[NAGDU] Graduate feedback

[Sherry Gomes]

I went as far as submitting an application to TSE when GDB denied me after over 40 years, because I refused to continue to work with an unsafe dog after trying for five years. I'd applied to TSE when I was in high school, applied to both TES and GDB, which were the only schools I'd hear of in the 70s. I told both schools about my juvenile arthritis and my fused knee, range of motion and chronic pain. GDB said we can get you a dog, TES said I couldn't possibly work a guide dog. But by the time I retired my last GDB dog in 2019, I knew TSE did not have that policy anymore, and I came very close to picking them, because I knew what a fantastic reputation thy have and I wanted the best possible dog. In the end, I didn't follow through, because of the puppy raiser issue. I'm personal friends with a lot of puppy raisers, not necessarily any that raised my dogs, and I could never attend a guide dog training org that wouldn't let me and the raiser choose to be in touch. I got a wonder wonderful perfect match from guiding eyes, but there's a part of me that will always wish I could have gotten a seeing eye dog. I love hearing about the training from all of you. 

Sherry
Sherry.gomes at outlook.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Al Sten-Clanton via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2024 7:32 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: albert.e.sten_clanton at verizon.net
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Graduate feedback

I don't know in general how well Seeing Eye listens to its graduates.  I've felt free to tell the folks what I think the few times I thought I should, but of course I can't tell whether anything I've said had an incremental affect on changes.  Also, to listen respectfully is of course not necessarily to agree, and I consider that the place may be more right than I am on a given topic, but I have had a couple of good conversations with instructors and a couple of others with senior staff.  I also don't know how many graduates share my views, especially as I seem to be somewhat quirky in my thinking on a variety of subjects, including, to a small degree, on guide dog work and school operation.

Al


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2024 10:22 PM
To: NAGDU Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com>
Subject: [NAGDU] Graduate feedback

Elizabeth asked an interesting question in her previous message. Do the schools appreciate our feedback when we are out using our dogs. If our experiences make us think changes could be well received in training, do they listen to us? Do they ever incorporate them. Do you feel heard when talking to the school if it is not about your current dog? Elizabeth, you can address that because maybe I didn’t make it completely clearly according to what you were looking for.

Cindy Lou Ray
Sent from my iPhone
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