A discussion evolved on the Israeli Guide Dog Users Forum concerning the following advertisement that was used to promote fundraising for the Israeli Guide Dog Center: "Help a blind person realise their dream to see again through the loving eyes
of a guide dog." Noah, the head of the center, discussed this line with the woman in Canada who is in charge of publicity, and explained to her that this was not the right idea at all and that the broadcast should be changed.
I haven't met anyone who expressed a dream to see again. I'm sure we'd all like to. But I think many of us if not all of us have come to terms with our situation. We don't want to see again: we want to lead normal, useful lives despite our disability and we want independence, safe mobility, and not to have to depend on others. That's what our guide dogs give us. And that's all we expect them to give us. We don't expect them to help us see again.
A blind person would never have come up with a statement like that. It implies that we are constantly wanting to see, rather than accepting what we have and learning to live with it.
Other misconceptions for today's post:
Jokingly Yael's friend Evan said, "She does pretty well for a blind dog." This referring to the misnomer in Hebrew and English "a blind dog" instead of a guide dog for the blind. Suki sees very well, thank you.
And does a guide dog know when the light is green and that it's time to cross the road? For the thousandth time, no.
Understandably, people continue to direct me even when I am holding Suki's harness. Here's the door. There's a step down. Here's the train platform. The road is right ahead of you. They mean well. They don't realize just how much Suki can do and that she can find these things for me.
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