[NAGDU] Questions for low-vision people

[Cindy Ray]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply I thought you were going to try to dictate. LOL.
I think maybe the suggestion that he get some pro to give him some lessons
is a good idea. He sure doesn't want to sit around doing next to nothing. I
have just learned over the winter that this makes a person sad and grouchy.
LOL. Yes, that's me ... sad and grouchy. Spring is coming though and I am
getting around better and better.
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2018 1:12 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Questions for low-vision people

I am actually OK with whatever decision my husband makes, cane or dog. 
What I am not OK with is getting another call saying he's on the way to the
ER because ...  I know the world is not a totally safe place, but I also
know there are things that a person can do to make it safer.  I am also not
OK with him deciding to just stay home and go nowhere.  I don't think he
will choose that, but, if he does, I'm giving him a kick in the butt, as
Julie puts it.
I know he has to make his own choices in his own time, but it's easy to
drift along with the status quo, too.  I think I will try to convince him to
get some professional lessons.  Won't hurt; might help.  We both know that
using a cane is not rocket science, and my basic lessons have been OK so
far, but maybe a pro can point out subtleties, or just keep reminding him to
get that cane out in front.

I am finding these answers both useful and interesting, and hope others will
chime in.
Tracy

> Hi Tracy and All,
> I think this is a great couple of questions, and I am glad you have 
> started the discussion.
> When I was a kid someone from TSE came and visited with us in a school 
> assembly about getting dogs. I had a teacher from the agency who used 
> a dog, too, and I was impressed, and my dad wanted to donate some dogs 
> to the Seeing Eye for them to train as guides for folks. When I 
> graduated from high school here in Iowa though and attended the Iowa 
> Orientation Center, I saw that people were getting along famously with 
> canes, and I soon joined their ranks. The climate here wasn't such 
> that you would entertain getting a dog much, though this has changed. 
> I was pleased and proud to use a cane, and I did not like the hype 
> that seemed to go with having a dog.
> After I moved to Kansas I began having some pain in my right hand. I 
> was walking a lot. My husband at the time suggested that I should get 
> a dog, and I told him that people would think I was weird and that I 
> would stand out too much. He asked me if I didn't think that was the 
> case with the cane, and I had to admit he was right. I got a dog, but 
> I have never completely adjusted to the hype, so when I decided to 
> stop using a dog, I thought it would be a relief. However, hype 
> remains, but this hype is of a different nature. First off, the minute 
> I go crooked in some places, people will become anxious that I am 
> going to run into something. Second, either I was a lot better with a 
> cane back in the day than I am now, or I have totally lost sight of 
> how that really worked for me. I think maybe it was the former, but I 
> don't have near the confidence I used to have with a cane, and I am 
> way more comfortable with the dog. I think I had to come to this on my 
> own with regard to my current situation. No one could really talk me 
> into it. My ex-husband did when I decided to get my first one, but I 
> had just had a little dog before that and had to euphanize her, and I 
> loved having a dog.
> Also, I was concerned that my hand wasn't going to allow me to 
> continue playing very long, and I was a musician. It is each person's 
> personal decision, and I think Julie nailed it when she suggested 
> that, Tracy, your husband would need to come to it in his own time. He 
> will probably slow down if he has some accidents before it gets 
> serious, or he may decide to get a dog. He may still be warring with 
> himself about the implications of losing more sight. Be patient, give 
> him time, and breathe.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
>
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