The cane and the dog

I once asked my friend Cindy to enlighten me about the differences between a dog and a cane. In other words, the advantages and disadvantages. I am primarily a cane user and Cindy is presently a guide dog user and has in the past used a cane. Here are Cindy's perspectives.

If you are a cane user you have to find obstacles with your cane but if you are a guide dog user then your dog will almost always find those obstacles for you and lead you away from them. This certainly helps when there are possible hanging obstacles in the way as one's cane cannot find these but a guide dog can see them and avoid them.

I have found that in some instances, a person with a guide dog gets assistance more quickly than does a person with a cane. A person with a guide dog is more easily noticed than a person with a cane.

For me, I opt for my cane as I find it easier to travel with it and I am more used to it. I have been blind all of my life and I probably would have difficulty trusting my guide dog to tell me where to go and where not to go when picking my way around.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with others. Visit me at www.donnajodhan.com to listen to some of my Detective DJ audio mysteries.

Who gets help more quickly?

A few weeks ago, I had this conversation with some of my blind friends and here is what we came up with. I'll let you know before hand that we may be entirely wrong but these are our humble opinions.

Those with guide dogs often receive help first over those without guide dogs. Those with long canes are next in line followed by those who use the smaller ID canes. We also find that those who have lost their vision as young adults often have to struggle to receive help even if they may have a long cane. We believe this to be so because this particular group appears to be more normal with regard to their eye and body movements and although they may not be able to find things or their way around, having been previously sighted makes them appear as if they do not need help.

It may all have to do with the eyes. That is, if a blind person has previously had vision and has now lost it, they have had the experience of being able to face someone when talking to them and their body movements are more normal and less awkward. In short, they appear to be more normal in the eyes of the sighted person. Many of those who were born without vision often do not face the person they are talking to. Instead, they tend to face elsewhere. Just our two cents worth.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and asking you to go out there and share my thoughts with others. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Dogs and canes

In the mainstream sighted world, it is never a good thing to assume the following: That all blind persons use guide dogs. That all blind persons use canes. That all blind persons are unable to travel on their own.

Some of us use guide dogs because it suits us to use them while others like me prefer the use of a cane. I use a cane because I feel more comfortable with one. I admire any blind person who is able to use a guide dog. It is hard work but extremely rewarding when dog and master can develop that special relationship. One cannot pat a cane or talk to them whenever they feel the need to or have to but the use of a cane may still be the preferred method over a dog.

There is so much for us to learn when it comes to understanding how dog and master work together as a cohesive team. I have several friends who are guide dog users and they never tire of teaching me new things about their special relationship with their four legged friends.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and learn more about how guide dogs help to make a difference in the lives of blind and sight impaired persons. Visit www.afb.org to learn more.

My Cane and I

No, I do not have a guide dog; I use a cane and I do just fine.  In a previous blog, I commented that guide dogs are not for everyone and I am one of them.  I get along just fine with my cane but it does not mean that I have completely ruled out ever getting a guide dog. 

 

I have used a cane all of my life to get around.  When I had enough vision, I used to use a short cane also known as an ID cane but now that my vision is much less, I use a longer one.  At the end of my cane there is a tip which is made up of a roller and it is so because it will prevent my cane from getting stuck in cracks and potholes.  I was taught to use my cane by a mobility instructor.  She taught me how to use my cane to find doors, walls, staircases, openings, and other objects. 

 

Mobility training could be described as being taught how to use one's cane to communicate with one's surroundings and it surely helps blind persons to get around more independently.  Sometimes, I fold my cane when walking with a sighted friend or family member.  I often refer to my mom as my electronic cane; but on a more serious note, my cane is more often than not my constant companion.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with the rest of the world.  If you would like to learn more about how and why blind persons use canes, then visit www.nfb.org or www.rnib.org.

 

My Dogs and I

First there was Yella; a fat and happy Lab.  Then came Lion and Tiger, her huge and handsome sons.  Then finally there was Boyo and Brownie, the grand children of Yella.  My treasured ones, my best companions.  These are the ones that gave me so much comfort during my formative years. 

 

Yella's happy and go lucky spirit enabled me to create and imagine all kinds of kid-like things; writing poetry and essays about her.  Gosh, I even won first prize in an essay competition for my composition about Yella.  By the time Lion and Tiger came along I was approaching the difficult adolescent years and these were the two that helped me the most.  I would often lie on my stomach and bury my face in their thick coats of fur.  There I would tell them all of my fears and fantasies and you know what?  They never turned a deaf ear on me.  They would always listened attentively and would often reward me with either a kiss on the nose or a paw on my shoulder.

 

By the time that Boyo and Brownie arrived, I was well into my teens and these two were a constant source of comfort to me.  I played robustly with them.  Loved them to bits, and in turn they helped me to cope with my adolescent years.  Each dog was special in his/her own way.  Each brought me special moments of glee and happiness.  Each broke my heart when they departed this world.

 

My heart broke with grief when I left home and left them behind but I still carry them in my mind.  When I was able to see enough, I captured their faces in my mind and now they are tucked away forever.  Their personalities will always remain a constant source of consolation for me.  Rest in peace wonderful furry friends!

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate inviting you to go out there and share my blogs with the rest of the world.  Visit www.nfb.org to learn how blind persons use guide dogs as part of their daily lives.

Guide Dogs Are Not for Everyone

Here is the truth about guide dogs; they are not for everyone and not every blind person is suited to have a guide dog.  I myself love dogs but a guide dog is not for me.  Why you may ask?  Because in order to have a guide dog, you need to put your trust completely in the dog and for me this is extremely difficult.  Some dogs make wonderful guides but there are others that do not.  Not every guide dog turns out to be a good guide; and not every blind person who seeks to have a guide dog is a suitable candidate.

 

In a mainstream world, the relationship between a dog and their owner is extremely crucial and in a world of a blind person it is even more so for a blind person.  Both dog and owner need to trust and like each other.  It's all about team work.  There are several guide dog schools scattered across North America and there are many in

England and across Europe as well.  I am going to give you two websites to visit; www.nfb.org, and www.rnib.org.  These two websites can provide you with very helpful information on guide dogs.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and asking you to go out there and tell the rest of the world that guide dogs are not for everyone.

 

 

Are All Blind People Alike?

One of the most embarrassing mistakes that mainstream folks tend to make is this: They seem to think that all blind persons are the same; they look the same, walk the same, and even speak the same. And most blind persons have guide dogs!

A few years ago, a lady at work told me that she had seen me walking along the hallway and I seemed to be lost. She went on to say that when she approached me to render assistance, I rebuffed her and she wanted to know why. She even accused me of being rude. I was quite taken aback and started to rack my brain trying to recall my whereabouts on that day. I became quite perplexed and concerned because almost all of the time, I go to great lengths to ensure that I am polite to anyone offering assistance to me.

After a minute or so, I asked her to describe my physical attributes and what I was wearing that day. I will hasten to add that this conversation took place over the phone.

Just imagine my surprise when she told me the following. She described me as having long blond hair, about five feet six inches tall, fat, and wearing a red suit. I let her finish and when she was done I politely told her that I am five feet two, have jet black hair, and am slim. In addition, I told her I do not own a red suit. Just imagine the silence at the other end. She quickly excused herself and hung up.

You see, much of society honestly believes that most blind persons look alike, but I'd like to dispel this myth. The one thing that blind persons have in common is this: We are all visually impaired but this is where it ends. We do not look alike, we have varying degrees of vision loss, we think differently, we speak differently, and some of us use canes to get around while others use guide dogs. It's like saying that all Americans look alike and speak the same. If you take a minute to think about it, it's absolutely laughable and without logic.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your accessibility and special-needs business consultant wishing you a terrific day and asking you to go out there and tell everyone that each blind person has his/her own identity. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.