going.  People think you 
tell the dog "post office" and magically the dog takes you there.

Over the years I have simplified my list of guide dog rules down to just 
one, *ask*.  I think that one about covers it and if they can remember just 
one thing I hope it is that one thing.  I emphasize it a lot.  If they want 
to pet, ask.  If they want to give food, ask, If they want to talk to the 
dog, ask.  Otherwise they should completely ignore the dog.  I think the 
just ask approach does a lot of things extremely simply.  If the kids are 
asking, then they are learning to view the blind person as the leader of the 
team.  They are learning basic dog etiquette that will serve them well with 
any sort of service dog team, police dog or even pets.  The just ask rule is 
extremely universal and flexible for any situation.  It allows each handler 
to manage the situation as he/she sees fit.

Sometimes I let people pet, but usually not.  Either way I *always* smile 
and tell them "thank you for asking".

Then I take questions.  I don't do demonstrations unless I can't figure a 
way out of it gracefully.  I've only ever done one.  Monty worked it 
perfectly, but because the group didn't understand the finer points of how 
we work they all thought he had made several mistakes.  I tried to explain 
the subtleties, but there just isn't time in these sorts of presentations. 
I left feeling very frustrated.

I have also done presentations at schools, visually impaired peer support 
groups, the senior center and of course it comes up from time to time when 
I'm doing presentations for work.  A couple of years ago I was presenting to 
a group of business leaders about the county programs I administer and I 
think there were just as many questions about the dog as juvenile crime. 
*smile*

If you enjoy these presentations and are looking for places to contact to 
offer your time maybe look at church groups, Chamber of Commerce member 
events, Health Department, schools, colleges especially the special ed or 
diversity studies, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, leadership groups, 4-H, 
children's museums, etc.  Something I have noticed through my county job is 
that more and more anytime there is state or federal grant funding, there is 
usually some component of diversity or disability or something.  There are 
trainings held to "educate" the people applying for and manageing these 
grants about these topics.  Although I had never attended a "diversity" 
training presented by a "diverse" person...except once.  I don't know of any 
easy way to find these opportunities though.

HTH I hope you have fun and that the people learn a lot!
Julie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Eve Sanchez
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 11:35 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] teaching the public

Tomorrow there is a canine fashion show being put on as a fund raising
event for a new K--9 for the Yavapaih County Marshalls. There are many
silly things going on to get the community happy. There also some
educational things going on to enlighten the community. First on the
agenda is a presentation by yours truly on guide dogs. I did a
presentation with my dog just last week during a dinner and know that
there is an upcoming presentation on the schedule with a local church
group. In other words, I am busy becoming an ambassador and educater
about guide dogs and guide dog users. I am sure that many of you have
done these types of things also and would love to hear about your
experiences. It is not that I am some great speaker or anything. I
just get asked. Also, in my community, there are a total of three
guide dogs. WE JUST DONT HAVE THE NUMBERS
I would really like to hear about what you all do with your dogs, not
to compare, but to get more ideas of how we could all get involved and
what others do that might be good ideas to borrow on. Thanks, Eve

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