The about me post

 Can be found here!

Tuesday 17 July 2007

Guide dog : the full story!

Well by popular demand by Seahorse I am going to tell you the full details of my application for a guide dog and some background.... i am most probably going to bore you all stupid.



Background



Well in case you hadn't already gathered I'm rather partially sighted, I was born with cataracts, squints and really small pupils lots of surgery later I have Glucoma as a result of the surgery's and my pupils can't react to light and dark, meaning I'm night blind and struggle to see when its sunny and glare is definitely an issue. I also live in a hat (you might have seen my entry titled hats and pubs here).

My eye condition is genetic, my mother has it to. The surgery she has was very unsuccessful, as a result my mum is registered blind and can only see light and dark she has a guide dog called Ian. (there both in the pic on the left)

I also have a Blind auntie, who can see more than my mum and a partially sighted cousin... so theirs lots of us in the family.



Guide dog : the journey so far.



On my 18Th birthday I had a conversation with my mum and dad about applying for a guide dog, they where slightly sceptical but said they wouldn't stop me so on the 31st of October last year I made the call to start the ball rolling.



My first assessment



was all about what its like to own a dog and to give me more information about applying and what the process entails, its just a friendly chat about how the organisation works. Also I received a self declaration medical form, this is to insure that I'm fit and healthy enough to train with a dog, in my case they then wrote to my GP to check they agreed I would be able to train. Also we talk about my lifestyle and my future and start to get an idea of what dog would be suitable, if I get that far.



The mobility assessment



This was the bit I was most worried about. In this assessment the mobility assessor does a quick assessment of vision, field vision and asks lots of questions about what I can see whilst out and about and about the routes I do on a regular basis, and what forms of public transport I use. More lifestyle questions and then the bit I was most worried about, the assessment walk. on this I demonstrated my long cane skills and my pace, straightness, and road safeness. also there was a traffic assessment to see when I can see and hear cars coming and weather I can see cyclists and stuff.



Now



well that's all I've done so far, slightly abbreviated.



I got a letter through on Saturday saying that my final assessment will be on the 1st of august. In that assessment I will travel to the nearest center and meet a GDMI (guide dog mobility instructor) and go on 2 assessment walks, where I will work 2 different dogs. it will be very nerve racking stuff. At the end of the day the decision will be made as to weather I can go on a waiting list for a dog.



I'm both extremely nervous and excited about the prospect, I will be absolutely gutted if they say no at the end of the day, if they say yes I will be smiling from ear to ear.

5 comments:

KuBrin Kaos said...

Good luck Monkey !

Hope it goes well for you.

Q.B.

seahorse said...

I will keep everything crossed for you. Bring on 1 Aug! It isn't that far away and hope it goes well for you.

Jemma Brown said...

Thanks Seahorse

Yer its not very far away I'm sorting out train times to get me there as I type!

it's really nice I just rang the center to confirm I could make it and they are going to pick me up from the station and drop me back there, I think they where a tad worried by the prospect of me asking directions to get there!

Jo said...

I hope the next assessment goes well. My assessments were pretty much the same. I was worried about the mobility one as well, because I wasn't used to walking around town without someone with me, but it went well.
Working with the dogs was interesting for me. One of the dogs was great, did everything I wanted. Another one was okay, but we didn't get on the best. There was also a little black Lab who was a rascal, but for some reason I loved him. I told them I wanted a dog like him and they gave me Cindy.
Good luck with the assessment. Best thing you can do is relax and enjoy working with the dogs.

Sarah and Romeo said...

I was going through your past blogs and no! this isn't boring at all! I love hearing about these things! I asume it went well :)

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