GDUA Presidents Message by Kevin Chinn:
Hi to all Guide Dog handlers and family and friends of GDUA. In recent weeks we have seen natural disasters that reeked havoc on the gulf coast and parts of Texas and Florida. We have worried about the hundreds of people missing and thought either lost or dead. In the time of this happening we have also thought of our brother and sister guide dog handlers and what they did to prepare and/or deal with the aftermath. Guide Dog Users, Incorporated GDUI has begun a disaster relief fund for handlers who need assistance with their guides or retired guides, I will post the press release in this issue of Waggin Tails.
Guide Dog Users of Arizona had a $25 donation made in its name, so we arre doing a part to assist this vitally important fund. we as guide dog handlers need to have a disaster plan for our selves, family and guides. I will also post the Red Cross disaster preparedness which states guides are allowed in shelters if needed.
Finally looking into the future for fun and exciting events. On November 18 will be the Visual Rehabilitation and Technology Expo being held at the Phoenix Civic plaza, Admission is free of charge and always is an exciting time. GDUA will share a booth with The Arizona Council of the Blind. On November 19 the day after VRATE, guide Dog Users of Arizona will hold its annual November conference. This is a day packed with fun events, interesting and informational speakers, continental breakfast and lunch provided for just your $10 registration fee, and most of all great door prizes for either you or your wonderful pup. So come one and come all to the Foundation for Blind Children, located at 1235 E. Harmont, Phoenix Arizona from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 P.M. and meet, eat and relax while talking about one of our favorite subjects... Our Guides.
APPLYING FLEA TREATMENTS
by Desi Noller
Recently, there was a discussion on one of the Guide Dog related e-mail lists I belong to, regarding how best to apply "Frontline" to your dog without employing sighted assistance. Here is the contribution I sent. I have found this method to be very successful and hope it will be of help to anyone out there who finds applying this kind of product challenging.
I just graduated with my Sweet Candy in March and I will try to describe how we were taught to apply "Frontline" to our dogs because I've had good luck doing it this way, and always had to have Don help me when I applied it to my previous dog Pager. I don't worry too much if I get a little on my fingers because I wash my hands thoroughly as soon as I'm done. After all, we're putting it directly on our dogs' skin and leaving it there, so I figure that a few seconds on my skin won't hurt me. I haven't suffered any ill effects yet! Just make sure you wash your hands immediately after! Here's what I do. I sit down in a regular kitchen type chair. I have Candy sit so that her side is facing me with her butt against the arch of my right foot and her chin resting on my left knee. I have already removed the little vial from it's packaging and broken the end before I sit down. Now I'm sitting with Candy in the position I describe. I am right-handed, but I'm sure you could do this in reverse if you're a "lefty." I find the little hollow spot right betweenthe shoulder blades with my left hand. I place my left index finger there so that the entire underside of my finger is resting on that spot. I then slide my finger a little to the left pushing the hair back with it. Now just to the right of my finger I have caused some skin to be exposed. Once you have done this, do not remove your hand. Keep it right in that spot! Then, with your right hand holding the little vial, bring your vial holding hand to meet your left hand which is already in place. Keep the little vial pointing with the application end up until your ready for the stuff to come out. When you're ready, put the applicator point to the right of your already waiting left index finger, in the mostly bare spot you have exposed, pressing firmly. Give the little vial 3 or 4 hearty squeezes until it sounds like only air is coming out, and Voila! You're all finished! The trick is not to linger in applying the stuff. It will absolb very nicely nto your dog's skin on its own. If you are squeamish about getting any of the product on your hand you can use a surgical glove. If you opt to do so, I would recommend buying gloves in a small enough size to fit your hand tightly so that you can tell what you're doing. Most of the warehouse stores like "Costco," sell these gloves in large quantities at a reasonable cost. Probably enough to last you a good long time. Best of luck!
Contact:
Sheila Styron, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
816-363-3172
president@gdui.org
Guide Dog Users Incorporated (GDUI) announces the creation of a Disaster Relief Fund for guide dog handlers and their guide dogs affected by Hurricane Katrina.
In this time of great need, GDUI recognizes that guide dog teams will need support to stay together, and guide dog handlers may need additional support to keep and maintain a retired guide dog. In this spirit, GDUI has created a Disaster Relief Fund for guide dog handlers and their dogs.
Who qualifies for assistance?
O People who are legally blind and have working and/or retired guide dogs O People who live in hurricane effected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
O People who, due to the hurricane damage, have lost belongings or property, have been relocated or are unable to obtain items for their guide or retired guide dog
What will the fund cover? Any item used by the working or retired guide dog such as; food, bedding, vet care, flea preventative, heartworm medication and toys.
GDUI's Disaster Relief Fund will provide support for guide dog teams and retired guides for up to one year.
How do handlers in need apply?
Guide dog handlers can call GDUI toll free at 1-866-858-9600. GDUI members will staff this line and will also be available to take contributions from those who wish to support guide dog handlers and retired guides in their effort to stay together. Contributions can also be sent to:
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
Jane Sheehan, Treasurer
14311 Astrodome Drive
Silver spring, Maryland 20906
1-888-858-1008
treasurer@gdui.org
Contributions are tax deductible to the extend by which the law allows. Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) is an international organization dedicated to advocacy, peer support, public education and all aspects of training, working and living with dogs specially-trained to guide blind and visually-impaired people. GDUI does not train or place guide dogs; but acts as an independent resource network; providing information; support and advice concerning guide dogs; guide; dog training and access laws to its members; the media and the public at large.GDUI is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind and can be found on the World wide Web at
www.gdui.org.
"Insights from an Out-of-Sight Guy". Humorous stories about coping with change
In just one hour on a crisp fall day in mid October of 1972 Larry Colbert's life dramatically and significantly changed forever. He roared out of the parking lot at the Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA) in Greenbelt, Maryland on his powerful motorcycle headed to his annual eye doctor's appointment. It turned out to be a ride he'd never forget.
In that short examination, the ophthalmologist informed Colbert he was legally blind and was rapidly speeding down the road to eventual blindness from Retinitis Pigmentosa, a hereditary degenerative disease of the retina.
Before being shocked into this unavoidable reality, Larry Colbert's life had been on the fast track. Employed as an unmanned satellite controller at the NASA facility, his future seemed certain. He was married, had a young daughter, and in addition to his career actively pursued his collectable car hobby.
This life changing disease would cause him to face the inevitable questions. How would he be able to support his family without the ability to see? What would become of his love of cars, the joys of rebuilding engines, the feeling he relished of speeding down the road astride his beloved BSA motorcycle?
As Colbert's eyesight gradually faded, his insight deepened. In this, his first book, he shares the poignant story of his deep personal struggle with blindness, and the fear that kept him from embracing change. With remarkably frank dialog, and powerful and humorous stories from his personal experiences, Insights reveals Colbert's intimate 30-year process of coming to "see" self, and provides practical and meaningful help for learning to cope with constant change, as well as managing the ideas, emotions, and attitudes that affect us all. "The answers you seek are already within you. You just have to pull them out." Colbert says.
Larry Colbert has been a resident of Arizona since 1976 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University in 1989. He has been a national spokesperson for Leader Dogs for the Blind, District Governor with the International Association of Lions and a 15-year professional member of the National Speakers Association.
Insights from an Out-of-Sight Guy" can be ordered in print from Driving Vision, Inc., 480-894-2639. Both print and E-book are available via the Internet at DrivingVision.com. Amazon.com is also handling the print version.
Submitted to "Waggin Tales', quarterly publication of Guide dog Users of Arizona on September 9, 2005.
November 19 GDUA will be having its fall conference. It will be held at The Foundation for Blind Children from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. We already have speakers from different schools such as Dave Hageman from Guideing Eyes , Ginger Kutsch, Chelsea Morrow and Jim Kutsch from The Seeing Eye. We are trying to get a behavorialist and someone from Animal control also. Finally Don Firsk from Guide Dogs for the Blind will play Simon Says with us. If you have any questions please call Janice Williams at (623)412-8350 See you all there.
Janice Williams, GDUAs 1st Vice President returned in August with her new guide. His name is Amigo and he is a german shepherd golden retreiver mix. He has long hair that resembles a golden retreiver although the color of his hair is black, short floppy ears and Janice says it looks like he has little slippers on his feet there is so much hair. So wwhen your at our November conference make sure you stop and say Hello to Janice and Amigo.
Cops seek cabbie who punched blind tourist, dragged guide dog
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-blindguy0905sep09,0,6222735.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-orange
Cops seek cabbie who punched blind tourist, dragged guide dog
Henry Pierson Curtis
Sentinel Staff Writer
September 9, 2005
A cab driver who punched a blind tourist and then towed the man's guide dog beside a shuttle van on Labor Day is being sought by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Witnesses thought the yellow vehicle belonged to Mears Transportation, but its tag showed it did not belong to Central Florida's best-known taxi and bus company, sheriff's records show. Deputies and Mears spokesman Roger Chapin suspect the van was a "gypsy cab" painted and lettered to look like a Mears vehicle, according to interviews. The incident happened about 11 a.m. Monday within view of guests eating brunch at the Hilton Garden Inn at SeaWorld International Center, according to interviews and sheriff's reports. The victim, Jywanza Maye, was not injured but remains upset by the attack on him and his yellow Labrador retriever, Bentley. The driver was afraid of dogs, Maye said in a telephone interview Thursday from New York City. "He kept pushing and punching me, yelling: 'Get out of my van. Get out of my van," the 29-year-old Goodwill Industries caseworker said. "Bentley didn't have a chance to get in, and the guy drove offdragging Bentley." Hotel workers and another guest, Glenn Hettinger of Jacksonville, rushed to help Maye when the van stopped within 50 feet. Bentley, trained by Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York, never lost his footing. "The guy was a total jerk," Hettinger said, describing how the driver shouted profanities at everyone. Mears employees gave Maye and his dog a ride to Orlando International Airport, reports show. A Hilton supervisor could not be reached for comment. A state tag check showed the vehicle is registered to an Orange County man, but neighbors said Thursday that the man who drives a taxi hasn't lived at his listed address for several years.
Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at
hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com
or 407-420-5257.
Copyright © 2005,
Orlando Sentinel |
How many of us as guide dog handlers have had access problems with any form of public transportation in Arizona?
Please send answers to:
kmchinn@qwest.net
or call 623-412-8350 and talk to Kevin or Janice
P>Return to GDUA Home Page.