Comprehensive training of persons with visual impairment to obtain a guide dog
Tara Koren · PeFprints (University of Ljubljana) · 2013
The focus of this seminar paper is on preparing persons with visual impairment for a guide dog. A dog is an animal that is best suited for guidance. A guide dog is not a pet, but serves as an aid in movement. Collaboration between the person with blindness and her or his guide dog is needed in order to conduct a successful guidance. Legal acts define who is entitled to a guide dog, and what the criteria the user has to meet are. A person with blindness is with intensive training preparing to obtain a guide dog. Training includes working with a dog trainer, training at home and a joint training with a dog. A successful completion of the final exam is one of the conditions that must be accomplished for a person with blindness to obtain a guide dog. Orientation and mobility specialist provides persons with blindness help and support at various stages. Its impact can be seen in orientation and mobility, independence, social and everyday skills of the person with blindness. Orientation and mobility specialist also works with a dog trainer, and provides persons with blindness help and support in the very process of training. After obtaining a guide dog, a person with blindness turns to orientation and mobility specialist for help in learning new and difficult routes.