[stylist] Canes and dogs

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Steve,

I do agree with what you say here, but in the context of the editors
note that Marion responded to, I understand the argument Marion makes.

Based on the writers argument, dog users do not need to take a dog to a
restaurant because there would be people to assist.  Since they are not,
according to this gentlemen's comments, doing any travel requiring much
independence- like walking home as you say- they do not need to bring a
tool along like a dog.  Based on this argument, we can assume, by
process of elimination, that this guy is suggesting the blind person
would use sighted guide as he would need to get from his house to the
cab, from cab to restaurant, and reverse.

Before I go on, I'm not saying sighted guide is wrong, though in most
situations, I do not believe this is the only method a person should
use.  For example, as Marion points out, what does one do if you have to
use the bathroom while at the restaurant and you do not have a cane or
dog?  Not as practical as some think.

I always use my cane no matter what, but I have no problem using sighted
guide in some situations.  I took my dad to see Cold Play for Father's
Day last year, and once we entered the main area of the arena, I took
his arm as there was a huge crowd, and the echoes in the halls screwed
most my audio cues up.  I stilll caned, but I held my dad's arm so I
didn't lose him in the crowd and to help me maintain my direction.  It
is good to know we can navigate any place independently, but there are
times when a sighted guide is efficient.  Dr. Jernigan addressed this in
a letter.  It can be found on the website.

Anyway, I also felt this man's comments suggested the cane is the only
way to travel as a blind person.  Regardless of his intent, his
comments, to me, sound combative and suggest guide dogs are not an
efficient method.

Anyway, as you say in your post, we should all be allowed to choose what
methods and tools work best.  I think it would be nice if we stopped
making assumptions of one another especially when we question the
independence of a person.  My husband and I, being in love, often walk
hand-in-hand when out and about.  We are both blind, though he does have
some useable vision, but we both use canes.  We simply like to hold
hands, but I can't tell you how many times we have been accused of
"leading" the other around because of this.  It is sad that showing
affection to my significant other is interpreted as dependence.

Bridgit

Message: 8
Date: Mon, 09 May 2011 21:44:17 -0500
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Canes and dogs
Message-ID: <auto-000001552986 at mailback3.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi,

This subject has always been one that has interested me.  As a cane user
who has tried to be careful to defend the 
rights of persons using canes or dogs, I have always been one who has
tried to understand both methods.  What I 
have found in general, though, that no serious discussion of the
differences, the strengths and weaknesses of each, 
the attributes of what might make one method work for some and the other
for others, can ever occur without things 
breaking down.  I did not see everything that was written in the
magazine but have only seen what was written here 
so perhaps I have missed something.  However, I didn't see anything
written that said that a dog should not be taken 
to a restaurant, only an interest in understanding why it might be done
in the particular situation described.  I did not 
see him say that sighted guide need to be used, I interpreted him to be
assuming that a cane would be used because 
it is my understanding that persons who use dogs generally know how to
use a cane as well.  What I saw in his writing 
was a guy who was clearly a cane user but who wondered.  I thought he
was simply saying that each was a tool and 
why wouldn't one just use whatever tool fit in the same way that those
of us prefer to use straight canes might switch 
to a telescopic cane in some cases.  From my perspective, I do
understand that people and dogs work as a team and 
that there are always risks when the team is not working together, and
that may be the best answer that one might 
give him along with some of the others that were given here.  I can
think of a few more answers that I might have 
given such as what if my plans changed.  What if after a nice dinner I
decided to walk home instead of taking a cab, 
or if I was on a date, what if the opportunity arose to not return
directly home.  There are simply a lot of responses and 
areas to explore without assuming that the question was raised as a
die-hard intollerant cane user.  There are some of 
those who use canes, and there are even some who use dogs.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson