by Guiding Eyes graduate Sally Rosenthal When my paratrooper father jumped out of an airplane sixty-nine years ago and landed on the Normandy beach during the D-Day invasion, he was only one of five men in his company who survived. Scarcely twenty-two with a few years of war behind him, he returned to his base in… Continue reading The Gift
by Guiding Eyes graduate Deni Elliott Like Christmas, but only better. We wait. We anticipate. We worry. Most of us dream for months in advance about who our new partners might be. Male or female? Short coupled or tall and leggy? Yellow or black or maybe a German shepherd dog? If so, long-haired or not?… Continue reading Is there any day more perfect than dog day?
Dear Guiding Eyes, Illinois Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (IAER) is the state organization of professionals who provide education and rehabilitation services to people with visual impairments. Our group includes teachers of visually impaired, orientation and mobility specialists, rehabilitation therapists, university faculty, and counselors from across Illinois. Each year,… Continue reading Guiding Eyes receives Community Partner award
by instructor Kate Peterson After approximately four months of hard work, our potential guide dogs enter the fourth and final phase of training. By this point, each dog has the basic skills necessary for successful guide work. The dogs have already learned how to target curbs, cross streets, navigate around obstacles and how to protect… Continue reading The final stages of guide training
by graduate Deni Elliott I came to Guiding Eyes to get a dog that would accompany me on my life’s pathways. I leave with a partner who makes me confident enough to explore the world regardless of where the roads might lead. I came to Guiding Eyes expecting the dog to reflect the love and… Continue reading I came to Guiding Eyes…
Kimberly Morrow was born blind due to retinopathy of prematurity. She had a very ordinary childhood, filled with roller skating, playing outside, scouts and slumber parties. Kimberly received her first guide dog in 1991; when she later began graduate school at the University of Kansas, she was grateful to have a guide dog to make… Continue reading Kimberly Morrow's life with guide dogs
by: volunteer puppy raiser Frank Chenette Graduation Day, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, February 2013 My mind overflows with a kaleidoscope of images past and present. My emotions scatter like dry kibble tossed on ice. Lawrence E. Brown III, a young man passionate about making music, beams a 100-watt smile when he and Halo the… Continue reading Magical Moment: Reflecting Upon a Walk Down a Corridor
This article was submitted by Guiding Eyes for publication in the International Guide Dog Federation’s “Visionary Magazine.” You can read the full issue of Visionary here. Tsang Kin Ping had a dream that blind and visually impaired Hong Kong residents could benefit from the extraordinary life changes a guide dog brings. His vision served… Continue reading International Collaboration Brings Guide Dogs to Hong Kong
By: Volunteer Puppy Raiser Elora Hixon You know how they say that it takes a community to raise a child… it is the same with raising a Guiding Eyes pup. I am so grateful for the people that I know that have helped me through raising my pups. Whether it was donating their services, giving… Continue reading Adventures of Janice: It Takes A Community
by Guiding Eyes dog Keating Hi my name is Keating. I’m a big yellow Labrador with brown eyes and a dark nose. My ears have a little bit more brown than the rest of my body; some people say they are caramel-colored. (I’ve heard that caramel is quite yummy… does anyone else agree?) I was… Continue reading Report from the Kennels: What do we do all day?
