[NAGDU] Partial Sight was: Japan guide dog schools, and being blind deaf

[S L Johnson]

Dan:

Many years ago I had a simular situation.  I always shopped at a particular 
neighborhood supermarket.  There was a very high partially sighted woman who 
also had a guide dog.  She was able to go down the isles and pick out her 
own groceries and could read menus greeting cards and other small printed 
information.  One day I went in to ask for assistance and the customer 
service person wanted to know why my dog was so stupid because she could not 
help me read like the other woman's dog did.  Now that is a very dumb member 
of the sighted public.  I pointed out that the other woman had a lot of 
usable vision and admitted that even she said she really didn't need a guide 
dog but just wanted one to be able to live with her in her apartment and go 
places with her.  People often saw her walking down the street with the dog 
at her side without using the harness and the dog having a great time 
sniffing along and playing.  I have been on guide dog classes with people 
who could read the signs along the road as we were traveling in the van.  I 
have had sighted classmates from a block away yell that my dog was 
distracted by something.  I have had trainers who freely admit that they 
know there were people on class who had too much vision to really benefit 
from a guide dog but the Lions clubs had pressured them into taking that 
person.  I know it is a tricky issue but that is one reason that for years I 
objected to some high partials being given guide dogs.  They are some people 
with some vision who really do need their dogs and who use them correctly 
and responsibly.  However, there are some high partials who can travel just 
as safely without a cane or dog.  My only opinion is that the schools should 
be more careful when evaluating if a person really needs that dog.  It is no 
wonder the general public gets confused when they try to compare a totally 
blind person to someone with a lot of vision.

Sandra and Eva

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dan Weiner via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 5:35 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Dan Weiner
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Partial Sight was: Japan guide dog schools, and being 
blind deaf

Oy vay, guys, you have taken one line from what I said and assume I am
passing judgment on ou?  Try to look at my whole message rather than  just a
line. Yes, as a totally blind person it did seem odd to have people tell
everyone they are blind and then read me a menu--smile.  It caused a certain
amount of confusion and annoyance when for example, members of the sighted
community would say "look at how well that person gets around, why does it
take you so long to learn, they did it the first time."
Now I've learned that that is the general public's misconception and has
nothing to do with that particular partially sighted person...hence the
phrase of mine where I said "I'm struggling" with it, I think what we learn
from this is for all of us to try to understand each other and realize we
are all a bit different.
I had to  learn to understand this type o thing, I mean I would take a walk
with a partially sighted person, and the general public, thinking I was
blind and the other person aren't--lol talk to them about me, you know how
it gets with blind people, talking to us like a third person, I mean in the
third person--lol.  And when I asked the partial in question they told me
"Oh well it's because I make eye contact with them.
So anyway That's all I have to say on the subject, don't all clap too loud.

I do appreciate, though, Brenda and David telling us about their experiences
and it makes me understand better.

Dan
\

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David via
NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 5:11 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: david at bakerinet.com
Subject: [NAGDU] Partial Sight was: Japan guide dog schools, and being blind
deaf





Well, Brenda, I understand your feelings. I used a white cane for 19 years
and have had a guide dog for a year and a half. I still have 5 angular
degrees of useful central vision. Did my cane help me? Yes. Does my guide
dog help me? Yes. It seems to me that those who pass judgment are mostly
either those who do not know what they are talking about ot those who are
envious. For the former, I have little patience. As to the latter, I am
grateful for what I have and do not pass judgment on those who want to
separate themselves from me for whatever reason. What I have never done is
feel guilty about having residual sight. I understand that what vision is
left is precious and very special. I hope that when I lose my remaining
sight that I will be as courageous and as positive as many of those around
me who have never had sight, or who have lost all of their sight at any
point in their lives.
David and Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL
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