We offer hands-on seminars to Orientation and Mobility Specialists and O&M students in training.
These seminars are designed to enable participants to:
- Identify and advise clients who are considering a guide dog
- Prepare clients who will be training with guide dogs
- Work more effectively with clients who have guide dogs
- Gain a thorough understanding of what guide dogs and guide dog training are about
During the seminar you’ll learn about:
- Guide dog training techniques
- Street crossings
- Orientation
- Patterning and conditioning for specific travel objectives
- Common Dos and Don’ts of guide dog travel
- How we make great matches between people and guide dogs
Each participant will get to work with a senior Guide Dog Instructor and will walk both sighted and under blindfold with the dog in harness.
The on-site seminar also includes time with instructors, specialized and admissions staff, and earns certified O&M specialists ACVREP-approved CE units.
Seminar groups have up to eight participants.
On-site seminars are held between April and November.
We can also bring our seminar to your agency or college if you have a minimum of five O&M professionals or students who wish to participate.
For more information, please contact:
Admissions Department
(800) 942-0149 ext. 2222
admissions@guidingeyes.org
![This week's feature for Transformation Tuesday is a steady and sweet black lab named Ira. The handsome pup trained with first-time handler David, a Vietnam veteran from Caribou, Maine. Swipe ⬅️ to see Ira all grown up as an official guide dog!
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David can already feel the difference with Ira at his side. "The absolute biggest thing for me is that I have independence again. For the first time in years, I can go Christmas shopping for my wife completely on my own. He’s opened doors and opportunities for me too."
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David remembers a particularly sweet highlight from training, "One of the best moments during training happened on a day we were working in the mall. Being able to stand up next to my wife and hold her hand as we walked – that was a huge, huge thing for us. It was enormously special."
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A special thanks to Robin Liberty, Ira's volunteer puppy raiser from our Eastern Massachusetts Puppy Raising Region (@guidingeyes_ema). She sent us this lovely write-up about her experience raising Ira: "To say that raising Ira was life-changing would not be an over-statement. His nickname amongst my region team was 'Sweet Boy Ira' and he was my best friend. He brought me out of my shell as he drew curiosity and wonder wherever we went. Every afternoon became an adventure because there was no outing he wouldn’t try(and excel at). Together, we visited festivals, hit a theme park, and cruised the mall. He was fearless, curious, and kept me on my toes. I am so proud that he is fulfilling his destiny of providing independence to someone with low vision. To the new team, I wish many years of happiness and bold adventures. May he bring you as much joy as he brought me."
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Read more about David and Ira by clicking the link in our bio.
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Picture Description:
[1] Ira is pictured as an adorable puppy while wearing a light blue pup on program bandana.
[2] David & Ira’s official graduation photo: David stands in the grass with Ira in a sit by his side.
📷 [1]: @trainer.in.training
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#GuidingEyesForTheBlind #MansBestFriend #GoodNewsFeed #ForTheLoveOfDogs #CharityTuesday #GoodNewsTues #ServiceDogsOfInstagram #DogsOfNewEngland #DogsOfMaine #AssistanceDogs](https://www.guidingeyes.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
