FreeLists / access-uk / [access-uk] Re: Long cane training

["James O'Dell" <jamesodell@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I can see the problem, I have received long cane training from guide dogs 
myself when social services weren't able to provide any.  One real 
disadvantage of losing the guide dogs long cane service, *if* this is indeed 
what is happening, will be that they won't be able to provide you with long 
cane training with a  view to geting a dog.  I had my interview and this was 
followed up with additional cane work, but my various rehab workers from 
GDBA were in touch every so often with the GDMIs to monitor how things were 
going.

But looking at it from their point of view, I guess they would argue that 
their core service is the provision of guide dogs, many current GDOs are 
unhappy about GdBA using its funds to provide other rehab services.  And 
while GDBA are doing the work, social services have no insentive to do 
anything, they would say that providing the service would be an inefficient 
duplication of what was already out there.

To turn to your specific situation, andy, I would strongly suggest you speak 
to GDBA as soon as possible, and try not to give up hope on using the dog. 
You shouldn't allow your employers or clients or anyone else to determine 
your choice of mobility aid, and you may need to develop some strategies to 
minimise your clients' distraction when the dog is around.  There is no 
magic solution as far as mobility is concerned, and it would make sense for 
you to discuss the full range of options with GDBA before reaching a 
decision.  Mel Spooner, who moderates the UK-guide-dogs list is a member of 
this group as well, so hopefully she will see this thread and approve your 
membership if she hasn't already done it.  Just in case you've joined a 
different list, the subscribe address for Mel's is 
uk-guide-dogs-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  Remember that if you give up the 
dog now, it might be harder for you to reapply in future if your 
circumstances change or if you find that long cane mobility, whilst removing 
some of the distraction issues, doesn't meet your day-to-day needs for 
getting around.

I'm not saying it's easy, just that if you have not already done so you need 
to take a few deep breaths and really reflect on your situation before 
deciding anything.  At the moment I live in a communal hall of residence in 
a university.  The fire alarm went off at 3.50 a.m. this morning and we were 
all shunted out to a lecture theatre to be counted etc, and whilst we were 
waiting in there about every third person was asking me if the dog was 
tired.  Marvelous!

Good luck

James
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Beasley" <pjbeasley@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 12:39 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Long cane training


> If what you say is correct, it is an absolute disgrace.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Barry Hill" <bbinc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 7:37 AM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Long cane training
>
>
> > Hi Andy
> >
> > You should get long cane training from Guide Dogs, but I don't know for
> how
> > much longer they will be offering the service as they are cutting back on
> > rehab officers.
> >
> > Barry
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Andy Collins" <Andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 9:56 PM
> > Subject: [access-uk] Re: Long cane training
> >
> >
> > > Hi George -
> > >
> > > I'm in Devon, already a guide dog owner, finding that my new dog 
> > > creates
> > > too much distraction when I'm working with clients, and feel I need
> > > another form of mobility for these occasions. I've been attempting to
> join
> > > the guide dog list to see if other old-timers like myself are finding
> that
> > > dog mismatching is taking place; so far, it seems to be taking time to
> > > have my request to join the list, accepted! So, I'm interested in
> learning
> > > about long cane mobility, but also interested in peoples experience 
> > > with
> > > guide dogs now, compared to 25 plus years ago, and if other GDO's
> > > occasionally use long cane in certain circumstances.
> > >
> > > Andy
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "George Bell" <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 9:14 PM
> > > Subject: [access-uk] Re: Long cane training
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Andy,
> > >
> > > Much depends on where you are in the country.
> > >
> > > RNIB might be a reasonable place to start asking.
> > >
> > > But your location might help others to help you.#
> > >
> > > George.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Andy Collins
> > > Sent: 31 May 2006 20:58
> > > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [access-uk] Long cane training
> > >
> > > Hi all -
> > >
> > > Not quite the right list I'm sure, but don't know where else
> > > to ask, but can anybody give me any info on how to get long
> > > cane training, who offers it, how long the training takes,
> > > and the cost for it, if any?
> > >
> > > Thanks -
> > >
> > > Andy
> > >
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