[nfb-db] Special Needs Program at Guiding Eyes

Thu Mar 6 19:21:21 UTC 2014

 Hello, 

Janet Sand here -- I've? found this discussion very interesting. My experiences in these areas are kind of old and possibly out of date, so I didn't want to speak up too quickly. 

Cynthia Ingriham is worth her weight in gold. If she thinks you're a good fit for HKNC, she's probably right. I spent eight and a half months at HKNC in 1998 (I told you this was old info!) based on her recommendation and she's been very helpful to me on a number of occasions since. HKNC was a breath of fresh air for me since all my communication and coping needs were fully and individually accommodated. I learned many different types of skills there to help me with my rapidly declining hearing and vision. Going back to college was one of my goals, and I learned how to be not only a successful student but was able to handle the classroom situation with ease.

I got a guide dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind on Long Island in 2006. At that time they had limited experience with students with combined hearing and vision loss. My partnership with the guide dog was unsuccessful after working with her for a year but I don't blame the school for that. Among other things, I wasn't emotionally ready for a guide dog and I don't think her personality was strong enough to handle mine. Fortunately, after I returned her she was placed with a severely autistic five year old boy and they were a wonderful fit. If I were to try another guide dog I would go to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan. They have many years of experience with combined hearing and vision loss clients and have a special deaf blind program with, I believe, several clients in each class. I know several hearing and nonhearing (signing) people who got their dogs there and continue to get their dogs from there. 

It sounds like you have a good handle on your needs and options -- good luck!

Janet

-----Original Message-----
From: Janice Toothman <janice.toothman at verizon.net>
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Mon, Mar 3, 2014 9:34 am
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Special Needs Program at Guiding Eyes

Hi Marsha, 
I really appreciate that information as well.  Cynthia Ingraham wants me  
to go to HKNC and this certainly relieves some concerns that I have. 
Janice 
On 3/1/2014 7:27 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote: 
> Danielle, 
> I am currently a student at HKNC. I am working my third guide from GDF. 
> No HK does not force annyone to use a cane. Your O&M instructor might  
recommend that you sharpen your cane skills, but they will also not force you to  
use your dog. Your dog can do anything and everything with you. There are  
several staff that have guides, and currently several students who have guides.  
Its a friendly guide dog place. 
> Lots of the staff love dogs, and when I am busy with classes, they will take  
the pup out to the dog run. They have a dog run that is fenced in. All of the  
pups love it. 
> Your dog will get plenty of work, my pup loves the amount of work she gets on  
a daily bases, but also loves it went she gets a day off. 
> If you want to ask any questions, since I am currently at the center, please  
ask away. 
> When do you think you will be able to go to HKNC? 
> 
> 
> Marsha drenth 
> Sent with my IPhone 
> 
>> On Mar 1, 2014, at 7:12 PM, Danielle Burton <danielleburton94 at gmail.com>  
wrote: 
>> 
>> Thank you, Darlene. I have been accepted in the Special Needs Program at  
Guiding Eyes and I am waiting on them to find a match for me. The reason I was  
asking about HKNC about guide dogs is that some training centers require to use  
a cane during the day regardless if you have a dog or not. i was wondering if  
this was the case at HKNC? 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone 
>> 
>>> On Mar 1, 2014, at 6:58 PM, "Darlene Laibl-Crowe" <dlaiblcrowe at att.net>  
wrote: 
>>> 
>>> Hello, Danielle. 
>>> 
>>> This is Darlene and I am Hard of Hearing and Blind.  I received a special 
>>> needs guide from Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, NY last 
>>> September.  She is trained to not only guide me but to alert me of hearing 
>>> needs if I don't have my hearing aids on.  For example, the door knocking, 
>>> doorbell, phone ringing and much more.  GDF has trained several dogs for 
>>> various Deaf-Blind individuals.  One such person is named Bopin and he is 
>>> profoundly deaf and blind and does not speak.  He relies solely on sign 
>>> language fopr communication.  He got a guide dog from GDF. 
>>> 
>>> I applied for the dog last July and was accepted the following month.  You 
>>> can visit their website at www.guidedog.org.  You can also give them a call 
>>> and they will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.  They 
>>> also provide transportation costs. 
>>> 
>>> I love my new dog and she is amazing at everything that she does. To answer 
>>> your question about HKNC, they have an area for your to relieve your guide 
>>> and you wlll be responsible for your guide.  I was there in 2011 for eight 
>>> months.  For the first six months I had my guide dog (I retired him in 
>>> August 2012).  HKNC has many classes and will asses you for your specific 
>>> needs and determine what and which classes you will need.  One of those 
>>> classes will be Orientation and Mobility, those instructors are well-trained 
>>> to understand white cane training and guide dog training.  If you want to 
>>> ask more questions, please feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer. 
>>> If I don't know the answer I will do my best to find out or refer you to the 
>>> person or organization. 
>>> 
>>> However, I would encourage you to contact your HKNC representative and ask 
>>> your questions so that your information is current and reliable.  As I said, 
>>> at HKNC everyone is trained according to their specific needs so what 
>>> training one receives will not necessarily be the one you will receive. 
>>> 
>>> Good luck! 
>>> (smile) 
>>> Darlene 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message----- 
>>> From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Danielle Burton 
>>> Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2014 6:46 PM 
>>> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List 
>>> Subject: [nfb-db] Special Needs Program at Guiding Eyes 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Hi, everyone. I have a question. Has any of you guys received a Special 
>>> Needs dog from Guiding Eyes for the blind? If so what were your experiences 
>>> there? Also, how long did you have to wait for a dog? I am waiting on a 
>>> match right now. My last question is how are guide dogs handled at HKNC if 
>>> you go for training? 
>>> Sent from my iPhone 
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