Lucky us! In the past ten days Whitney the Seeing Eye dog and I have had the privilege of visiting nine different classrooms at five different elementary schools. Somehow, some way, we also managed to wedge a visit to a college classroom in the midst of all those visits to third-graders –last Tuesday we gave a presentation to an animal sciences class at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
My mission was to go over some of the qualifications necessary to become a guide dog instructor and cover other guide-dog-related stuff, too. Most guide dog schools require instructors to have a college degree and then do an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships can last as long as four years — there’s a lot of learning involved when it comes to training dogs, training people who can’t see, and then making a perfect match between the human and canine. I had time to take questions after my talk, and as much as I love hearing the questions little kids come up with, I gotta admit: the questions I got from these young adults were refreshing. Here’s a sampling of what the college kids wanted to know:
- What is your favorite part about your relationships with your dogs?
- What is unique about each dog you’ve had?
- Have your Seeing Eye dogs changed your life in other ways besides just your ability to get around safely on your own?
- Do you have a favorite dog?
- Is there anything particularly inconvenient about having a Seeing Eye dog?
- If you had the option to replace guide dogs with a form of technology that worked as well, would you opt for that or the dogs?
- How would you know if your dog was sick or not feeling well?
- What would happen if your dog got sick? How would you get around?
- Are the dogs expensive? How do you handle the vet care and other expenses?
- What is the most life changing thing that you have learned or experienced since becoming blind?
- What is something you want people to know or do that could make your life easier?
- What was the hardest thing to relearn after going blind?
- Is it frustrating not knowing what new things that didn’t exist before you went blind look like? You know, like Smart Phones and Apple Watches and other new technology?
I was impressed with –- and flattered by –- how thoughtful their questions were. Their professor, Sarah Richardson, showed the documentary Pick of the Litter after we left.
Warning: Rated XXX for puppy porn.
Pick of the Litter does a tremendous job explaining how schools decide which puppies pass the audition to go on to train as guide dogs, and who knows? After hearing my explanation of the apprenticeship program for guide dog trainers last Tuesday, maybe some of those U of I students will end up auditioning for an apprenticeship after they graduate. I think that’d be pretty darn cool.
What very thoughtful and interesting questions. Would love to hear some of your answers … “What is something you want people to know or do that could make your life easier?” Love that you continue to visit the animal science class at U of I.
You know, that question was the most difficult one to answer. I couldn’t think of just one thing! Many of the questions from these college students are good fodder for future posts –like the one about using a robot instead of a dog — so do stay tuned to the Safe & Sound blog…I may be writing posts about many of these topics soon.
Great questions. Here’s mine: How did you know that a dog was the way for you to go? Had you ever considered not having a dog? I know you for about 17 years, but never asked you these questions.
I always love the questions that the kids throw your way.
I really like their questions and I too want to hear the answers. Time for another StoryCorp visit? Or another memoir?
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