[nabs] Guide Dogs in High School?

[NABS Treasurer]

I got my guide dog the summer before my senior year of high school. I
was initially skeptical of doing it this way because I wasn't sure how
high school students would be able to handle it, etc. However, I
talked to someone and decided to get her the summer before my senior
year because the person I talked to pointed out to me that I wanted to
make sure that my dog and I worked really well as a team in a familiar
environment before we went to college and learned a new environment.
I'm really glad I got her before my senior year, because while there
were definitely experiences of high school students trying to feed her
and distract her, I had a whole year to learn how to effectively
communicate with her, and  was able to learn her mannorisms, before I
went to orient with the new college environment the next year. Also,
even though there were some students who didn't pay attention to the
"ignore me" sign on my dog, I have found that I have had more trouble
enforcing that with adults than with students, so high school wasn't
as challenging in that respec as one might think. By the time I got to
college, I felt really confident in my communication with my dog, and
our team-work abilities. Also, once we got to college, she was trying
to adjust to the weather change and we had some problems with that,
and I'm really glad that we weren't trying to deal with getting to
know each other at the same time as working through the challenges
that she was having with the environment.
I hope this helps. :)

On 11/22/10, NABS Student Advocate Editor <editor.acbstudents at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>    Three summers ago, I worked at a local daycamp for blind
> children/teens. One of my girls was 12 at the time, and she was always
> curious about how I worked with my guide dog, Laser. Yesterday, she
> emailed me to say that she just put in her application to the Guide
> Dog Foundation (the closest school to my house, and where my hairy
> beast is from).
>
>    She's a sophomore this year in high school, and is hoping to get
> the dog this summer, if there is one available for her to work with,
> obviously. She asked me a ton of questions about living and working
> with a guide dog, which I was glad to answer. However, she asked for
> specific stories about having a dog in high school. I got Laser the
> month after my senior year graduation, so obviously I couldn't provide
> such help to her. I told her my reasons for holding off getting a dog
> during high school, but I hoped maybe some of you may be able to
> relate experiences/stories of working with a guide dog in high school?
>
>    Or, equally as helpful, I'm sure, why you may not have chosen to
> get a dog in high school? Any help you could provide would be
> appreciated. I'll be glad to pass along any stories or anecdotes to
> her.
>
> Thanks all,
> Caitlin
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-- 
Brooke Jostad
NABS Treasurer