Post by Ms. Kathy on Jun 19, 2004 10:46:42 GMT -6
Dog Talk with Kids
Some kids with no vision are naturally oriented and mobile so they're excited about learning more orientation and mobility skills. Their parents encourage exploration and all is fine with the world. The more they can explore their world and learn more about it the happier they are---and more independent, too!
Meanwhile there are kids for whom teaching O&M skills is like pulling eye teeth. They'd much prefer the world be brought to them--and whatever can't be put in their laps, they have no interest in at all. These are the kids that think hotdogs come in the bun with the mustard already applied--and all one has to do is wish for it to appear on the table before them and voila!
We can't put off orientation and mobility skills because little Johny doesn't feel like it. If a child doesn't seem interested in learning O&M, mom's and dad's have to be firm on this one. He can be upset for a few minutes because mom and dad insist he learn independence skills or he can be upset the rest of his life because no one insisted he do when he "didn't feel like it."
A misconception among some of our V.I. kids is that all they have to do is get a dog so why go through the trouble of learning how to move about independently? I had a student who had this "problem" yet she wanted to go to college. She felt that if she told the dog that she needed to go to biology class she could say, "Biology class, Fido!" and the dog would get her there.
Let's talk about guide dogs, also known as "seeing eye" dogs. Have the info before you. There are sites for places that train and distribute dogs.
Teachers cousellors and parents need to be knowledgeable of the use of canes and dogs and should be able to discuss the requirements of people eligible for guide dogs So that they can bring home. Kids need to know that not everyone who is blind gets a dog simply by wishing it so. There are certain requirements and skills one must possess before one is even considered as the recipient of a guide dog.
Let your child know that the guide dog is a tool--- just as a cane is a tool-- for those with the skills to use it.
As for that student who thought she could tell the dog to take her places--she realized, too, that someone would have to feed, water, walk, get the dog to the vet--and clean up behind it. And since she really wasn't into doing all of that for herself, a dog suddenly became totally out of the question!
Below are some links to some sites about guide dogs.
www.seeingeye.org
www.guidedogsofamerica.org/
www.guiding-eyes.org/
Please feel free to post questions, discussions, etc. concerning guide dogs here.
Some kids with no vision are naturally oriented and mobile so they're excited about learning more orientation and mobility skills. Their parents encourage exploration and all is fine with the world. The more they can explore their world and learn more about it the happier they are---and more independent, too!
Meanwhile there are kids for whom teaching O&M skills is like pulling eye teeth. They'd much prefer the world be brought to them--and whatever can't be put in their laps, they have no interest in at all. These are the kids that think hotdogs come in the bun with the mustard already applied--and all one has to do is wish for it to appear on the table before them and voila!
We can't put off orientation and mobility skills because little Johny doesn't feel like it. If a child doesn't seem interested in learning O&M, mom's and dad's have to be firm on this one. He can be upset for a few minutes because mom and dad insist he learn independence skills or he can be upset the rest of his life because no one insisted he do when he "didn't feel like it."
A misconception among some of our V.I. kids is that all they have to do is get a dog so why go through the trouble of learning how to move about independently? I had a student who had this "problem" yet she wanted to go to college. She felt that if she told the dog that she needed to go to biology class she could say, "Biology class, Fido!" and the dog would get her there.
Let's talk about guide dogs, also known as "seeing eye" dogs. Have the info before you. There are sites for places that train and distribute dogs.
Teachers cousellors and parents need to be knowledgeable of the use of canes and dogs and should be able to discuss the requirements of people eligible for guide dogs So that they can bring home. Kids need to know that not everyone who is blind gets a dog simply by wishing it so. There are certain requirements and skills one must possess before one is even considered as the recipient of a guide dog.
Let your child know that the guide dog is a tool--- just as a cane is a tool-- for those with the skills to use it.
As for that student who thought she could tell the dog to take her places--she realized, too, that someone would have to feed, water, walk, get the dog to the vet--and clean up behind it. And since she really wasn't into doing all of that for herself, a dog suddenly became totally out of the question!
Below are some links to some sites about guide dogs.
www.seeingeye.org
www.guidedogsofamerica.org/
www.guiding-eyes.org/
Please feel free to post questions, discussions, etc. concerning guide dogs here.