[rehab] mobility instructors and guide dog elligability

[Jane.Lansaw at dars.state.tx.us]

Tami's right, RJ. It's between you and the school to which you apply.  When a student asks me to be their reference for a dog guide school I usually just answer the questions on the form the school sends.  If the student asks me for a letter of reference, I only agree to it if they have completed the residential program where I work.  In letters I discuss the student's spatial orientation, attentiveness to environmental cues and ability to cross various types of streets safely.  If the student has other disabilities I discuss the alternative techniques used to work around those disabilities.  It isn't my place to suggest they may or may not be a good dog guide user, the school will decide that.  It's my job to give a clear picture of what this individual can do already, without the dog, to help the school make the decision to accept them for training.  

Good luck,

Jane Lansaw
NOMC

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of RJ Sandefur
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 3:44 PM
To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
Subject: [rehab] mobility instructors and guide dog elligability

I was talking with my councilor with rehab, and she told me, that the orentation and mobility instructor is going to evaluate me to see wheather or not a guide dog is right for me.
How can a mobility instructor make this determination? Say John smith wants to get a guide dog, and he applys for one. Could his mobility instructor say something to the effect of, "Mr. Smith isn't ready for a guide dog at this time due to his pour cane skills." This question is for the mobility instructors on this list. RJ
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