[nagdu] guidedog and mobility skills

[Danielle Burton]

Larry, there are a few variations with guide dogs for deaf-blind. They are solely trained to guide but may be trained using sign languge or being able to respond on the hand signal without verbal support. They are also really traffic trained. It is still the handler's responsibility to get across the street and that doesn't always mean by deciding when to cross. Many people who are  deaf-blind get sighted assistance across the street. So  to clarify you do not have to be able to cross a street in order to get a guide dog.  I can cross some streets independently and some I cannot.  

Danielle and Willa 


> On Oct 31, 2014, at 8:13 PM, Nicole Torcolini via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> No, you don't have to be the perfect traveler, but there are certain things
> that, JMHO, it is unreasonable to expect from a guide dog. There are people
> out there who do not have good mobility skills who think that getting a
> guide dog will magically solve everything.
> 
> Nicole
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: debby phillips [mailto:semisweetdebby at gmail.com] 
> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2014 8:55 AM
> To: Deanna Lewis; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users; ntorcolini at wavecable.com; nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] guidedog and mobility skills
> 
> Well, I'm not always the sharpest tool in the drawer, not having the
> greatest sense of direction.  So you don't have to be perfect.  But you do
> have to be able to figure things out, or at least know the right questions
> to ask should someone offer to help.  And dogs can help.  After a dog has
> been with you a while they will often show you doors, even if they aren't
> the right door.  This helps a lot when going to an unfamiliar place, as
> happens from time to time.  But you do need to have fairly good skills.  But
> don't let anyone tell you that you have to be the 
> "perfect" traveler.  That's just not true.    Peace,    Debby and 
> Neena
> 
> 
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