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From: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Canes Versus Dogs
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Date: 2 Nov 90 04:04:23 GMT
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[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 TG> David, 
 TG> Just a question or two, if this is true what you say about the  
 TG> kind of training needed to be able to use a cane in a confident  
 TG> manner, and intensive training would do the job, then why are  
 TG> there no schools to provide this training.  It certainly would  
 TG> be much cheaper and should require alot less overhead no dogs  
 TG> to wory about.    I have heard  both national organizations  
 TG> talk about this kind of training but  there are only three or  
 TG> four places in the country where you can  get this kind of  
 TG> training. How about less hype and more training? tom  G. 
 

Tom,  It is a good question you ask.  There are a number of places
in this country where you can get good travel training, but they
are in the minority.  Most of them use techniques and philosophies
developed by the National Federation of the Blind.  They include
the New Mexico Commission for the Blind, Services for the Blind in
Nebraska, The Louisana Center for the Blind in Ruston, BLIND Inc.,
in Minneapolis and the Colorado Center for the Blind in Denver.
There are probably a few others, but these are the ones that come
to mind.  All these centers use techniques and ideas primarily
developed at the Iowa Commission for the Blind in the 1960's and
1970's.  One thing that most of these Centers do is have blind
people teach travel.  This is something that most of the sighted
travel professionals, and I use that term advisedly, do not agree
with.  In fact AERBVI will not certify a blind travel teacher.
Personally, I know that is hog wash, as I have successfully taught
travel, and I can't see a thing.

Many sighted instructors do not fundamentally believe in the
ultimate capacity for the blind to travel anywhere safely, or
teach.  That is because they have not had good sleep shade
straining, so don't believe in blind people and our capacities.
There was a message in the last couple days from someone who
related the experience of a friend who had gone through a rehab
center and said that they told him that blind people couldn't use
traffic lights safely.  Well, most of us, if not all of us know
that is garbage.

Now, to your question about hype versus action.  I know in the NFB
there has been a debate for a number of years as to whether we
should take an active role in providing training ourselves, or if
we are primarily a "watchdog organization" and our proper role is
to get the system to provide what we need.  For the most part, the
watchdog function has won out, although some local affiliates,
Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, have stepped in and filled what
they saw as a void.  I could argue that one either way.  We have
limited resources, time, money, etc., and we have to put them where
they will do the most good.  Hope this answers your questions.
David Andrews

... Your Sound Alternative

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