[nabs] Guide Dogs in High School?

[Ashley Bramlett]

Dorneta,
Unfortunately some school administrators see a blind person as more of a 
liability.  Maybe that's why she has an aide.  Its sad that students are 
overhelped but true.  I didn't have an aide following me around and I'm glad 
of that.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dornetta" <dornetta at gmail.com>
To: "Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students." 
<nabs at acb.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs] Guide Dogs in High School?


> Caitlin,
> Somewhat off but why would the school demand that she have an aid? Please 
> help me to understand if possible. This is what pisses me off when it 
> comes to the "sighted" world and its people and the world we live in! Are 
> they trying to say that she is uncapible  to walk the halls by herself? 
> Are they trying to imply that she does not have the intelligence to know 
> which hall she is suppose to be on or what? I mean really, she is an 
> advance placement student and therefore she is able to raise their 
> standardize test scores but not able to make to calss-the right class-in a 
> secure, safe, and timely manner. Please...please...please help me to 
> understand the world of this thought process. As I said previously, I lost 
> my sight about 14 years ago and have been out of school for about 18 years 
> now. I am confused...really I am.
> *sorry, this is the assertive, advocating Dornetta that just showed her 
> "beautiful" head :-) Lol
> Netta
> "Just because you are blind, does not mean you lack vision"-Stevie Wonder
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "NABS Student Advocate Editor" <editor.acbstudents at gmail.com>
> To: "Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students." 
> <nabs at acb.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 10:49 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs] Guide Dogs in High School?
>
>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>   There's a lot of helpful information here. I will be glad to pass
>> along this thread to her. I talked to her more extensively yesterday,
>> and she feels ready for a dog. I'm a bit leary, as her school is
>> mandating (for security purposes, of course *snark*) that she be
>> accompanied everywhere by an aid. She's an Advanced Placement student,
>> a sophomore in high school, and has had O&M to her building. She's
>> convinced that after Dog comes along she will be free to roam the
>> halls unaided. I'm nervous about this and about the school environment
>> in general. If an independent, intelligent young blind woman with
>> knowledge of the building and her surroundings is made to walk around
>> with an aid, how receptive would this school be to a dog joining the
>> ranks? I hate to think.
>>
>>   Thank you all for your feedback. Bernadetta, those were some
>> incredible stories you told. :) Laura, Leena, and Liz, thank you for
>> your thoughts. I tend to agree with Laura in that I believe I wasn't
>> at all ready for a guide dog in high school. However, I went to a
>> school with 1800 other students, and I was concerned about their
>> behavior towards the dog. (Bernadetta, your story about a kid tripping
>> Kip horrified and disgusted me, but it was exactly what I hoped to
>> avoid.) However, I think a dog can work quite well in high school with
>> the right person and in the circumstances. I'm glad that you all
>> shared your thoughts....they are interesting to me, and, I'm sure,
>> invaluable to her when she hears them.
>>
>> Best,
>> Caitlin
>>
>> On 11/23/10, Liz Bottner <liziswhatis at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I had my first dog in high school. Honestly, if at all possible, I would
>>> wait, not because of the immaturity of the person, but more for the sake 
>>> of
>>> the other students the team will be around and the sake of the team in
>>> general. High school is a high-stress environment. I will even go so far 
>>> as
>>> to say that it's more stressful than college. If you can make it work, 
>>> then
>>> more power to you, but it really does take the right set of 
>>> circumstances
>>> and right team. The first year that you have with the dog is the most
>>> crucial, and so that is another thing to take into account. I don't know
>>> that high school would provide you the time and right environment to be 
>>> able
>>> to focus on what needs to be done.
>>>
>>> JMHO,
>>>
>>> Liz
>>>
>>> email:
>>> liziswhatis at hotmail.com
>>> Visit my LiveJournal:
>>> http://unsilenceddream.livejournal.com
>>> Follow me on Twitter:
>>> http://twitter.com/lizbot
>>>
>>>
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