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From: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: HELLOS
Message-ID: <15358@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 2 Nov 90 04:03:22 GMT
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Index Number: 11475

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Willie,

Yes, your comments on why people seem to respond to me now more as
a person than as a blind person, since switching to a dog,
certainly does make sense! Of course you right, while the winks
don't use long canes or even understand how we use them, they do
have dogs, just as you say!

In fact, a number of the people who have come to talk to me and
comment on my dog, make it a point to tell me that they have a dog
or dogs at home themselves and then comment on Tobys looks and
demeanor. I think you are right, they seem to be seing me as a
person with a dog first and a blind person with a guide dog
second!

Most often, after discussing dogs, we began to talk a little about
ourselves. While I would never ever put down or belittle using a
cane, as I was a good cane user myself, it does in fact seem quite
true, that winks seem to find me much more approachable now that I
with Toby. I would go so far as to say, that my blindness has taken
quite a backseat to Toby. And that, does not hurt my feelings any,
if you know what I mean!

I especially love the joy that the little ones get by seeing Toby
and find that the younger ones all the way up to ages 11-13 do not
even seem to realize that I am blind!

It is a most interesting and fun phenonemon!

Keepin' the faith!

.                           Vixen

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