[Journalists] Mr. Hamilton's article, a contrarian's view

[D. W. Hill]

         Nov. 3, 2007

Hello Cheryl,
Thank you for this. I was starting to feel like an old stick-in-the-mud.

I am concerned about the experience you have had with your guide dog. 
I am glad you're working well and love him, but you should know for 
next time that there are alternatives.

The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, New York -- on 
Long Island -- now trains standard poodles and poodle/Labrador 
crosses called Labra-doodles. They've been doing it for at least five 
years and people with allergies to dogs are finding it a great alternative.

If you ever want any further info on the school, contact me off-list or call:
800-548-4337

or go to:
www.guidedog.org

I have had four guide dogs from them -- no poodles or poodle crosses, 
since I'm not particularly allergic. I've always found them very 
responsive to my concerns. I was one of the first "legally" blind 
students to whom they gave a chance in the early seventies when 
everyone else insisted that you be totally blind. My vision has 
slipped quite a bit since those days.
Donna Hill & Hunter, penatwork at epix.net

At 01:10 PM 11/3/2007, you wrote:
>                         Thank you, Donna, for making me think a little more.
>
>I thought Mr. Hamilton brought up some good points about the things
>that make us blind people crazy - like the nameless buttons and the
>stupid hotel cards. But I think he made way, way too much fun, and
>exaggeration, about wandering around and trying to find his bed and
>the bathroom, etc. He's mixing real, honest-and-for-true problems
>with stupid things he probably knows well how to do - such as get
>around in a room. Now that I think of it, he makes himself out as
>quite a dolt. I guess that was what I meant last night by saying he
>was to melodramatic. He mixes the real stuff of life with a bunch of
>stupid stuff about wandering around trying to find his bed.
>
>I appreciate your sentiments. I think even for people who are born
>blind, such as myself, we all need to grieve our losses sometimes. I
>know there is a bit of pity in the eyes of one of my best friends,
>and I guess that's just the price of friendship - you take the good
>with the bad. I'm sure she thinks I'm way too hung up on, for
>example, endless navel gazing.
>
>If any of you want a real jolt of literary caffeine related to
>disabilities, read "Nothing About Us Without Us by James I. Charlton.
>He talks much about the whole idea that we as disabled people are
>always having to take things from charity, from people who really
>don't know what we need and who really aren't us, because they aren't
>disabled. I realized that is what makes me feel a little captive
>every time I go to guide dog school. Here's my trainer, saying "OK,
>kids, here we are" when dropping us off in some strange town to do
>our guiding work. It's all about curfews and institutional food and
>having to take the dog they pick for you, even though I knew
>instantly I was allergic to mine. (I do, however, love him and
>believe he is the right dog for me. I take shots because of him.")
>
>What do you folks think about using the newspaper columns on the edi
>page to write about yourself and your disability? I've done it a few
>times: about my dogs, my Braille music camp where I work each summer,
>about perceptions.) It felt a little weird at first, but now it's fun
>and, boy, do people read them!
>
>End of blab.
>
>Cheryl Wade bothered me at first to do it, but boy, do
>_______________________________________________
>Journalists mailing list
>Journalists at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/journalists
>
>
>
>
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-------------- next part --------------
        
Nov. 3, 2007
Hello Cheryl,
Thank you for this. I was starting to feel like an old stick-in-the-mud.
I am concerned about the experience you have had with your guide dog. I am glad you're working well and love him, but you should know for next time that there are alternatives.
The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, New York -- on Long Island -- now trains standard poodles and poodle/Labrador crosses called Labra-doodles. They've been doing it for at least five years and people with allergies to dogs are finding it a great alternative.
If you ever want any further info on the school, contact me off-list or call:
800-548-4337
or go to:
http://www.guidedog.org/ www.guidedog.org
I have had four guide dogs from them -- no poodles or poodle crosses, since I'm not particularly allergic. I've always found them very responsive to my concerns. I was one of the first "legally" blind students to whom they gave a chance in the early seventies when everyone else insisted that you be totally blind. My vision has slipped quite a bit since those days.
Donna Hill & Hunter, penatwork at epix.net
At 01:10 PM 11/3/2007, you wrote:
        
        
        
Thank you, Donna, for making me think a little more.
I thought Mr. Hamilton brought up some good points about the things
that make us blind people crazy - like the nameless buttons and the
stupid hotel cards. But I think he made way, way too much fun, and
exaggeration, about wandering around and trying to find his bed and
the bathroom, etc. He's mixing real, honest-and-for-true problems
with stupid things he probably knows well how to do - such as get
around in a room. Now that I think of it, he makes himself out as
quite a dolt. I guess that was what I meant last night by saying he
was to melodramatic. He mixes the real stuff of life with a bunch of
stupid stuff about wandering around trying to find his bed.
I appreciate your sentiments. I think even for people who are born
blind, such as myself, we all need to grieve our losses sometimes. I
know there is a bit of pity in the eyes of one of my best friends,
and I guess that's just the price of friendship - you take the good
with the bad. I'm sure she thinks I'm way too hung up on, for
example, endless navel gazing.
If any of you want a real jolt of literary caffeine related to
disabilities, read "Nothing About Us Without Us by James I. Charlton.
He talks much about the whole idea that we as disabled people are
always having to take things from charity, from people who really
don't know what we need and who really aren't us, because they aren't
disabled. I realized that is what makes me feel a little captive
every time I go to guide dog school. Here's my trainer, saying "OK,
kids, here we are" when dropping us off in some strange town to do
our guiding work. It's all about curfews and institutional food and
having to take the dog they pick for you, even though I knew
instantly I was allergic to mine. (I do, however, love him and
believe he is the right dog for me. I take shots because of him.")
What do you folks think about using the newspaper columns on the edi
page to write about yourself and your disability? I've done it a few
times: about my dogs, my Braille music camp where I work each summer,
about perceptions.) It felt a little weird at first, but now it's fun
and, boy, do people read them!
End of blab.
Cheryl Wade bothered me at first to do it, but boy, do
_______________________________________________
Journalists mailing list
Journalists at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/journalists http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/journalists
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