Update

 Long story short I had to retire Ori due to safety issues. This past semester tried to kill me. I might be getting a new dog in April. I will be student teaching in the fall, no I do not know where yet but I will be in Ann Arbor, Novi, or Lincoln Park. Also sorry about being so lax on the posting, I have post ideas saved up but I do not have a guide dog any more so I feel really bad posting about my not very exciting, hectic life and also COVID.

☆ Katie

Service vs. ESA

This is a hot button topic for me, let me be on my soapbox for a minute here. Thanks in advance.

Thos was originally a Facebook post by the TRUTH about service dogs

I don’t know who needs to hear this but there is a difference between a service dog and an emotional support animal. 

There are psychiatric service dogs that are task trained to help migaite a mental disability. They are trained to do tasks that are directly related to the handler’s disability just like any other type of service dog. 

An ESA is not task trained to migaite a disability and simply the presence of the animal helps to alleviate symptoms of a disability. 

To qualify as a service dog they must be trained tasks that midigate the disability. It has nothing to do with weather your disability is physical or mental. It has everything to do with whether the dog is task trained to migaite that disability rather than it helping just by being there.

☆Katie

ADA 30th

On July 26, 2020, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrated its 30th anniversary. Leader Dogs for the Blind celebrates  this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone els.

Update

A few weeks ago I had to retire my guide due to major distraction issues that posed safety issues. I am in the process of getting a new guide, but who knows when that will be. So  there will be no more posts from Ori, but I'll keep posting, I've got a few lined up

☆Katie

Physical distancing

Can we please call it physical distancing instead of social list distancing? You can help without touching. And you're probably sick of all my articles about guide dogs and physical distancing, but knowledge is power and shareable. So please share

https://amp.abc.net.au/article/12479614

☆Katie

Watch This Video

I LOVE this channel. She's so educational. Hopefully it takes you down a rabbit hole of learning. And as alwayß ask questions if you have them.

https://youtu.be/KjUJRi1Gfs8

☆Katie

All My Friends in One Week

Week of 6/18: I got to see Piper, Bonnie, Mint and met Pretzel. Mom let her friend pull me into a doggy pool to swim. Mint still hates me as evidenced by the photo.

PD: Mint, a yellow lab, laying against a chair glaring at me as far from Ori as possible. Ori, a mostly black GSD, is intently looking at something on the ground.

♡Ori

Masks

I don't know who reads this blog but here is some interesting information about masks and the ADA 

https://www.adasoutheast.org/ada/publications/legal/ada-and-face-mask-policies.php

But mmooomm

Me: you can't be part of the  chair.

Ori: watch me. *presses into chair

PD: Ori laying pressed into side of an upholstered chair in a living room

♡ori

Blind Physical Distancing

Please be kind. We're trying but it isnt easy.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2020/06/07/new-normal-of-social-distancing-could-become-a-new-nightmare-for-blind-people/

☆Katie

Guide dog etiquette

This is a list of things that you should do when you see a guide dog team. Some are from the human, some are from the dog, and others are from both (noted after each). Honestly, this is just me ranting about things I do not like that people do

1)I may be cute but I've got a job, I am NOT here for you. -dog

2)if you want to do something nice, like hold a hold a door open please tell me, I'm not a jerk -human

3) don't pet the dog, just don't even ask, the answer is no, she's working. It's also distracting to the dog -human and dog

4) "over there" and anyother phrases like it don't help, they only frustrate. Play hot and cold with me I don't care-human

5) no, I don't want to hear about your dog (dead or otherwise) -human

6)I may wear glasses, but they don't "fix"my vision -human

7)I don't understand directions, tell my mom -dog

8) just because I'm in your class/ mom "knows" you does not give you petting privilege (see 1) -human and dog

These may seem like petty things to you but I don't speak up often, so I use writing .If you have questions please ask, I don't bite (hard, lol jk). I'd rather answer questions than rant. USE YOUR VOICE, EDUCATE YOURSELF, EDUICATE OTHERS.

☆Katie

♡Ori