[Jobs] Positions Available

[Peter Donahue]

Hello Robert and listers,

    I believe the first thing that must be over-come is the idea that the
only way this task can be done efficiently is by someone with vision. When
that notion is put out of the way perhaps we can then explore non-visual
ways of doing this task. The scraper idea is a good one and perhaps it
should be tried. As she explains below it's also a matter of using time
efficiently. If we can help her and other blind individuals wanting to work
in similar positions this is a task for which non-visual techniques must be
developed. This is even more urgently so in light of the fact that this is
an agricultural career and falls under the categorry of Science. As folks
are aware one of the NFB's newest initiatives is promoting the entry of
blind persons in to STEM Careers. To achieve this developing methods and
techniques for accessing data produced by measuring devices such as scales
and performing job tasks involved in all aspects of animal care are a must
to conquer.

    Concerning the scale I believe whether the scale is analog or digital
may determine whether or not it can be interfaced with a PC, a notetaker, or
its screen display being accessed by some other method. I suggested that she
contact Ann Taylor at the IBTC along with members of our Science and
Engineering Division for assistance with this matter. Leisa and many other
blind persons wishing to enter STEM Careers will benefit from the results of
such a partnership.

Peter Donahue


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Jaquiss" <rjaquiss at earthlink.net>
To: "Jobs for the Blind" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 10:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Jobs] Positions Available


Hello Leisa:

     If you need a large talking scale, I suggest you find one with a
computer output and connect it to a Braille-n-speak.

I don't know if this would work, but how about making a large T shaped
scraper. You could slide it about the area and when you felt it stop, you
could check for poop. You might want to put little wheels on the ends to
make it easier to slide. Hope this helps.

Robert Jaquiss

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Leisa Sekhon" <lsekhon at guidedogs.com>
To: "Jobs for the Blind" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: [Jobs] Positions Available


> Hello Peter,
>
> I will try to respond to each of your questions and comments.
>
> * We thoroughly researched the idea of a talking scale.  First, smaller
> talking scales are often very inconsistent and inaccurate, this is a
> must for this work.  Feeding a dog six ounces to much or too little,
> consistently, leads to weight issues.  I did find an accurate talking
> food scale.  However, when it comes to a dog weighing scale, I and
> others have searched and searched for a animal scale that talks with no
> luck.  If you have some engineering/assistive tech connections that you
> could contact about this matter, I would greatly appreciate it.
>
> * When it comes to scooping poop -  we trialed this over and over in
> several different ways.  There is no timely and effective way, that we
> found, to find poop in an open 40 x 60 concrete area.  This area has
> long hoses, several toys, several play structures, etc.  Also, some dogs
> enjoy snacking on poop, I need to find it before the dog does, for this
> snacking makes them sick.  Also, several NFB members and divisions were
> contacted in my research.  I specifically contacted the Equestrian and
> Agriculture division and was given several contacts.  I called many of
> them with no further suggestions, even from the ones that work with
> animals.  There are often times simply certain variables in a job
> setting that make an accommodation much different from someone else's.
> And, to be very clear...I always clean up a dog's poop if they are on
> leash.  In this setting, that is only about 1% of the time.  This is not
> to say that someone else with a differing degree of vision from me could
> not scoop effectively.  I definitely trialed finding poop with tools and
> my feet.  The tools often worked, but took way too long to be an
> effective use of my time in a job setting with many schedule factors.
> Finding it with my feet was, as you can probably imagine, very messy and
> I'd then track it into the clean areas.  Again, I and the rest of GDB is
> always open to suggestions.  I spent 9 months requesting advice and
> suggestions for accommodations with very little offerings that differed
> from my own.  I am, in one sense, proud to be as up to date as many of
> my fellow Federationists when it comes to  ideas for accommodations.  On
> the other hand, I know there are other people out there with suggestions
> that are not networking enough to be found.
>
> * I don't have first-hand information about the instructor assessor
> position, however, if I believed for one minute that GDB were going to
> completely abandon the idea of doing further assessment, I would have
> not taken my position.  They are committed to taking the time and
> finding the appropriate resources to do the research and the trials to
> make any accommodations that can, reasonably, be made.  In my
> experience, they go the extra mile, in several instances, to do more
> than just what the law defines as "reasonable".  From what I have
> learned, any initial exposure to a big-city setting for dogs in
> training, would be to get a preliminary idea of how they react to
> certain variables.  I imagine this could include traffic, loud noises,
> city birds and dogs, large crowds of pedestrians, trains and buses, etc.
> Currently, clickers are being used during initial phases of training.  I
> can only imagine how many hands it would take to hold a white cane,
> ability to grab food reward, click a clicker, hold a leash, and be able
> to give leash corrections when necessary.  I know that the sighted
> trainers are having challenges of their own to find the right number of
> hands for this amount of multi-tasking! *smile*
>
> I do know that whatever GDB does research in, they would not, by any
> means, take the results with one assessors abilities in mind, and make
> it law.  That would totally defeat the purpose of research.
>
> All of your questions and comments are very important and I hope I've
> shed some light on some of these issues.  Please do keep in mind all of
> the consults and suggestion-finding missions I went on during the time
> of the assistant assessor project.  This has not ended, I am always
> looking for more ideas!
>
> Please let me know if you have any further questions...
>
> Leisa & Elsie
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Peter Donahue
> Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 12:15 PM
> To: Jobs for the Blind
> Cc: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List; nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Jobs] Positions Available
>
> Hello Leisa and listers,
>
>    Is GDB working on adapting the scale to voice the dog's weight?
> Doing
> this should be a no-brainer given the number of devices which have been
> successfully modified to display their output non-visually. I hope this
> gate
> is jumped in the near future. Perhaps the NFB could work with GDB and
> the
> scale manufacturer to adapt the scale and other equipment so the
> readings
> can be taken by a blind CWT or other animal care worker.
>
>    Given all of the discussion which has occurred concerning guide dog
> users in all situations being able to clean up after their dog I find it
> hard to believe that GDB in its infinite wisdom would believe that one
> needs
> vision to do this in a kennel setting, and that somewhere out there
> there
> are blind kennel workers who, as a matter of their job duties have found
> ways to manage groups of dogs in play areas, and scoop poop non-visually
> and
> perform up to their employer's standards. These conclusions were exactly
> the
> reason why some of us wished there was more interaction between the
> assessors and the blind community itself when these jobs were being
> assessed
> for their doability by a blind person.  Much was made over these matters
> during the National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals,
> (NABRP)  Conference at national convention. I attended the GDB
> presentations
> during the NABRP Conference to the tune of $50.00 which I feel was money
> well-spent. I also heard them again during the NAGDU Meeting. They
> stated
> that while blind persons could pick up after their own guide dog with
> little
> trouble doing this in an animal care setting was simply too difficult,
> and
> that the blind kennel worker required to do this was unable to perform
> up to
> their sanitary standards. They also said that vision was required to
> manage
> large groups of dogs in play areas; something I'm sure has been solved
> by
> blind animal care personnel who work in similar settings. I know for a
> fact
> that blind people have worked for local animal shelters, and who own
> livestock, poultry, rabbit, goat, sheep, and equine operations both of
> which
> require the owner or worker to remove large amounts of excrement from
> kennels, barns, and stalls,and require the movement and management of
> these
> animals in play, care, and processing areas. Why were these people not
> consulted? Why wasn't the assistance of our Agricultural and Equestrian
> Division sought?Fortunately it's not too late to make a mends with this
> one
> and want to encourage GDB to seek such assistance in the future when
> conducting future job assessments.
>
>    There was one other tidbit I picked up during the GDB Presentations
> at
> the NABRP Conference concerning blind guide dog trainers. They shocked
> some
> of us by mentioning that part of training new dogs involves taking them
> in
> to the heart of downtown San Francisco. Keep in mind that these are
> green
> dogs that are just beginning training and are being put in an
> environment
> one would think would ruin their chances for succeeding as future
> guides.
> I'm not sure if this is part of a pre-training evaluation, or if indeed
> this
> is where the dogs begin their formal guide training. Perhaps someone can
> clarify this matter. We were told that it was here where initial
> training
> began yet when students come in for training residential routes are the
> first order of business once working routes begins. It also concerned
> some
> of us to learn that the person doing the assessments had difficulty
> working
> dogs just beginning training and while using their white cane. One is
> tempted to question the proficiency of this individual where independent
> travel is concerned. Others with superb travel skills could have
> probably
> been able to manage these dogs with little or no difficulty. Perhaps
> multiple assessors could have been hired to do the guide dog instructor
> assessment given the high degree of O&M skills required. This way the
> conclusions reached would have been gathered from the experience of
> multiple
> assessors with differing traveling abilities rather than being based
> solly
> on the experience of a single assessor with questionable travel skills.
> For
> this reason one is tempted to think that GDB got the results it wanted.
>
> However they did conclude that blind persons could train dogs in the
> advanced stages of guide dog training, and could work with students in
> training. It was also emphasized that the matter of a blind person
> working
> with dogs beginning formal guide training was a subject for further
> exploration. I'm also hoping that our other guide dog schools will
> follow
> GDB's lead and work to include blind employees in their training
> departments
> widening the pool of professional experience and creating more job
> opportunities for the blind. We hope you're enjoying your work at GDB's
> Oregon Campus. Take care and have a great week.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Leisa Sekhon" <lsekhon at guidedogs.com>
> To: "Jobs for the Blind" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 12:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [Jobs] Positions Available
>
>
> Hi Dave,
>
> I can tell you a little bit, but a better description can be found on
> the GDB website for the CWT job opening.  A CWT is a kennel technician.
> We clean kennels, inside and out, feed & monitor dogs' weight, groom &
> bathe, dispense medications & take dogs in for vet checks to our vet on
> campus, take them on exercise walks, get them out in large groups to
> play together, generally keep their stress down during training...
> There are also some interaction with the public, such as giving campus
> tours, doing some outreach events, etc.  We also participate in
> graduations and receive dogs coming in for training from their puppy
> raisers.
>
> There are other things, but this is the bulk.
>
>
> Some accommodations include -
>
> Marking all dogs' collars in Braille, marking their individual kennels
> (inside & outside) with Braille, marking other things such as shampoos,
> medications, washers & dryers, other tags that notify of special things
> that a dog may need.
>
> I do not do certain driving duties such as transporting to a specialist
> vet or to and from the airport to pick up a dog, instead, I swap tasks
> such as being the only one to clean the inside and outside drains in the
> kennel I'm primarily in.  I also ask other kennels if they need help
> doing baths, etc.
>
> I also do not scoop poop at all.  I do not have enough vision to do
> that, so again the swapping of tasks comes into play.
>
> There are other smaller things such as asking all kennels to lay out the
> big long hoses that are used outside in a straight line so I don't have
> to spend so much time stepping very carefully over them when they're all
> kinked up and spread everywhere.  And, having all toys that are used
> outside moved away from the main areas where we walk, etc.
>
> I use a Voice Note and mini cassette recorder to keep notes and records.
> I am not able to read the scales we use to weigh the dogs, so someone
> reads the weight for me.  Sometimes, there are two dogs in an individual
> kennel that are same gender, same color, same size, etc.  So, I have to
> come up with some distinctive characteristic to tell them apart.  They
> do not wear their collars in their kennels so to not get them caught on
> things or each other.
>
>
> I use my cane when working, my guide dog stays in the kennel with me.
>
> Let me know if you have any other questions.
>
> Leisa & Elsie
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Dave Ballmann
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 1:59 PM
> To: Jobs for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Jobs] Positions Available
>
> Could you please describe what a Canine Welfare Technician does.
>
> It sounds like a very interesting title, and I am sure there are others
> on the list, like myself, who are wondering what you do in this position
> and what type of accommodations you might use.
>
>
> Thanks Much!
>
> David Ballmann, MS
> Rehabilitation Teacher
> Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired
> 754Williamson Street
> Madison, WI  53703
> General 608-255-1166
> Fax 608-255-3301
> Direct 608-237-8106
> Sharper Vision Store 608-237-8100
> www.wcblind.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Leisa Sekhon [mailto:lsekhon at guidedogs.com]
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 3:45 PM
> To: g-dogs at yahoogroups.com; gdb-friends at yahoogroups.com; jobs at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Jobs] Positions Available
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> Just want to let you all know that there are positions open and opening
> up at GDB.  A couple of these positions are specifically for a blind or
> visually impaired
>
> individual.  I encourage all of you to check out these positions on the
> Guide Dogs for the Blind website -
>
> http://www.guidedogs.com/career.html#open_positions
>
> You can find the online application through that site.  If you have any
> further questions, please call Guide Dogs at 1-800-295-4050.
>
>
>
> Currently, there are three positions open specifically for
> blind/visually impaired applicants.  A  Resident Attendant for
> California and Oregon, as well as, a Canine Welfare Technician for
> California.
>
>
>
> As many of you already know, I am a graduate of GDB and have recently
> been hired as a Canine Welfare Technician.  The staff at GDB have been
> working very
>
> hard to greatly increase the inclusion of blind employees.  I hope
> everyone checks it out and checks back often!
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Leisa & Elsie
>
>
>
>
>
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