[NAGDU] O and m immersion programs

Thu Aug 22 16:16:28 UTC 2019

Amanda, my LDB AMP was in the Fall. I waited until warm weather in May 
of the next year to apply to northern guide dog schools. (I didn't move 
to Florida to spend my life being cold.) Having had mobility training 
and a letter from your instructor is all that was required from Seeing 
Eye, GDF and LDB - no waiting required.

Cindy, remember, I had used a white cane well, if I say so myself, for 
about 20 years. Since I had some usable central vision, the university 
manual I used and my focus on detail, gave me good cane-use skills.

The training at LDB is well organized, well taught, and yes, there is a 
lot to learn. I think this old dog, me, learned lots of new stuff. The 
training with occluders, correction of bad habits, and learning new 
stuff were very helpful - with or without the dog. There was a lot of 
focus on things that I needed to learn and hadn't. As each of us, who is 
visually impaired, has adapted to vision loss we've developed habits 
that serve us well and habits that don't. Cane-use, of course, is just 
part of mobility skills package that we need. If I had been total 
without any mobility training, yes, it would have been a very intense 
and difficult week. Most of us, however, have developed some coping 
skills and the program is designed around the changes one needs to make 
to be more successful getting around.

*David in Clearwater, FL*
*david at bakerinet.com*
*
*
On 8/22/2019 11:37 AM, Amanda Cape via NAGDU wrote:
> How long after doing the program did you wait or have to wait to apply to get your first dog?
> Thanks,
> Amanda
>
>> On Aug 22, 2019, at 11:09 AM, Brenda via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> You learn and or refresher skills in the five days but it is very important to go home and walk in order to practice what you have learned. In my case I needed to learn how to judge traffic, they taught me that then I went home and practiced.
>>
>> Brenda
>>
>> Dictated and sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Aug 22, 2019, at 10:04 AM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi, all.
>>> This is by no means a critique of such a program as that at Leader, but how
>>> do you become proficient with a cane in five days? I can sort of see it if
>>> you are going to acquire a guide dog soon, for I've seen people who had not
>>> a clue. But I've also, as I said before, seen people thinking to go there
>>> for mobility training. A particular person was already in a program where
>>> she had been for several months, but she didn't feel she was gaining
>>> anything. How would a five day program such as this really help her, or is
>>> it honestly mainly for folks planning to have a guide dog.
>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>> cindyray at gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David via NAGDU
>>> Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 9:44 AM
>>> To: Amanda Cape via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: David <david at bakerinet.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] O and m immersion programs
>>>
>>> Hi Amanda,
>>>
>>> Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan has a very good 5 day
>>> program called Advanced Mobility Program (AMP). I had used a white cane for
>>> 20 years before I applied. While I was a good cane user (I used a university
>>> mobility training manual), I'm really glad I signed up. Lots new to learn. I
>>> requested to use vision occluders during part of the training and was amazed
>>> at the additional clue and cues you can get from your other senses.
>>> Revisiting things I thought I knew and correcting bad habits has been
>>> invaluable.
>>>
>>> When you're accepted, they and you pick a date. Your transportation there is
>>> free, room and board (with good food) is free, the facility is clean, and
>>> the instructors are good.
>>>
>>> While I was accepted there for a guide dog the next year, their guide dog
>>> program was twenty-six days. I would have gone batty with all the down time
>>> (one instructor to 4 or 5 students). So, I went to the Guide Dog Foundation
>>> in Smithtown, New York for their two week program, and, I have to say, an
>>> absolutely brilliant, joyful, and perfect Lab/Golden cross.
>>>
>>> It is a nice area of Michigan. I used to lead AYH bicycle trips up in this
>>> area from Detroit in my early twenties 29 years ago. There was a cider mill
>>> very close by, so if you are up there this Fall it is a great place for a
>>> side trip.
>>>
>>> *David & Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL*
>>> *david at bakerinet.com*
>>> *
>>> *
>>>> On 8/22/2019 5:36 AM, Amanda Cape via NAGDU wrote:
>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>> I just discovered that o and m immersion programs exist for people who
>>> want to get a guide dog and improve their o and m skills. Has anyone
>>> completed one of these programs? If so, which one and what was your
>>> experience?
>>>> Thanks,e
>>>>
>>>> Amanda
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> NAGDU mailing list
>>>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NAGDU:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/david%40bakerinet.c
>>>> om
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NAGDU mailing list
>>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cindyray%40gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NAGDU mailing list
>>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/bjnite%40gmail.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> NAGDU mailing list
>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/cape.amanda%40gmail.com
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/david%40bakerinet.com