Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc
At A Glance—An Educational Resource Guide: Section B

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Section B: General Information

What Does a Guide Dog Do?
At A Glance focuses primarily on what a guide dog is trained to do; however, using a guide dog is only one of the choices a blind person has in getting from place to place (mobility).

People who are blind or visually impaired generally use four mobility methods:

• a long white cane
• a guide dog
• "trailing a wall" to get about inside a house or office
• the assistance of a sighted person (sighted guide)

A Guide Dog is trained:

• to lead a person from point A to point B in a straight line
• to stop for all changes in elevation (curbs, stairs)
• to lead their partner around obstacles, including overhead obstacles that only the dog would be able to pass under

A person who chooses to use a guide dog for mobility (known as a guide dog handler) must know the directions to travel in order to reach a desired destination. The handler directs the dog with verbal commands; the guide dog safely navigates the indicated course. The guide dog is not trained to read traffic lights. At street corners, the handler must listen for the flow of traffic, decide when it is safe to cross the street, and then give the dog the command to do so. The dog is trained to disobey the command if it sees a car dangerously approaching.

Guidework takes skill and communication. The dogs must avoid distractions such as noises, interesting or unusual smells, other animals and people in order to concentrate on their work. The handler is able to gauge the dog's actions through the motion of the specially-designed harness handle, and learns to recognize and follow the dog's movement when it veers from a straight line in order to avoid obstacles. The handler also knows to stop or proceed with caution when the dog slows or stops.

When You Meet a Person Who is Blind

• Treat people who are blind or visually impaired as you would anyone else. They do the same things as you do, but sometimes use different techniques.
• If you were blind, you would want someone to speak to you in a normal tone of voice. Shouting won't improve a person's vision.
• Talk directly to a person who is blind, not through their companion. Loss of sight is not loss of intellect.
• When entering or leaving a room, identify yourself and be sure to mention when you are leaving. Address the person by name so they will know you are speaking to them.
• Don't worry about using common, everyday words and phrases like "look," "see" or "watching TV" around people who are blind.
• If someone looks as though they may need assistance, ask. They will tell you if they do. If they are about to encounter a dangerous situation, voice your concerns in a calm and clear manner.
• Pulling or steering a person is awkward and confusing. Avoid grabbing their arm or their dog's harness.
• Ask "Would you like me to guide you?" Offering your elbow is an effective and dignified way to lead a person who is blind. Do not be afraid to identify yourself as an inexperienced sighted guide and ask the person for tips on how to improve.
• If you leave a person who is blind alone in an unfamiliar area, make sure it is near something they can touch Ñ a wall, table, rail, etc. Being left out in empty space can be very uncomfortable.
• Be sure to give useful directions. Phrases such as "across the street" and "left at the next corner" are more helpful than vague descriptions like "over there."
• Reading the menu aloud may be appreciated, but you shouldn't assume that a blind person would not want to order their own food.
• When the food arrives, ask if they would like to know what is on their plate. You can describe the location of food items by using clock positions: "Your coffee is at 3 o'clock;" "The sugar is at 1 o'clock."
• Be considerate. If you notice a spot or stain on a person's clothing tell them privately (just as you would like to be told).
• Leave doors all the way open or all the way closed Ñ half-open doors or cupboards are dangerous. Don't rearrange furniture or personal belongings without letting them know.
• Be sensitive when questioning people about their blindness. This is personal information and boundaries should be respected.

When You Meet a Working Guide Dog Team

• As tempting as it may be to pet a guide dog, remember that this dog is responsible for leading someone who cannot see. The dog should never be distracted from that duty. A person's safety may depend on their dog's alertness and concentration.
• It is okay to ask someone if you may pet their guide. Many people enjoy introducing their dogs when they have the time. The dog's primary responsibility is to its blind partner and it is important that the dog not become solicitous.
• A guide dog should never be offered food or other distracting treats. The dogs are fed on a schedule and follow a specific diet in order to keep them in optimum condition. Even slight deviations from their routine can disrupt their regular eating and relieving schedules and seriously inconvenience their handlers. Guide dogs are trained to resist offers of food so they will be able to visit restaurants without begging. Feeding treats to a guide dog weakens this training.
• Although guide dogs cannot read traffic signals, they are responsible for helping their handlers safely cross a street. Calling out to a guide dog or intentionally obstructing its path can be dangerous for the team as it could break the dog's concentration on its work.
• Listening for traffic flow has become harder for guide dog handlers due to quieter car engines and the increasing number of cars on the road. Please don't honk your horn or call out from your car to signal when it is safe to cross, which can be distracting and confusing. Be especially careful of pedestrians in crosswalks when turning right on a red stoplight.
• It's not all work and no play for a guide dog. When they are not in harness, they are treated in much the same way as pets. However, for their safety they are only allowed to play with specific toys. Please don't offer them toys without first asking their handler's permission.
• In some situations, working with a guide dog may not be appropriate. Instead, the handler may prefer to take your arm just above the elbow and allow their dog to heel. Others will prefer to have their dog follow you. In this case, be sure to talk to the handler and not the dog when giving directions for turns.
• From time to time, a guide dog will make a mistake and must be corrected in order to maintain its training. This correction usually involves a verbal admonishment coupled with a leash correction. Guide dog handlers have been taught the appropriate correction methods to use with their dogs.

Where Guide Dogs Are Allowed
Access laws in the United States and Canada, including the Americans With Disabilities Act, permit guide dogs and their handlers to go everywhere the general public is allowed:

• stores
• restaurants
• office buildings
• taxis
• busses
• trains and airplanes
• all areas of public accommodation

A guide dog is trained to stand, sit or lie quietly in public places when not leading.

How We See
Vision depends on light. A healthy eye receives light, reflected from the surface of objects, through the transparent cornea. The lens then precisely focuses it on a layer of light-sensitive cells called the retina. The image - a pattern of light and dark - is converted into electrical impulses sent along the optic nerve to the brain, where 'seeing' actually takes place.

Blindness and Visual Impairment Statistics
According to the National Institute of Health's National Eye Institute (NEI),* current estimates indicate that there are more than three million Americans with low vision, almost one million who are "legally blind," and roughly 200,000 who are totally blind. The NEI states that when vision impairment is more broadly defined as "visual problems that hamper the performance and enjoyment of everyday activities," the estimated number of Americans who are visually impaired is closer to 14 million.

Older adults represent the vast majority of those affected. In fact, the leading causes of vision impairment are conditions that are common to the elderly: macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and optic nerve atrophy. More than two-thirds of those with vision impairment are over age 65 and it is estimated that the over-65 population will surpass 68 million in the United States by the year 2030.

*"Vision Research - A National Plan: 1999-2003" ; National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute

Partial Vision Loss
Visual impairment and blindness are usually the result of disease, injury to the eye, or an inherited or congenital condition. Blindness isn't always total blackness. More often it's peripheral, tunnel, or spotted/blurred vision.

• Peripheral Vision: Loss of central vision is caused by damage to the macula (a tiny and extremely light-sensitive part of the retina that provides color and fine detail). Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of this type of blindness.
• Tunnel Vision: Diseases or injuries affecting the retina will obstruct the peripheral field of vision. Glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa are two common eye diseases that can result in tunnel vision.
• Spotted/Blurred Vision: Various conditions (diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of pre-maturity, injuries, detached retinas, etc.) can affect the entire field of vision, producing spotted, blurred or double vision.

Accommodation
For those who can see, the idea of blindness can be frightening. For those who deal with blindness and visual impairment on a daily basis, the problems are real, but not insurmountable.

Blindness does not stop people from leading active, productive lives. With minor adjustments, people who are blind can enjoy many of the same careers and recreational activities as others. Some things might call for teamwork with a person who can see, but often no outside assistance is needed. Here are a few of the methods, techniques, and systems used by people who are blind or visually impaired to accomplish everyday tasks.

Reading and Writing
Braille is a tactile system used by many (but not all) people who are blind. It was developed in Paris by Louis Braille in 1829. By using combinations of up to six raised dots, a person can interpret printed codes for letters (or combinations of letters) and numbers by running their fingers across raised dots on the page. Braille is also used for musical notation.

Braille can be produced in many ways. The most basic method is to use a slate and stylus. A slate is a hinged piece of metal with a series of 6-hole cells; a stylus looks similar to a carpenter's awl. Paper is inserted between the hinges of the slate and the pointed stylus is used to emboss the paper through the cell holes.

Braille typewriters (manual and computerized) make it easy for people to take class notes, write and read. Software is available that converts computerized text into Braille which can then be embossed on a Braille printer. Hand-held label machines produce adhesive-backed Braille tape that can be used to identify office files, appliance settings, cds and cassettes, clothing, room names, etc. Braille is also used to identify such things as playing cards and board game pieces.

Adaptive technology assists people with vision loss in many ways: computer screen magnification helps those with low vision; other software can actually "read" the computer screen aloud in a synthesized voice. The Internet provides a wealth of information which is in an accessible format for people who are blind.

There are organizations that provide cassette tape recordings or Braille translations of newspapers, magazines and books. Box-office hits are available on videotape that have narrative descriptions of scenery and action added during pauses in dialog. There are many talking devices like clocks, watches, scales and thermometers.

Skills for Independent Living
People who are blind or visually impaired learn independent living skills to enable them to accomplish daily tasks without assistance. Techniques for cooking, washing clothes, ironing, putting on make-up, arranging a wardrobe, and other tricks and tips are taught to help make life easier for a person adjusting to a loss of vision. Through organization, creativity, and an ability to use senses other than sight, people can maintain their sense of independence.

Recreation
Recreational activities are not limited for those who are blind or visually impaired. Skiers listen for direction from sighted guides; rowers and tandem-cyclists pair up with sighted partners. Balls that make beeping noises are used for beep baseball, goal ball and other sports. Karate, yoga and dance are favorite pastimes for many blind people.

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Proceed To Section C