The NAGDU Mentoring Program

The decision to use a guide dog or not is a choice a blind person must make where a travel aid is concernned. The blind person must determine if this navagation tool is right for them. If the answer is yes the next thing to consider is the type of training in the use of these dogs, the quality of training offered by various guide dog schools, where, and how to obtain that training. When the training has been completed, and the new team begins it's life together they must deal with many issues and concerns best understood by others who have gone before them. For example:

It has been observed that experience is the best teacher. Over the years the National Association of Guide Dog Users has accumulated a knowledge base of answers and solutions to just about every situation a guide dog user may encounter during the entire process of securing a guide dog for themselves, during the dog's working life, and replacing the dog as well as the retirement of their former guide and making the adjustment to a new travel partner.

The NAGDU Mentoring Program is one component of NFB Link, a program that matches blind mentors with those needing assistance and encouragement with various issues related to blindness and its challenges. This includes those desiring a guide dog for mobility, or those beginning to use a newly-acquired guide dog, as well as those who must make the transition to a new dog when the old one can no longer perform safely, or becomes too old, or sic to perform its duty with confidence. Mentors can serve as positive roll models to blind mentees by giving advice to those needing such support.

Unlike open discussion groups where people make random contact with each other NFB Link matches you with blind mentors permit you to connect with guide dog users according to specific criteria you submit to the NFB Link staff. For example you may want to contact guide dog users who use dogs of a particular breed, a specific geographical area of the country or the World you would like to share thoughts and ideas with. Perhaps you would like to contact guide dog users who are students, are employed in a certain occupation, have a particular hobby or interest. You decide exactly who you want to serve as your mentor based on your requirements and you will be matched with an experienced guide dog user with similar likes, and interests.

If you would like to mentor guide dog users, or wish to receive mentoring from an experienced guide dog user or in in other blindness-related concerns fill out the online mentor or mentee request forms at:

http://www.nfblink.org