The National Association of Guide Dog Users, (NAGDU)

Thank you for visiting our new home on the World-Wide Web. We're proud to be a part of the nation's oldest, and largest organization of the blind in the United States. Founded in 1940 the National Federation of the Blind has grown to over 50,000 members with local chapters and state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In addition to local chapters and state divisions the NFB has a variety of special interest divisions. These divisions address specific concerns, vocations, and other specialized interests. The National Association of Guide Dog Users is one of many of these special interest divisions. We We are a forum for current guide dog users, those considering getting a guide dog, or anyone who wants to learn more about the use of guide dogs and the guide dog movement in general. We provide a forum to facilitate discussion of common issues, as well as to increase opportunities for guide dog users. We promote sound practices in the training and use of guide dogs for mobility. We provide information concerning access legislation allowing a blind person to enter public places accompanied by his or her guide dog. We also promote various guide dog training programs and to enlighten both the general public, guide dog users, and the blind ingeneral to the special access legislation allowing a blind person to enter public places accompanied by their guide dogs. Some of NAGDU's projects include:

Guide Dog Training Programs:

Over the years NAGDU has played an important role in promoting the training and use of guide dogs by the blind. We provide information to blind people of the availability of guide dogs from established programs. We work with guide dog training programs to ensure that blind people receive the best possible training in the care and use of guide dogs. We also promote the employment of qualified blind people in guide dog related careers.

Membership Information

We invite anyone interested in helping us strengthin our division to join us to further our work. Becoming a member of NAGDU is easy, and we want to extend an invitation to you to join an organization on the cutting edge of issues of major concern to guide dog users throughout the World.

The NAGDU Mentoring Program

NAGDU operates a mentoring program. We can offer a mentor who will provide advice or encouragement to assist potential guide dog users in making the decision to use a guide dog, to provide encouragement for new guide dog users, for questions concerning public access with a guide dog and any other area of concern. the mentoring program along with the NAGDU Discussion Group are ways to foster a sense of community among guide dog users, guide dog training facilities, guide dog puppy raisers, and others in the guide dog movement World-wide. More information about the mentoring program can be found on our Mentoring Program Information Page. This feature will be enhanced in the months ahead. Further information will be available as the program develops. Please check back often for updates or to sign up to be a mentor or receive advice and encouragement through a mentor.

Guide Dog Access Legislation:

The blind people who began the guide dog movement here in the United States understood that in order for a guide dog to offer true independence the guide dog would have to be allowed everywhere the blind handler would want to go. In order to gain this level of public access, it was important that the public have an understanding of guide dogs. Before legislation was passed to ensure public access, guide dog users had to rely on the willingness of business owners to allow the guide dog to accompany its handler into public buildings.

NAGDU also offers legal information concerning access into many foreign countries with a guide dog. This is a new and exciting area of information that NAGDU is able to provide. We feel that this is a much needed service since many blind people travel abroad with their guide dogs for business and pleasure. We look forward to assisting you in researching laws in other countries to make your travels abroad with your guide dog pleasant and productive!

Harness Up

Harness Up, NAGDU's Newsletter, contains articles and information of interest to guide dog users as well as information about the activities of NAGDU and the National Federation of the Blind. It features articles written by those associated with the guide dog movement and the National Federation of the Blind. Articles have appeared in Harness Up from contributors in the U.S. and abroad. Further information and an archive of ASCII, and E-Braille editions of Harness Up can be found elsewhere on this site.

NAGDU'S Annual Meetings

The National Association of Guide Dog Users holds it's business Meeting during the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Those who attend receive the latest information regarding the training and use of guide dogs by the blind, and news of NAGDU's activities during the past year, and to set the adgenda for projects and outreach activities for the year ahead. Other popular events hosted by NAGDU include the Making the Right Choice Seminars also held during the NFB National Convention. This is an opportunity for both active, and prospective guide dog users to dialog with other seminar attendies on various matters of concern to them. These can include is a guide dog right for me, where to go for guide dog training, The care, and use of a guide dog, how to handle denials of entry in to public places accompanied by a guide dog, veterinary care, and the retirement of a guide dog as well as the adjustment to a new dog when a beloved guide can no longer work. This is just a sample of the many topics shared by guide dog users at these gatherings. Besides the annual national NAGDU meetings a number of NFB state affiliates have established state NAGDU divisions who carry on the work of NAGDU in their respective states.

The NAGDU Web Site is one more form of outreach to the guide dog community. Visit us regularly as new and exciting content will be added and updated.

Join the NAGDU Discussion Group:

Still another way to reach guide dog users and their friends is through our List hosted by NFB Net. The list is called NAGDU and provides an on-line forum for blind persons be they guide dog users or not to share their thoughts, concerns, and successes with other guide dog users. To subscribe select the link above.

Guide Dog Web Site Links:

A vast amount of information about guide dogs and their use is in an abundance on the Internet. If you don't find the specific information you're wanting about the use of these dogs by the blind on this site perhaps you'll find what you're looking for from one of the many links to be found in our Guide Dog Links area of this web site.

For further information about The National Association of Guide Dog Users and it's activities you can reach the NAGDU President, Priscilla Ferris. She will be more than glad to assist you in any way she can with guide dog-related matters. Her contact information appears below: Mrs. Priscilla Ferris
President: National Association of Guide Dog Users
55 Delaware Avenue
Somerset, Massachusetts 02726
Phone: 508-673-0218
E-mail: nfbmass@earthlink.net

The Nagdu Division Officers:

Contact information for NAGDU's other officers currently serving can be accessed by following the link above, orr in the table below. Any of these individuals can further assist you with your guide dog, and NAGDU-related concerns.

National Federation of The Blind

To learn more about the National Federation of the Blind and it's work visit the NFB's Home page. Or you can contact the NFB by using the information given below: National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314

NFB Net:

You will also find many useful resources including articles and other material of interest to the blind, hardware and software manuals, electronic books, software demos, and other items of interest at the NFB Net World-Wide Web Site.

Sign the NAGDU Guestbook:

Before leaving we'd like to invite you to sign the NAGDU Guestbook. Besides letting us know you visitted our home on the web if you leave contact information for others you can begin building your network of guide dog users to discuss your life with your dog, and to strike up new friendships. Remember there are no borders here. Your new acquaintances may be just down the block, somewhere in your own country, or from another country. Do take a moment to leave your calling card before you leave so we can know you found our new cyber home.

Thank you for visiting our home on the World-Wide Web. We'll be adding new and exciting enhancements to this web site in the future. We are the Nation's blind speaking with one voice, and together we're changing what it means to be blind.

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