Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell) (02/04/90)
Index Number: 6597
V*> I am becoming rather concerned that they have strong
V*> reservations about accepting me because of my hearing
V*> impairment. I Have heard some rather negative things about this
V*> school lately and I just found out that NFB is becoming upset
V*> with them and are saying that it is about time that school
V*> (Which always had a good reputation) became accountable to
V*> someone and maybe it should be NFB. Some of the things I have
V*> hear is that have really become "custodial" and are treating
V*> clients like children, and lord forbid an adult client should
V*> visit a female client in her dorm room! Also, they seem to have
V*> become very very concerned about liability for those of us who
V*> are multiply disABLED. I did hear one voice say however, that
V*> hey you have to expect some of that stuff to a degree, but you
V*> just put up with and get your dog. So, I don't know. NFB folks
V*> told me that if they giveme a runaround, they will come and
V*> help me. So, I am wondering what is going on right now!
Well, good luck, Vixen. Personally, I hope no one forces any of the dog
schools to give a dog to anyone, if they determine that they don't feel
the dog will assist the person in staying safe. Forcing them, if they
believe, sincerely, that your hearing loss is too great to make the use
of a dog guide safe is putting yourself and the dog at risk. I don't
beleive taht you cannot use a dog, understand, and think that it's bound
to be as safe for you as a white cane, if not more so-- but I think the
schools ought to have final judgement on such things. There might
always be another school whose training is significantly different that
they feel they can take you on if another does not. I doubt it will come
to that, though, knowing you!
As for the stifling atmosphere: all the dog schools I've heard about,
including the one I attended are like that. It was very degrading to be
treated like a five year ould, indeed. On the other hand, I thought
some of the folks with whom I attended probably needed that kind of
"institutional care". What, precisely, they were going to do with a dog,
I dunno, but they weren't responsible enough to live like adults.
Liability has become a big issue. Most of these organizations cannot
afford a major law suit, and they'd more than likely face one if one of
their..umm.. less responsible female "inmates" was to become pregnant
during her stay. Personally, I think it's terrible... but I just gritted
my teeth and occasionally reminded the staff that I had an IQ over 50
and lived alone, etc, and would they please stop acting like I was some
kind of juvenile delinquent. Worked, for the most part.
In some schools, too, the rule about visiting in the dorm rooms is as
much for the comfort of one's roomies as it is to prevent "naughty
stuff". As someone who roomed with a hyperactively social person my
freshman year at college, and therefore spent a lot of nights in the
lobby of my dorm while my dear roomie invited in her male friends to
stay, I almost appreciated that little rule. Nope, the atmosphere isn't
pleasant, but if you just concentrat on getting the dog and learning
what ya need to know, it's bearable. Take a lot of books.
... Happiness is a warm modem.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.orgVixen.*@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen *) (02/04/90)
Index Number: 6604
Hi Laurie,
Well there are a couple of reasons that I am concerned about my
hearing impairment keeping me out of the guide dog school in San
Rafael.
First of all, I was informed, that the application had a front page
where they talked about their concerns regarding applicants who
have a more than ten per cent hearing loss. Well, even with my
better ear, my loss is considerable more than ten per cent and it
is progressive and apparently a little more complex than first
thought.
Also, the hearing impaired they are most concerned about, are those
whose loss is such that they have poor speech discrimination.
Apparently, this is also the same type of hearing that those of us
who are blind or V.I. use to "listen" to the flow of traffic at
intersections.
As you probably know, Speech discrimination is my biggest problem
(at least, unaided) and I cannot really tell the flow of traffic by
listening to it. Although, I thought, my useable vision might make
up for that.
Also, after they sent a trainer out to visit with me, he said that
I did pretty well, other than like other blind with some useable
vision, I had a tendency to walk too much beside the dog, although,
I corrected.
The guy said, he wanted to have another session, either with him or
another person after I get my new aids and then practice around
here again.
Also, it's been a few weeks since my MD sent in my physical report
and they have had all of my other needed papers for a long long
time and I haven't heard anything from the school yet.
I agree with you though, I do not see why my hearing impairment
should keep me out! There must be other low vision / hearing
impaired out there with dog guides! Of course, I have just recently
heard that the school may be becoming really paranoid about
applicants with multiple disabilities. I guess I will just have to
wait and see what happens.
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
... Remember! Only forest fires can prevent bears!
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen.*
Internet: Vixen.*@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgVixen.*@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen *) (02/12/90)
Index Number: 6672
Hi Carla,
Yes, I understand the points you make regarding the school in San
Rafael. Also, I really don't know the woman who was complaining
about being told she could'nt make it. So, I keep in mind that it
could be nothing more than sour grapes on her part. As I mentioned
in my previous post, there was another woman there who did not
share the same opinion of the school at all other than agreement on
the point of San Rafael being overly custodial. But this custodial
stuff, I think, just always seems to be a part of being blind or
visually impaired.
In my case, I have said myself, if I would be more of a liability
to myself and the dog because of my hearing problem, then it is
probably better that I stay with my long cane. Although, my feeling
is, that I could handle it well.
Well, as for being treated like a handicapped person or in
custodial manner, the way I feel is that hey, if I have to put up
with being babied a bit to reach my own end, then I simply tolerate
the baloney to a certain extent. Hell, it is only for 28 days
anyway. Besides, I am the type who would, just as you did, gently
remind those in charge that I am not a child and that my intellect
is not stunted.
As for having a man visiting in the dorm room, I really can
understand the potential problems there. Those restrictions are
really not hard for me to accept. Afterall, I may be a Vixen, but I
have too much class to be a floozie! No problem there.
Actually, my only real concern is whether or not it's true that the
school has become overly paranoid regarding clients with multiple
problems and just whether or not they wil be accepting me. Of
course, I will survive one way or the other. I feel that I do very
well with amplification devices and aids and A L D's and whatever.
I will wait and just see what happens.
Keepin' the faith!
. Vixen
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen.*
Internet: Vixen.*@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgReed.Hopkins@f7.n125.z1.fidonet.org (Reed Hopkins) (02/13/90)
Index Number: 6720
I think that that attitude you found at the school you went to
needs to be stood up against loudly and with spirit. I'm sick and
tired of being treated like a juvenile. If the people who are
getting the dogs lack inteklligence, that's one thing, but if they
simply lack maturity its most likly because people have been
treating them like children all their lives. If they have to
suffer the consequences of their immaturity, so be it. That's what
it takes to acheive maturity.
I'm also g*****m sick and tired of having "insurance" companies
and/or potential lawsuits used as an excuse to deny me access to
the world and to dignity. If an AB woman got pregnant at the
school, would anyone think that grounds for a lawsuit? If there
was a problem, it would have to be criminal in nature, because it
would have to be rape to be a problem. Otherwise its just good
healthy adult sex. (presuming we're not talking about an in loco
parentis situation here.)
You oughta see the steam coming out of my ears right now!
And one last blast, as long as I'm flaming, if you let your
roommate chase yo out of your room in college you've no one to
blame but yourself. It's your room too, you don't have to put your
needs aside for others unless you want to. Obviously the men's
roommates wouldn't.
Being a victim is to often self inflicted.
-- Reed (Ruffled ~~~~)
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!125!7!Reed.Hopkins
Internet: Reed.Hopkins@f7.n125.z1.fidonet.org