[NAGDU] Special needs

Tue Aug 22 14:22:11 UTC 2017

She sure does sound like an awesome Guide/helper.  I wrote Sandra off list.

On 8/22/17, Dan Weiner via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> What a wonderful dog, Sandra, thanks for telling us about Eva.
>
>
> Dan
>
>
>
> On 8/21/2017 10:28 PM, S L Johnson via NAGDU wrote:
>> Debbie:
>>
>> I went through the same thing three years ago when it came time to retire
>> my
>> golden Tara.  I have degenerative joint disease and multiple sclerosis
>> which
>> causes weakness and balance problems.  I use a support cane in my right
>> hand.  I need a dog that walks slow without pulling too hard and that is
>> easy to control.  I also had the problem of not being able to walk the
>> speed
>> or long distances that most of the schools require during training.  I
>> applied to all the guide dog schools.  I found many of them unwilling to
>> consider my application.  They felt that someone with my medical problems
>> and physical limitations could not be successful with a guide dog.  First
>> this is ridiculous because I have been doing it for the past forty years
>> since my MS diagnosis at age 21 just before going to class with my first
>> dog.  I began to be discouraged when I received one rejection letter
>> after
>> another.  Finally there was one school left and fortunately they were
>> happy
>> to accept my application.  I graduated from Pilot Dogs with Eva, a small
>> female golden on April 24th 2014.  Eva was only 14 months old when I
>> brought
>> her home but she was and still is an amazing guide.  The only special
>> training she had was her trainer worked with her to get used to the cane
>> and
>> to go down stairs pausing at each step to be sure I would not lose my
>> balance before we moved down to the next step.  This wonderful little
>> golden
>> is the perfect dog for me.  She had an amazing ability to sence my needs
>> right from our first walk together.  If it was a good day for me she
>> would
>> step out at a nice pace without any sudden jerks or pulls that would
>> cause
>> me to lose my balance.  If it was a bad day she slowed down to a very
>> careful slower pace.  She seems to anticipate when I am going to lose my
>> balance and she will lean against my legs helping me not to fall.  With
>> the
>> support cane in my right hand and her harness handle in my left hand I
>> have
>> support on both sides as I walk.  She is very careful on any uneven
>> surface
>> that might cause me to trip.  I often have MS relapses where I cannot get
>> out and work her for several weeks or months.  It does not matter.  When
>> I
>> am well enough to go out again her work is still as excellent as it was
>> on
>> class.  There goes the statement that all the schools tell us that the
>> dogs
>> must be taken for long walks every day.  There were two other ladies who
>> had
>> to use support canes on my class.  I found the trainers at Pilot Dogs
>> very
>> willing and able to accommodate my special needs.  Please feel free to
>> contact me off list if you have any further questions about my school
>> search
>> and training.  Good luck to you as you begin the search for your next
>> guide
>> dog.
>>
>> Sandra Johnson and Eva
>> SLJohnson25 at comcast.net
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Debbie Cole via NAGDU
>> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2017 7:15 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Cc: Debbie Cole
>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Special needs
>>
>> Thank you Danielle.
>> I really appreciate it.
>> I've contacted one program today and am waiting for them to return my
>> call.
>>
>> On 8/21/17, Danielle Sykora via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> There are several programs that will cross train a guide dog to
>>> perform mobility tasks. Guiding Eyes and the Guide Dog Foundation do,
>>> and at least one other program... maybe Leader. There are other
>>> programs however that are perfectly willing to train a guide for a
>>> person with multiple disabilities; however, they do not actually train
>>> dogs to perform additional tasks (bracing, retrieval, etc.) Depending
>>> on what you are looking for, this is something to consider.
>>>
>>> You could also get a guide from a program that does not teach mobility
>>> tasks and teach them yourself once your dog gets home, provided that
>>> the dog is big enough.
>>>
>>> Danielle and Thai
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/21/17, Debbie Cole via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Thank you Jeff
>>>> I'm getting ready to call them as soon as they open.
>>>> Have a good day
>>>>
>>>> On 8/20/17, Jeffrey Young via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> Your closest option sounds like  Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring
>>>>> Oregon..
>>>>> I do not know if they do any work with balance assistance. I would
>>>>> give
>>>>> them
>>>>> a call to find out.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jeff Young
>>>>> jeff.young8806 at gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Aug 20, 2017, at 7:32 PM, Debbie Cole via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Guide Dogs of the Desert in Palm Springs.  I'm in Oregon and
>>>>>> interested in staying closer to home.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 8/20/17, Sandra Burmester via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi Debbie,
>>>>>>> May I ask what school did you get you guide from?  It depends on the
>>>>>>> school
>>>>>>> that you get a guide from.
>>>>>>> Sandra
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 20, 2017 at 4:59 PM, Debbie Cole via NAGDU
>>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I hope I'm sending this to the right place.
>>>>>>>> I have a guide dog and it is getting close to the time where I will
>>>>>>>> retire her.  I am looking into places where I might train for a
>>>>>>>> guide
>>>>>>>> dog and a dog to assist me with BALANCE.  Are there any schools out
>>>>>>>> there that I might try?
>>>>>>>> thank you,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> warmest regards,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Deborah A. Cole
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> warmest regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Deborah A. Cole
>>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> warmest regards,
>>>>
>>>> Deborah A. Cole
>>>>
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-- 
warmest regards,

Deborah A. Cole