[NAGDU] Japan guide dog schools, and being blind deaf

Sun Feb 26 04:26:26 UTC 2017

Hi Dan, 
I too am DeafBlind, yes, I have issues, but I don't believe that my issues are any different than any other person or person with a disability. The lack of hearing and vision, yes makes life interesting, but does not prevent me from living a very full life.
 yes communication is an issue, transportation is an issue for anyone with a disability, access to written material is the same for anyone who is blind or visually impaired, but again these are things that can be overcome and not just unique two persons who are deafblind. I run a statewide program for persons who are deaf blind to obtain support service providers, so that they can then go out into the community, be involved, and make informed decisions. All of my consumers use different terms about themselves, some call themselves hard of hearing Blind, while others use deaf blind, and yet others just say that they have just a little hearing problem and are visually impaired. Whatever you call yourself, or don't call yourself, really is that you are deafblind. Deafblind is a term that most state agencies and government uses to describe a group. That doesn't necessarily mean that you have to call yourself that, and honestly most people don't even know what that means, but it's a personal choice. I like Rox, am profoundly deaf and use sign language but have hearing aids that I use in select situations to hear speech. 
I hope that this helps you understand more about deafblindness. I haven't written it to be mean or rude or anything like that, but to educate. I hope that you will come to the national convention and perhaps come to the Deafblind division meetings in July.
Marsha drenth  
email: marsha.drenth at gmail.com  
Sent with my IPhone  
Please note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as necessary. 

> On Feb 25, 2017, at 8:27 PM, Dan Weiner via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> `    27 guide dog schools in the US? No offence, my dear Michael, but where are the other 15 or so that I don't know about, any comprehensive list  that I could look at, I mean including those not accredited by the IFGS??
> I remember when in Japan I did a lot of reading and research about guide dogs there, there are ten schools or so, they seem  to be a lot smaller than our programs and they have long waiting lists unfortunately.
> 
> Most of them are named after their regions or are regional though I think you can theoretically go to any of them, but things may have changed...When I asked at the city welfare office , since they kept a registry of guide dogs in the area, they told me that depending where you are you are "recommended to go to a certain program" but I don't know how true that really is.
> 
> Let's see if I remember:
> 
> Eyemate, the oldest school, in Tokyo but takes students from all over, they seem to have a relationship with the Seeing Eye, I visited them.
> 
> One thing that eyemate users do is they have started this campaign to call guide dogs eyemates (I suppose if you are from there) this causes in my opinion rather unnecessary confusion, you'll ask an Eyemate dog owner if he has a guide dog and they'll say "No, I have an eyemate", anyway, just reporting the facts, folks.
> 
> Japan Guide dog Association:  Yokohama, but with a center in northern Japan, the second oldest I think. I think takes folks from all over:
> 
> Tochigi guide dog association, tochigi prefecture maybe 150 miles north of Tokyo.
> 
> Osaka lighthouse guide dog association, Osaka.
> Hyogo guide dog association, Hyogo, western Honshu Island.
> 
> Chuubuu Guide dog association, Nagoya.
> 
> Hokkaido guide dog center, northern island of Hokkaido.
> 
> Fukuoka guide dog association: Fukuoka, Kyushu Island, and I visited there too
> 
> Oh I forgot I visited the Japan guide dog association headquarters too.
> 
> And the relatively new kid on the block 
> 
> Japan service dog association, which seems to be a split from the Japan guide dog association, don't ask me how or why. I knew a trainer from there.
> 
> I may have missed some program or other, I just haven't cared much about it since I came back from my studies in Japan so I haven't kept track.
> 
> There were when I was there approximately 900 guide dog users, I heard  there was a waiting list combined for all schools of eight thousand people , but those are of course old statistics. I have not had the interest or opportunity to update my research, almost two years there were enough--lol I did travel there with my guide dog, Evan, my super dog--smile. He was amazing and I wasn't too bad myself.
> 
> 
> Now several people have said they are blind deaf here...a question, how do we define this, I have a hearing impairment but I honestly never thought of myself as blind deaf because, I have met people who are really really totally deaf and blind and my problems are as nothing compared to what they deal with. I mean I only hear in one ear, the right one, but I'm very functional...just curious, not trying to detract from anyone's situation.
> And I am most definitely totally and irreparably blind.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Dan
> 
> ,  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Hingson via NAGDU
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 6:38 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Michael Hingson
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] about fory
> 
> Hi dbTarzan,
> 
> As the vice President of NAGDU I want to welcome you to the list. I am using my eighth guide, Africa. Africa and I visited Japan in 2012 to promote my book, Thunder Dog. I have had the pleasure to visit some of the Japanese guide dog schools. I hope to have the opportunity to visit again.
> 
> Feel free to participate in our discussions. There are people from several countries on the list.
> 
> The last number I heard is that there around 27 guide dog schools in America. Many of them are accredited by the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools.
> 
> Have a good day. 
> 
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> 
> Michael Hingson
> 
> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
> "Speaking with Vision"
> Michael Hingson, President
> (415) 827-4084
> info at michaelhingson.com
> To order Michael Hingson's new book, Running With Roselle, and check on Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit:
> www.michaelhingson.com
> 
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> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of "Dr.????" via NAGDU
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 2:16 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Dr.たーざん" <dr.dbtarzan at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] about fory
> 
> Hi Becky. This is dbTarzan.
> 
> There are fourteen schools for guide dogs in Japan.
> People can choose one of them freely.
> 
> 1000 of guide dogs are working in Japan.
> How many guide dogs are there in USA?
> 
> dbTarzan.
> 
>> Hi Db, I am also deaf-blind and work a golden retriever. My golden  is
>> 29 Kgs., named Jake and he is twelve years old. I got him from the 
>> Seeing Eye in New Jersey USA.  How many guide dog schools are there in Japan? Do you
>> have a choice where you would like to go in other countries?    
>> Jake is my third golden retriever guide dog.
>> 
>> We have about fourteen schools in the US and we can choose any school 
>> we wish to apply to, as I think they all serve now the entire country.
>> Freedom might be the only one, that only serves the Northeast part of 
>> our country, but others will know more than I do.
>> 
>> I live near the Pacific ocean here in Washington State. When you all 
>> had the horrible tsunami a lot of those objects from Japan landed on 
>> our shores here in Washington State.
>> 
>> Warm welcome to this fine list,
>> 
>> Becky and Jake waving a paw to Fory. 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of "Dr.????" 
>> via NAGDU
>> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 3:40 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: "Dr.たーざん" <dr.dbtarzan at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [NAGDU] about fory
>> 
>> Hi.
>> 
>> This is dbTarzan in Japan.
>> I'll introduce my dog.
>> My dog name is Fory, Golden retreaver, almost 7 years old, male, 33 Kg 
>> waight.
>> He useally works about 6 days a week.
>> 
>> Have a nice day.
>> 
>> dbTarzan.
>> 
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> 
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