[nagdu] Question concerning Deafness with guide dogs

[Chaim B. Segal]

Hi All:

This question is primarily for Marsha and all other deaf-blind folks out here. I am asking this solely out of curiosity 

Two classes back at Seeing Eye, there was an older woman in my class who was losing her hearing. When the instructors spoke to us as a group, they each needed to attach some type of microphone to him or herself for her  to hear them speak, and I am unsure she even got most of what was being said. I believe they worked with her separately from the rest of the class. I did not get a good shot at asking her about some specifics of working a dog with her circumstances.

For those of you who are completely deaf and blind, or even mostly deaf, how do you know when to give your dog the command to cross the street at a lighted intersection? In my neighborhood, there are a few audio signals which also vibrate. However, most older signals do not do this. Of course, the dog cannot tell when the light changes?

Also, considering the fact that the dog responds to auditory commands, such as "forward", "right", left", "Leave it", how does a guide dog user, who is totally mute command their dog? I am guessing that a deaf-blind person's mobility on the outside might be slightly more limited than ours, but I don't want to make any unfair assumptions.

Last but not least, how are you people trained if you are totally deaf? I have heard that Leader Dogs trains deaf-blind handlers, but don't know the specifics. Do the instructors use hand-to-hand ASL? Or, do they use some other type of technology to communicate with deaf clients?

Again, I'm just curious.

Thanks!


Chaim 

Chaim B. Segal
Customer Service Representative: Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio

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