If I didn’t have my guide dog I would not be able to take my
child to school. The school playground is full of children running jumping over
a white cane even trying to take it off people who use it as they think it’s a
toy they even try to hold onto it as we walk along. In the school playground
there are walls sticking out railings parting the carpark from the playground. There
are unsuspecting patches of built up plant/tree areas. There are not straight
walls to follow with a cane. Even parents/teachers are very unhelpful towards
people who use white canes.
With my guide dog, I could take my child to school with a
clear mind. Half the stress and this rubs off on my child as he suffered with
his own worries how I was getting home when I had a white cane. I can get back
home with the knowledge that if I get a call from school telling me my child is
sick I can take my dog and together we are a fantastic partnership. To walk
along a leafy avenue hearing the birds singing, saying hello to passes by makes
such a difference to one’s mental outlook. If I need to go to a school meeting about
my child then I can do so with ease. If my child wants to go to the swing park
after school like all the other children do, then I can take him. With a white
cane again, I would have to stand at the entrance of the park and let my small
child fend for himself. With my guide dog I am able to do a lot more keeping by
my child at all times.
I was lucky I could train with my guide dog from home this
meant I was still able to look after my Son as I had no support with caring for
him. I have friends with partners who work full time and for them to be off
work to care for the children for weeks even a couple of nights would be
impossible. By me taking my child to school I was able to meet with people make
friends and hopefully educate the public that people who are blind are just
like them passing that down to their children so our future as people who are
blind is made much easier. When my child’s friends saw me with my guide dog they
wanted to know all about her, again educating future generations all about
Guide Dogs. My Sons school even raised money for the organisation.
Speaking with friends in the past who work full time all say
that apart from the fact they are sure their boss wouldn’t allow two weeks plus
off work, they themselves would feel very uncomfortable about taking time off
work. In a life where we try our best to fit in, the last thing we would want
is to be made to feel different. Especially in the work place. I have friends who care for their
Grandchildren whilst the parents work and friends who care for their parents
who use their guide dog to get to their parent’s house to see them daily. Without
being able to do this, their parents would suffer in some cases not be able to
live in their own house.
I may walk thirty minutes per day but this walk could include
taking my child to school, getting to work and popping in at the shop or bank. Crossing
very dangerous roads, walking by places where there is a lot of street
furniture example a coffee shop with tables and chairs outside. Impossible to
do this with a cane. A dog will weave in and around the necessary pathway. Mainly
avoiding a busy highstreet. With a white cane you can’t always stick by the
edge of a path or a building, not when there are people standing around. A dog
will avoid this. Thank goodness for this thirty-minute walk that enables me to
live rather than exist. That thirty-minute
walk is a lifetime of experiences.
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