[NAGDU] guide dog classes and the totally blind

[Sherry Gomes]

Even at my first class at GDB in 1975, we had lots of people with residual
vision. This isn't anything new with GDB or any other school I suppose. I
can't speak for any other organization, but I know GDB trains their dogs to
be competent whatever the level of blindness the handler will have. The
instructors work them under blindfold during the training, and they have to
do complete routes under blindfold before they can state that the dog is
class ready. Or that's how it was in 2014, the last time I went there. I
don't intend to go back to GDB when Petunia retires for lots of reasons
including physical ability for me and strong disagreement with their recent
contract, a contract I would refuse to sign so wouldn't be able to graduate.
But unless they've changed a lot, their dogs are definitely trained with
instructors under blindfold. I know that sometimes they have students with
low vision use sleep shades as well.

Sherry


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Weiner via
NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2018 2:02 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dan Weiner <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
Subject: [NAGDU] guide dog classes and the totally blind

Hello, beautiful people.

I'm curious about something, A GDB grad told me that most of their 
clients now have some residual vision.

So here' s my question, is that true for all guide dog programs? And, 
are there any programs where most of the class participants are totally 
blind, or is this across the board.

This is total curiosity and not meant as a value judgment, criticism of 
any program or anything else. I, myself am totally blind.


In all of my classes there wee people with residual vision so maybe it 
is indeed the way it is.


Enjoy a wonderful morning, guys.


Dan and the Parker Nut



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