[stylist] Canes and dogs

[Judith Bron]

Agreed, Bridget.  Travelling for the visually impaired is as personal as any 
other choice any individual makes about his/her preferences.  I travel with 
a cane and am very comfortable like that.  I use a ball tip but recognize 
that others prefer a steel tip.  I've spent a lot of time around dogs. 
Granted they were not  dogs trained to serve the visually impaired, but I 
loved them as much as any human being can love a pet.  I can probably bore 
all of you to death talking about my mutt Tippy and our Irish wolfhound 
Oonaugh.  The tools we prefer to choose to aid our independence is not a 
commentary on what we as people represent and are capable of no more than a 
person who owns  a Chevy is better than the person who owns a Ford.  I only 
hope that we can stop being individual judges and return our focus to things 
that are more constructive.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 3:50 PM
Subject: [stylist] Canes and dogs


> At the risk of being taken out of context and accused of intolerance and
> asserting my way is the only way, I will make a comment on this topic.
>
> In fact, perhaps I should point-blank state that I only speak from my
> personal experience, but I'm not suggesting or implying my way is best.
> Hopefully this is good enough for some who like to interpret my post on
> alternative skills as being close-minded and not allowing others to
> express their opinions.
>
> For those of us who use a cane, it is the only way we know how to to
> travel with an independent tool.  I learned the cane and have never used
> a dog- the cane is what I am familiar with.  I'm not so arrogant to
> assume that another method is not as effective though.
>
> I've met many blind people who believe a dog is not an effective tool
> nor can a person be truly independent with a dog.  These people are
> ignorant of how a dog is used, and to be honest, anyone unwilling to be
> open-minded is hurting themselves and society.
>
> The person who wrote into the editor obviously is a moron who is
> intolerant and probably not a great example of a competent, positive
> blind person.
>
> Of course when I make recommendations to people, I will tell them to use
> a cane with the small metal tip and make sure it is at least up to their
> chin, but only because this is what I know and what has worked for me.
> None of us can speak much on any method we are not familiar with.
>
> My goal is for any blind person to be as independent as possible, and if
> a dog, or some other method, works to accomplish that for you, then
> there is nothing wrong with it.  Judgment does go both ways, but no one
> should question a persons motives and claim they can not be independent
> due to a tool or method.  To be honest, I see way to much judgment and
> intolerance among blind people, especially in the NFB.
>
> In the Federation, our ultimate goal is suppose to be independence and
> reaching our full potential.  If we are doing that, why should it matter
> what tools and methods we use?
>
> I believe officially supporting one tool, method, skill, is just opening
> the gate to prejudice and judgment.  Obviously you have to use what is
> most efficient, but if you are reaching independence and success, no one
> should be stating that one way is better, or the only way.  We just
> create more problems by these attitudes.
>
> I think it was good a response was made to this fools comments.  There
> are cane and dog users who are great, and there are others who could use
> some help to learn each respective tool better.  But don't assume one is
> better than another.  Both are viable, efficient tools when used
> properly.
>
> Bridgit
>
>
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