[nagdu] reasons for getting a guide

[Julie J]

Barb,

Have you considered learning to use a white cane?  There are foldable/telescopic canes available.  You could get it out when you need it, at night, bright sun or new places and put it in a purse or bag when you don't need it.

As a fellow person with some vision, although much less now than I used to have, I do strongly suggest using the cane all the time.  It's when you think you can see that tends to be the moment you find out otherwise and get into trouble.  If you're not comfortable with all the time use, I still think using it when you feel you need it would help you gain some confidence and sense of adventure.  Staying home because you are afraid to go out is no way to live.

This may be the reason you were denied by the guide dog school.  Although each program has different exact requirements in using a cane, to the best of my knowledge all the programs require that you are able to use a cane and do use a cane regularly.  I suppose the logic is that if you don't feel your vision is such that you need a cane, then you probably aren't going to benifit from a dog.

Feeling safer from crime and having a companion are certainly side effects of having a guide dog, but they aren't by themselves a reason to get a guide dog, at least in my opinion.  After all a large dog from the pound could fill that role for much cheaper and is more readily available.

It also sounds like you struggle with how you identify yourself.  You say that you are blind, but you also want to use the vision you have.  I understand, I really do.  I have self identified as blind for many, many years.  In the beginning I was very resistant to using a cane or learning Braille because my vision was okay, most of the time, if the light was right, and the contrast was good, and I didn't have a headache and I wasn't in a hurry.  Eventually I decided to learn the skills of blindness.  Interestingly my vision is much, much less than it was back then, but I go and do many more things and I feel better about myself and my life.

I do still use my vision.  I enjoy playing computer games.  My favorites are not accessible so I use a magnifying glass and go at it.  I do lots of other things visually too.  The thing is that I have learned the hard way that I'll attempt to use my vision when the consequences of a visual mistake are low or none.  If I loose badly on the computer game, the only thing I'm out is time.  If I don't get my socks matched correctly I might suffer some embarrassment.  If I decide to go for a walk without cane or dog, I risk life and limb.  It's just not worth it.

The thing that helped me the absolute most to find the right balance between visual and nonvisual techniques was to go through intensive center based emersion training using a blindfold.  It helped me to see what I could do nonvisually.  I felt safe and confident in my skills.  Then when I had that part down I began to add in things I couldn't do nonvisually, my video games and then later I started doing some things visually that I could have done nonvisually, the socks, because it is more efficient for me.  I should confess that most of my socks are either white or black, so it's pretty easy.

Do you know many other blind people?  I think it could be a big help to you to meet some people in your home area who are blind.  Having that support network is a big help.  I learned lots of things when I went to training, but it's impossible to learn everything.  Some things I can figure out on my own, but I get stuck sometimes.  A quick phone call or email to a blind person who I know has done the thing I'm wanting to learn and I'm well on my way to doing it myself.

Anyway, I hope you find something useful or interesting in all that!  I wish you all the best in whatever you decide,
Julie

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 16, 2014, at 12:49 PM, Barb breuer via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I have been doing a lot of thinking sence  I started looking into getting I guide dog.  Like do I need one, will it be a help to me, or can I get around well enough on my own.  Plus do I have to much vision to qualify.  
> I have a good amount of vision for a blind person.  My mother went to a school for the blind, and didn't want her kids to go to one.  She wanted us to learn to use the sight we had.  
> So now I feel like, I can do these things, cross the street, walk without a cane, find my way.  
> I have had people I know ask why do you need a guide dog?  My answer is because the dog would help me at night when I don't see so good, and in the bright sun, plus I have thick glasses and I have little side vision.  I get a long well at work, but I clean locker rooms for a living and fold towels.  Not a lot of need for dog.  
> 
> I don't like going places that I haven't been so much because I do think about, will there be a step or something I don't see.  I walk slower because of it and when I am with people I walk a step behind and watch where they step.  
> So I feel like a dog would make my life easier, and having a companion with me would be nice.  
> I Am in my 50's and do think about how walking a dog,  people think twice before they want to jump you.  But having a dog is a good way to  meet new friends.  
> Sorry for it being so long, I just have a lot on my mind. 
> Barb
> 
> Sent from Xfinity Connect Mobile App
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