by Penny Reeder
Have you been thinking about getting a guide dog? How do I get a dog? Would a dog make me feel safer than using a cane? Can people with low vision even qualify for a dog? Am I too old? Too young?
You can find answers to all of these questions – and more – when you get to know Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI). A few years ago, we published a handbook for the prospective guide dog handler that answers many of those questions. It’s available from Amazon.com, https://tinyurl.com/abevzb2p, and from NLS and Bookshare.
Books are great, but it’s even better to talk to somebody. GDUI is that somebody. We have a group of volunteers we call GDUI’s empathizers. Call GDUI’s office phone number, 1-866-799-8436, for more information.
Are you trying to choose a guide dog school? Visit https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/gdui-school-survey/ to look at our Guide Dog School Surveys and compare the various programs.
GDUI hosts community calls which feature trainers from the various schools and programs. GDUI also has a newsletter called “Paws for GDUI News You Can Use.” In addition, we offer a chat e-mail discussion list for anyone who has an interest in guide dogs.
We have members throughout the United States. Our annual dues are $15. Check out all the benefits of membership in GDUI at https://guidedogusersinc.org/; join our Friends of Guide Dog Users Facebook group; follow us on Twitter at #gduinc; and get as involved as you like.