[nagdu] Thanks again, Cindy
Tom Hunter
tomhunter at operamail.com
Fri Aug 28 22:26:02 UTC 2015
Cindy Ray via nagdu wrote:
> That was a miniature horse, and I don't know they are called "ponies."
> They
> are smaller than most ponies. We have a person on this list who uses one.
Oops! Forgive me; new to this and as you said on the phone, the small
hoofed ones are quite rare?
>
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tom Hunter via
> nagdu
> Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 4:41 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tom Hunter <tomhunter at operamail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fwd: A question Julie and Tom
>
> Yvonne and Julie, thanks. I just talked on phone to Cindy Ray, who urged
> me
> to use my cane all the time, too.
>
> The 2nd school sent someone to watch me walk in my neighborhood, and
> asked
> if I always used my cane when walking out of the house.
>
> I confessed, I don't use it more than half the time in my neighborhood,
> where my wife and I have lived for over 20 years. I try to walk twice a
> day,
> and so, the neighborhood's still familiar. I have bumped into someone on
> the sidewalk, twice, so I should use the cane more.
>
> I've also hit my head on a guy wire over sidewalk more than once, and on
> low
> branches overhead while on another sidewalk with a cane, though I didn't
> sweep the white cane overhead.
>
> Cindy Ray confirmed what I have heard this week. There is no such
> animal,
> other than a guide dog (or pony?) whom I am allowed to use to help with
> my
> disability, which is, I'm 'legally blind'. Basically, a guide dog or no
> dog
> for me, if I want to go with, to places where 'regular' dogs are not
> allowed.
>
> I seem to have fallen through the cracks here. Too blind to have a
> driver's
> license, or to work at a job I've done for 30 years. Blind enough to be
> on
> long-term disability. But a guide dog seems out of reach.
>
>
> Unless... Thoughts, anyone?
> --
> Tom Hunter
> tomhunter at operamail.com
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 28, 2015, at 04:04 PM, Yvonne M. Thompson via nagdu wrote:
> > Julie & Tom, I am ranting inside along with you. I have never heard such
> > a
> > thing as what some on the line is spouting........
> >
> > Now with that said, My vision is very limited from RP and just like Tom
> > said
> > it throws off everything else. My guide dog was a blessing and improved
> > my
> > quality of life 1000%. I will Email shortly and give you Tom, the info
> > you
> > need to get the process started to get your dog.
> > Julie you are right about making sure you are not over riding the dog
> > when
> > you are working him or her....that makes perfect sense.
> > Thank God I have my dog and 3 degrees of vision left.
> > Tom I will contact you shortly.....
> > Yvonne
> > Now I have to go cool off.... the nerve of some people... GRRRRR
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Julie J. via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> > <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > Cc: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> > Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 2:25 PM
> > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fwd: A question
> >
> >
> > > So it sounds like they are saying that guide dogs are only for the truly
>
> > > pathetic and you'll never move as fast with a dog as you would with
> > > vision. That irritates me to no end.
> > >
> > > Tom, my above rant set aside, have you received any mobility training
> with
> > > a cane? What does your mobility instructor think about the way you
> > > travel? Do you use your cane all the time when you go outside of your
> own
> > > home? Do you find that you avoid certain places or times of the day
> > > because your vision prevents you from feeling confident about
> navigating?
> > >
> > > My husband also has a brain injury. While it didn't affect his vision,
> it
> > > is still absolutely terrifying when he even bumps his head a little.
> His
> > > doctor's said the same thing about using extreme caution to avoid
> further
> > > injury. they also suggested he wear a helmet when participating in
> > > activities which could be potentially hazardous.
> > >
> > > The thing about having some vision and using a guide dog is that it is
> > > very easy to over ride what the dog is indicating. After a while the
> dog
> > > will get the idea that you've got it, so he doesn't need to be diligent
> in
> > > his duties. then you'll whack into something because you didn't see it
> > > and the dog thought you could because you've indicated to him in the
> past
> > > that you could. Certainly a dog could be taught to only do specific
> guide
> > > tasks for you, like the over head clearance. the problem is two fold
> > > though. First, I don't know of anyplace that does this sort of
> customized
> > > training. You'd have to hire someone and pay out of pocket for it.
> > > Second, how often would you encounter overhangs for the dog to get in
> > > enough practice? To keep the skills sharp, the dog has to have fairly
> > > routine practice with them.
> > >
> > > Julie
> > > Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now
>
> > > available! Get the book here:
> > > http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Tom Hunter via nagdu
> > > Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 1:06 PM
> > > To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> > > Cc: Tom Hunter ; Buddy Brannan
> > > Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fwd: A question
> > >
> > > Buddy, 2 schools, first GDB on the west coast, then a school in NY which
> > > sent me an email:
> > >
> > > August 14, 2015
> > >
> > > Dear Tom,
> > >
> > > Our Admissions Committee has carefully reviewed your file. Your
> > > application for a guide dog has been denied on the basis of your being
> > > too visual a traveler to benefit from a guide dog and be successful with
> > > one.
> > > I am sorry we cannot be of service to you, Tom. It has been my pleasure
> > > corresponding with you throughout this process.
> > >
> > > --> To be honest, if you are determined, you may find a guide dog school
> > > that will accept you. But when the judgment of both Guide Dogs for the
> > > Blind and our school is that it is not a good idea, you may not want to
> > > consider a school with softer criteria. A guide dog is a real benefit
> > > when your vision loss is such that you cannot get around safely without
> > > a cane. But this is not the case for you. When a person has enough
> > > useable vision to get around visually, the particulars of handling and
> > > using a guide dog can actually be a burden and can slow you down rather
> > > than enhance your mobility.
> > > Our best wishes go with you.
> > > Sincerely [etc]
> > > --
> > > Tom Hunter
> > > tomhunter at operamail.com
> > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, Aug 28, 2015, at 01:56 PM, Buddy Brannan via nagdu wrote:
> > >> Hi,
> > >>
> > >> Twice rejected: from the same school or from several? Even if you were
> > >> rejected by two guide dog schools, that leaves about a dozen left at
> > >> which to apply. Did they give you any reason for why you weren't
> > >> accepted? If so, what was it, and what steps were recommended that you
> > >> take to improve your chances at getting accepted next time?
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> > >> Phone: 814-860-3194
> > >> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> > >> Email: buddy at brannan.name
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > On Aug 28, 2015, at 1:30 PM, Tom Hunter via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > >> > wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > Hi, all. I'm new to this list, and have been 'legally blind' since
> > >> > 2012,
> > >> > when I fell from my bicycle, starting my commute home from work.
> > >> > Severe
> > >> > head injury left my optic nerves dead from one eye, and damaged from
> > >> > the
> > >> > other. Optic nerves are gone and do not recover.
> > >> >
> > >> > I was told I could be teamed with a guide dog, but have been rejected
> > >> > twice. Hence my question.
> > >> >
> > >> > Is there a service dog I could be paired with, despite being judged a
> > >> > bad match for a seeing eye dog?
> > >> >
> > >> > Original ms was;
> > >> >
> > >> > I am a disabled 60-year-old, who can't drive or do my old job. I have
> a
> > >> > MetroAccess card, and can take local trains and bus service, or get a
> > >> > ride if I give 24 hours notice.
> > >> >
> > >> > In 2012 I fell, while commuting home from work on a bicycle. I wasn't
> > >> > wearing a helmet, and hit my head on the sidewalk. After weeks of
> coma,
> > >> > I recovered, but for the optic nerves, which are permantly gone to
> the
> > >> > left eye, and severely damaged to the right eye, less than 20 degrees
> > >> > field of vision in the eye that sees.
> > >> >
> > >> > I am in a study at the NIH, and a therapist there thought I'd qualify
> > >> > for a guide dog. This is not the case, it seems. 2 schools have
> > >> > evaluated me, and now both judge my case to be not needing a guide
> dog.
> > >> >
> > >> > My question is, Is there any chance of getting a service animal, to
> > >> > help
> > >> > me with partial blindness, which could help me with things I don't
> see?
> > >> >
> > >> > I don't see things overhead while walking, at times, and have hit my
> > >> > head as a result. My doctors warned me not to hit my head at all!
> > >> >
> > >> > And, a cane helps but a dog might warn me better of uneven terrain
> > >> > while
> > >> > walking in a local park, since my depth perception is mainly gone.
> > >> >
> > >> > Thanks,
> > >> > --Tom
> > >> >
>
>
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