[nagdu] Guide Dogs, Canes, and Blindness

Thu Jul 17 20:58:12 UTC 2014

Hi, Barb,

I think you have thought this decision through well, and I see no reason why
you shouldn't qualify to get a guide dog if that is your choice.  I used to
have more vision than the little light perception that I have now, and I too
thought that perhaps I could see too much to work with a guide dog.  But I
limited where I went and when I traveled, and almost always went with other
people instead of just going where I wanted and when I wanted, whether or
not someone else was going there at the time.  I didn't realize how much I
was limiting my hopes and dreams.  I do think you should give other guide
dog programs a look and explain your situation and needs to them.  Perhaps
when they come out to observe you traveling with your cane, you could do
this at night or in an unfamiliar area or in other conditions where your
vision is unreliable.  For me, any change in lighting, such as going from
the bright sunshine into a shaded area or going from daylight into a
building was problematic.  When I went for my first dog, I did part of the
early work with my guide dog under blindfold, just to assure myself that I
could trust the dog to do the seeing for me.  In those days, the school I
went to didn't do any night walks.  Once I had a guide dog, I definitely
found a new sense of independence and freedom.  I found that I actually
liked going out at night and going places by myself.  And it sounds as if
you have an interesting and busy lifestyle, which is perfect for a guide dog
partner.

So don't give up, and I hope you find the perfect guide dog program for your
needs and dreams.

Best,
Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barb breuer via
nagdu
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2014 11:56 AM
To: Nicole Torcolini; Name, Full
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs, Canes, and Blindness

that is some things t think about. 
when I had my interview with the lady at Fidelco, she was at my house for
about 45 minutes. she had a client that she had dropped off at the Home
depo. She didn't has her papers with the questions that she needed to ask
me. She did have a guide dog in training, and she wanted to see how would
handed the dog. After about a block, she said I did very well and understood
how to handle a dog. We walked back home and she put the dog back and left
to go get the other guy. So in some ways I don't feel like I got a fare
shack, or that they didn't want me anyway and because she was coming down
they wanted her to just get the interview out of the way. 
You said something about how I cross the street. I have to cross a busy
street to get to my bus stop. The way I have herd other people cross this
street on that block is the same way I do it. You look both ways and if you
don't see a car, say a prier and go. If I have time or I just can't find a
space to cross, there is a light about a block away, and I have gone down
there to cross. 

When I said the thing about at work I clean looker rooms and fold towels, so
i don't need a dog. I ment that that is what they see and not the person who
once I get off work and go outside I unfold the cane and go to the bus stop.
They see me walking without help and doing my job. what they don't
understand is that I do that job because I can do it without help. 
when I am at places I don't know so well and I am by myself, I use the cane.
I don't tend to us the cane when I am with sighted people. I think because
those who have known me for years haven't seen me use the cane and so I feel
funny using it around them. They know I have it. 

What I can see, I see quite a bit, that is way as I was growing up that I
was told I can not get a guide god. when I walk I can see the sidewalk,
grass, houses,the flowers in the yard that i have stop and look at more
closely, bunches and chairs, and if a little animal runs across the path
10-15 feet in front I could probably tell you what is was by the shape of
the gray blob. what I can't do is tell if there is a step in the path, or if
the bark spot is a step or a dark spot. That is what I use the cane for.
Some times it is hard to tell were the door to the train is. 
the gal at the guide dog school saw that I could see and ask if I would
second guess the dog, like stop before the dog tells me to at a corner.,
things like that. I told her that that is what I want to dog to do and if
the dog is going to tell me where the corners and things are, them I don't
have to worry about that so much and can pay attention to things like the
traffic and other things. 

Some say that I should just use the cane and not get a dog, well maybe, but
to that I ask, why do you have a dog and not use the cane.. all the guide
dog schools want you to be able to do everything without the dog and use a
cane, so then why are they even offering guide dogs. to me and for me the
dog is to help me get from one place to another and between the two of us we
get there safely. He uses his stills and I use mine, he fills in the places
that I need help. Yes I can use a cane, but I have and I want to have a dog
guide instead. this has been a 40 year dream, not something I just can up
with. I also want the companionship that that kind of a relationship gives
you. I travel three or more hours a day, I go out to eat, I meat up with
people I know, I have lakes that are a bus ride a way that I would love to
walk with the dog around, but I can't take a pet down on the bus. 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Name, Full" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Name, Full" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 11:17:17 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dogs, Canes, and Blindness 

Barb, 

After reading your email and the rest of the thread, I have a few thoughts
that you might want to consider. I have pasted your original email and
written inline. I have also written a few more thoughts at the end. 

I have been doing a lot of thinking sense I started looking into getting I
guide dog. Like do I need one, will it be a help to me, or can I get around
well enough on my own. Plus do I have to much vision to qualify. 

Response: These are very good questions. You and only you can know the real
answers. 

I have a good amount of vision for a blind person. My mother went to a
school for the blind, and didn't want her kids to go to one. 

Response: Agree about not going to a school for the blind, but probably my
reasoning is a little different. However, as it is not related to guide
dogs, I will not say more here, but you are welcome to email me off list if
you would like to know my thoughts on the matter. 

She wanted us to learn to use the sight we had. 

Response: Learning how to use a tool or sense also means learning its
limitations. 

So now I feel like, I can do these things, cross the street, walk without a
cane, find my way. 

Response: Can you tell us more about what you mean by cross the street? Do
you use your vision? Can you do it at night? 

I have had people I know ask why do you need a guide dog? My answer is
because the dog would help me at night when I don't see so good, and in the
bright sun, plus I have thick glasses and I have little side vision. I get a
long well at work, but I clean locker rooms for a living and fold towels. 
Not a lot of need for dog. 

Response: This does not necessarily mean that you do not need a dog. Do you
get out and about besides work? Would you get out more if you felt more
secure in unfamiliar places? 

I don't like going places that I haven't been so much because I do think
about, will there be a step or something I don't see. I walk slower because
of it and when I am with people I walk a step behind and watch where they
step. 

Response: Did you tell the school these things? 

So I feel like a dog would make my life easier, and having a companion with
me would be nice. 
I Am in my 50's and do think about how walking a dog, people think twice
before they want to jump you. But having a dog is a good way to meet new
friends. 

Response: Um, I really hope that you did not tell the school this. Yes,
these are potentially two of the several perks of having a guide dog, but it
most certainly is not what a school wants to hear. 

More thoughts: 
Here is something that you could try to help yourself gage just how well you
can get around using just your vision. 
1. Find someone who you trust and to whom you can talk about your blindness
without that person trying to tell you what to do or how to act. 
2. Have that person take you to an unfamiliar place. 
3. With the person walking beside you, start walking through the unfamiliar
place. As you walk, tell the person what you can see that is important, such
as chairs on the sidewalk or overhanging tree branches. Have the person tell
you if you missed anything. If the person asks you if you saw something, and
you did not, resist the temptation to say yes. 
4. Without the person telling you information, walk as fast as you are
comfortable walking without making yourself feel unsafe. 
5. Have the person take you sighted guide and walk as fast as you and the
person are comfortable walking. 
If you find that you missed a lot of objects in step 3 and/or that you could
walk faster in step 5 than in step 4, then you should consider getting more
orientation and mobility training with a cane, and getting a guide dog some
day. 

>From reading your email, I think that I understand why the schools are
hesitant to give you a guide dog. If you get a guide dog, will you be able
to trust it and let the dog make all of the decisions? Even if you can see
fairly well, you cannot try to help the dog do his/her job or act before the
dog has a chance to help you. Most likely, if you get a guide dog, whatever
school it turned out to be would want you to use a blindfold at first to
make sure that you trusted your dog. 

Nicole 

_____ 

From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barb breuer via
nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 10:50 AM
To: Full Name
Subject: [nagdu] (no subject) 

I have been doing a lot of thinking sence I started looking into getting I
guide dog. Like do I need one, will it be a help to me, or can I get around
well enough on my own. Plus do I have to much vision to qualify. 
I have a good amount of vision for a blind person. My mother went to a
school for the blind, and didn't want her kids to go to one. She wanted us
to learn to use the sight we had. 
So now I feel like, I can do these things, cross the street, walk without a
cane, find my way. 
I have had people I know ask why do you need a guide dog? My answer is
because the dog would help me at night when I don't see so good, and in the
bright sun, plus I have thick glasses and I have little side vision. I get a
long well at work, but I clean locker rooms for a living and fold towels. 
Not a lot of need for dog. 

I don't like going places that I haven't been so much because I do think
about, will there be a step or something I don't see. I walk slower because
of it and when I am with people I walk a step behind and watch where they
step. 
So I feel like a dog would make my life easier, and having a companion with
me would be nice. 
I Am in my 50's and do think about how walking a dog, people think twice
before they want to jump you. But having a dog is a good way to meet new
friends. 
Sorry for it being so long, I just have a lot on my mind. 
Barb 

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