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From: Al.Hoffman@p0.f143.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Al Hoffman)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: dogs
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Date: 4 Oct 90 19:05:27 GMT
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Index Number: 10911

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Henry:
     This is a reply to a msg from a little bit ago about dogs and 
canes.  I have questions that haven't been answered yet.
1.  What can you do with a dog that I can't with ease and speed with my 
cane.  I am not unimaginative.  I won't even mention the things that 
limit a dog, but is the limit on a cane--thats the limit of the user, as 
you will no doubt say holds for the dog as well.
     Given that the dog has more inherent abilities, it probablly has 
more inherent applications.  BBut with each application of the dogs 
abilities comes the application of Murphy's law that the more 
complicated the system the more places Murphy can apply himself.  A cane 
is less complex, but I don't think that is a limit--it what you know on 
the top of the cane that makes the bottom useful.
     About perseptions of the dog and cane traveler you may be right. 
Personally I'd rather that people go ahead and step back, makes my job 
simpler-les of them to go around, and if you traveld here during rush 
hour you would find that that doesn't hold water, they'll push blind 
people out of the way just as fast as anybody else.
     I bet a dog user would get one advantage here traveling on the 
subways however.  The person would get a "handicapped," seat faster than 
the cane traveler.  The dog is just too obvious to miss, and the dog can 
get stepped on in the crush, people will feel sorry for the dog and give 
the user the seat, wher the cane user will end up standing.  Its funny, 
there is a sign above the seats that say "for handicapped or elderly 
use," or something of that effect, yet people usually hog the seat 
anyway.  I can stand with no harm, but they those same people who will 
hog the seat will also say "sorry you're blind, we don't have work for 
you because you are blind,".  Its a strange world!
     But, back to the point, send me examples of things I could do with 
a dog.  I am interested, maybe I'll get one, but the utility has to be 
made clear to me--I don't want to get one to find I don't need one, or 
don't want one.  I like dogs, but then I'd not want to take somebodies 
place in a class who needs a dog sooner than I.  Right now I am 
functioning fine, and can't think of many things I can't do, even if a 
dog were part of my mobility toolkit.  But... everybody is wrong. 
Thanks for responding.

--
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