[NAGDU] Using an accessible GPS while working your guide dog

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Carmela.
I know TSE and Leader were both incorporating GPS into the later stages of
training, if someone wanted it.  Me, I was much too busy trying to figure
out what makes my new pup tick to ask about it, as were most of my
classmates, but I've heard of the option.

I sometimes put on BlindSquare when I'm walking, but it does chatter a lot
and can be distracting.  Also, I've sometimes stopped to try to find out
something from the GPS, and ended up fooling around with it for a minute or
two, which makes my dog wonder why we're just standing around in the middle
of nowhere.  So they can be useful, but look out for getting distracted by
the tech.
I use the CCrane over-ear monoaural earphone.  It's small, inexpensive,
doesn't poke into my ear, and doesn't block other sounds.

I'm thinking about trying the Seeing Eye GPS, which now has a month's free
trial. I'll try it sometime this summer, when we go somewhere on vacation.
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carmella Broome
via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 8:11 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Carmella Broome
Subject: [NAGDU] Using an accessible GPS while working your guide dog

Hi everyone, I know aspects of this topic have been talked about on this
list before, but I can't find anything recent and I have several questions.
I  am interested in accessible GPS I Phone apps and incorporating their use
into  my travels with my guide dog. I've heard about  Blind Square and  The
Seeing Eye GPS app.   Are there others any of you use and like? Suggestions
on preference and why would be much appreciated. Also, experiences using a
GPS app while  out walking with/traveling with  your dog  would be great, as
well.  I can't find many articles talking about people's first person
experiences with such apps and that's what I'm interested in. I want using
the apps to enhance my travels with my dog and to help  if I become
disoriented on a route or so I can explore  more confidently.  I don't want
using such an app to distract me from info my dog is  giving me or from my
focus on her  and our work together.  Are any of the guide dog schools
incorporating  GPS app u
 se into training or   giving suggestions to  graduates about using one
while working a guide dog? Any thoughts  or experiences  are welcomed and
appreciated as I believe very strongly in that knowledge is power idea.  I
live in the US and  do not have useable vision. Thanks in advance.      

Carmella Broome and 3 year old yellow lab Brooklyn

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