[nagdu] teaching the public

Tue Apr 9 18:59:33 UTC 2013

Hello!

What amazes me is that people think that you can telll the dog to take you
to the bank but will grab you or the harness handle because they think
you're going to fall down a flight of stairs.

Toni

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2013 7:38 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] teaching the public

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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