[nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] Refusal To Use A Cane

[David Evans]

Dear Sheila,

I changed to a dog as I had some new issues in my life that I thought that 
the dog could help me with.
I was right.  I am now pretty much totally blind and have only the slightest 
light perception.
I was having trouble and tend to curve to the left as I walk and I wobble a 
little as well.
I found that I was having allot of trouble even finding a building, much 
less the door to them and the dog can do this for me.
I travel allot and even teach others to use our Transit systems that include 
trains, buses and Para-transit.
I even worked for the transit system here.
I have learned that there are some barriers to using a guide dog and not 
everyone looks forward to seeing you and your dog show up at their door.
I understand this better now and some of it I accept and some of it I don't.
Some people don't like Jack to come in their house, their car or their 
business.  Some of this I accept as people have a right to keep their houses 
clean, free of dog fur and without dog nails scratching their polished 
hardwood floors.  As for the businesses, as long as the Public is invited, I 
and my dog have a right to be there too and I will exercise that Right when 
and where I wish too.
I stick up for the Rights of guide dog users, under the ADA and the Fair 
housing Laws, to go where I want or need to go and to take my guide dog with 
me.
I have had businesses try to throw me out a few times, but I know my rights 
and how to exercise them.
I try to educate rather than litigate, but I can do both and as there are 
criminal penalties here in Florida for those that interfere with a guide dog 
team as well as civil ones, I win my point most of the time.
NAGDU and FLAGDU are both NFB Divisions and we promote guide dog access.
Jack has helped me get around in Washington D.C. and we have flown to 
California and back several times without much problem.
If the NFB were anti-guide dog, it is not coming from the organization but 
from some individuals who just don't like guide dogs or see those of us who 
choose to use a dog as less capable.  A false notion for sure.
I always carry my cane with me, even when I am using Jack.
There are just some places I don't want to take Jack, such as some to the 
restrooms I must visit occasionally.  I don't want him to lay down on those 
dirty old floors after all.
I try to take the good with the bad and just accept what I can not control.
The NFB has helped me learn to be a better person and I can not ask for more 
than that.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack
Former Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sheila Leigland" <sleigland at bresnan.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2012 9:46 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] Refusal To Use A Cane


> Thank you so much for your response to my post. This is why I chose to 
> subscribe to this list because I need and want to understand better the 
> philisophy of the nfb. We have a new chapter in Montana and I'm glad to 
> see it come. I'm a cane user turned primarily a dog user now due to 
> changing circumstances and my own readiness to find out if i would like a 
> dog. I do like your decription of what independence is and am glad that we 
> have the right as well as the responsibility to make choices for ourselves 
> as blind people.
>
> Sheila Leigland
>
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