[NAGDU] World guide Dog Federation

[Charlene Ota]

This has been a good discussion about determining which guide dog school would to apply to. I was just wondering if it would be beneficial for us as an organization to get some info about the world guide Dog Federation. I really wasn't aware of this organization until I got my guide dog from Guide Dogs Victoria in Australia when I lived in Hawaii. John Gosling, who was my trainer, has been very involved in that organization along with Lucas Frank from the Seeing Eye, and I'm sure many other trainers as well. I know I didn't realize until learning about this organization how the guide dog schools all are working together setting standards, accrediting schools, developing breeding programs, etc. Mike, I apologize if I have the name of the organization wrong, but I thought you might be aware of it since you've worked at Guide Dogs.


Charlene


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mike Hingson via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2020 1:01 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: mike at michaelhingson.com; 'Tracy Carcione' <carcione at access.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Multiple applications

Tracy,

Sure it is. However, the so-called home interview is a vehicle to get specific in ways less informed potential guide dog users may not be able to take advantage of without lots of research. Picture it like a job interview. No matter what, the home interview is a formal process that any applicant should not take without doing all the studying they can before applying. College applications are similar except there may well not be interviews or the like during the application process.

All I am saying is that there is a lot of information one will get during a home interview they will not likely get earlier. The so-called Juno walk and its subsequent opportunities for questions is one example. Also, if you wish to have conversations with school staff before the home interview, who will take the time to speak with you? Will it be a trainer? Probably not. Someone from Graduate Services or some similar department? Maybe.

I submit the home interview triggered by an application has more potential for information directly from the school than other less organized efforts. This is not to say not to attempt to speak with the school people. You may or may not get what you wish out of such a conversation.

I suspect Megan will get lots of useful and relevant information out of having these kinds of discussions with NAGDU members who have been there and done that, as it were. Even so, as she and everyone discovers, we all have our own opinions which must be absorbed, filtered and used as each of us feels appropriate. I only say that I have seen all this from both sides of the fence. That is, I have been a guide dog user for more than 56 years, (don't give away my age), 😊 and I also have worked for a school for several years. Even so, I give my opinions and observations which all can use or not as they wish I guess it is also relevant to say that I have been a leader in the NFB guide dog movement, NAGDU, for more than ten years as the now retired vice president.

Hope this helps.


Best Regards,


Michael Hingson

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2020 10:25 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: [NAGDU] Multiple applications

Hi Mike.

Isn't it possible to have conversations with school reps without actually applying?  I visited both GDB and TSE before I actually applied, and talked to a fair number of people, either in person or on the phone.  That was quite a while ago now, 40 years since I got my first dog.  Do school reps no longer bother to talk to mere potential applicants?

Tracy

 

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