[NAGDU] for Cindy

[Al Sten-Clanton]

When I was in class at Seeing Eye in 2018, I was sixty-three and 
unemployed.  There was a seventy-nine-year-old former teacher who, if I 
remember right, used the elevator regularly to go to the "park" area.  I 
think there was another older guy with a hearing problem.  That was just 
over five years ago, so that could have changed, but my impression over 
the decades is that schools became better at serving a greater variety 
of people.


That said, in the old days, I heard regularly that we should try to walk 
our dogs at least two miles a day.  In my last class, I seem to remember 
an instructor mention walking five miles on a day (I don't know if she 
said we should aim for every day), and I've heard more people use that 
number.  Some people can do that daily, of course, but it would be 
harder if you have a full-time job and especially if you have other 
responsibilities.


Just my few thoughts.


Al


On 7/18/23 12:07, Lisa Belville via NAGDU wrote:
> Hi, Richard.
>
>
> I agree with your thoughts.  It does seem that as we age schools want 
> younger people; probably because there are no chronic health 
> conditions that require much beyond the cookie cutter approach as far 
> as training is concerned.  I also think some of it has to do with the 
> fact that younger, working people have access to better training.  In 
> my state rehab only pays for O&M if you want to work, go to school, or 
> are currently working.  Anyone over fifty-five who doesn't or can't 
> work won't t get much help at all.  I live in a rural area, and I 
> think many of these schools, because they're located in more 
> metropolitan areas don't seem to understand that not all of us have 
> access to the same opportunities.
>
>
> I also think the reps doing the in-home interviews have a lot to do 
> with whether you are accepted or not.  I was rejected from one school 
> because the rep took me in an area I'd never walked in before, then 
> told me I needed more O&M.  This person also didn't approve of my 
> older neighborhood with it's mix of old and new houses and terrible 
> sidewalks.  Oh, and the fact that I like to visit my retired guides 
> seemed to have bothered him as well because it was stressful on the dogs.
>
>
> I've attended two schools in the nearly thirty years I've handled 
> dogs.  Making the first switch was hard and felt like I was cheating 
> on the other school, but it was worth it.
>
>
> Good luck to all of us currently waiting on that next dog.
>
>
> Lisa
>
>
> Lisa Belville
> missktlab1217 at frontier.com
>
> On 7/18/2023 10:24 AM, Richard via NAGDU wrote:
>> Hi;
>>
>> I too had similar questions.  Some schools have become a bit 
>> particular as
>> to whom they will accept.  I have found they tend to prefer younger 
>> people
>> who are going to work five days a week.  I wouldn't be at all 
>> reluctant to
>> go school shopping.  I have had seven dogs from three different 
>> schools each
>> of which was right for me at that time.
>>
>> Best of luck and don't give up.
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
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