[nagdu] Fwd: A question Julie and Tom

[Tami Jarvis]

Tom,

Once you get used to traveling with a cane, you might find walking a lot 
more relaxing. I have RP, which is progressive, so spent a few years in 
that in-between zone. It was hard to get used to using a cane when it 
still seemed like I could see at least in most light, but once I took to 
using it regularly, I wouldn't be without it!

It might help with guide dog evaluations if you pick a route that is not 
so familiar so you don't just know where everything is and appear to 
have more sight than you do or that you're traveling more visually than 
you are.

Do the programs still have you submit your medical records with the 
visual field tests and so forth? Perhaps you could refer to those to 
demonstrate how a guide dog can enhance your safety.

Guide dogs are trained to avoid overhead obstacles, though some are 
better than others. It's true that those with some vision may have to 
work harder to learn to follow the dog, but a lot of folks seem to 
manage it. I think it really depends on the individual.

hth

Tami

On 08/28/2015 02:40 PM, Tom Hunter via nagdu wrote:
> 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?
>