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

Mon Feb 27 18:12:19 UTC 2017

Let us all be careful of the judgmental. First of all, there are a lot of
kinds of low vision. The NFB would call all people who are legally blind
blind, or that's how it once was. There are likely people who abuse the
ability to participate in what the system will give us and we may even know
of it. Some low vision manifests itself in people being able to read just
fine, but they need a travel aid such as a dog or a cane. I knew such a
person. Her husband had vision that allowed him to travel without a travel
aid but he couldn't read well using his vision. I think this topic has
strayed away from its intent, and I would request that it now close. There
is a lot of heresay out there about what some folks have done; there are a
lot of things we have each perceived correctly or incorrectly. We run the
risk of alienating some of the folks on this list because of their deafness
or their blindness. Please do not talk on this topic anymore because I will
write each of you individually reminding you that I sent this message if you
do.
Cindy Lou Ray, Moderator
cindyray at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of S L Johnson via
NAGDU
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 11:48 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: S L Johnson <SLJohnson25 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Partial Sight was: Japan guide dog schools, and being
blind deaf

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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