[nagdu] teaching the public

Sun Apr 7 03:31:24 UTC 2013

Hello,
As I was getting off the buss the new driver was talking to the dog.
I don't know when I will see this driver again, I know he will drive 
the buss every third week of the month.
I thought then I could ask for him to let the dog concentrate getting 
me off the buss.
How do you folks handle this.
I don't want the dog excited while I am trying to find the first step 
to step down three steps to the driveway.
I call my dog buddy then folks won't know his name.
Original message:
> I find that the adults are the ones who need to be taught. I tell them that
> her harrness is like her work uniform and when she has her uniform on she's
> working and needs to concentrate.  It usually works.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Eve Sanchez" <celticyaya at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2013 2:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] teaching the public


>> Julie, A lot of good advice for everyone. What I like and think I will
>> take with me today, is the 'just ask' lesson. That is a very important
>> lesson. When I was teaching, all of my kindergarteners knew that they
>> should never approach a dog they did not know without asking first.
>> Now-a-days I am often approached by children asking and I explain to
>> them why I do not allow her to be petted by others. They understand. I
>> also thank them for asking. The adults on the other hand just act and
>> never think to ask. I think, giving a lesson like this when in a mixed
>> group is an excellent idea as it will teach the adults without them
>> thinking or realizing they are being taught. Well, gotta get ready
>> now. Thanks again for all of your great ideas. Eve

>> On Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 4:38 AM, Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>>> 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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