Category: Animal House
A while back, I promised you guys that I'd keep you all updated on how my GEB application was going. Well, heres one.
The first time I applied, they denied me because I was too young, or I wasn't ready, I really don't remember which it was right now. The second time, I was going to go for the home interview, but if I had been accepted in, I would have had very little time to get acklamated to the dog before I went off to college, so I didn't take the interview part, and just didn't go for it. They still kept my file which was nice. Well, I applied for a 3rd time not too long ago, and now its time for the home interview again. I'm currently down at college at North Carolina Central University in Durham. I got a call yesterday from the person who would be doing the interview. He wanted to know some things about my college, and he said that he had a person who he was interviewing in Chapelhill, then he had some time, and if I was free, then he could come out and do the interview that day. I did, so ... their ya go. The interviews set for tomorrow. I'm really nervous, but I think I'll do alright. I haven't had O and M in about 8 months. I was supposed to get some for learning my college campus, but that never went through, so I've had to learn on my own, and from asking people how to get to certain places. I'll let you guys know how it all goes tomorrow.
Oh yeah. Before I forget, if I do get accepted, I'll be going to white Planes New York for the school in the summer.
Mike.
Oh that is cool. I hope next time I go, I can go during the summer months. Well good luck.
Good luck in the interview.
will be praying that all goes well. please let us know!!!
As promised...
Well, it was today. I was really nervous, so before he even got here, I went out and had to take my mac to the IT department to get some stuff fixed. As I was walking, I was consciously checking myslef? Am I going far enough to the left? Am I in step?
Well, he came. He videotaped me walking, and I was still making sure that I was going in step, not switching to constant contact, trying to stay with two-point touch. Then we did a Juno walk so he could measure my walking speed, and then he blindfolded me, just to make sure that I was still alright and wasn't doing visual override.
After it was all said and done, he said that he gave me the thumbs up for how I did, and he is goinig to call me next week to wrap everything up. Then I just wait and see.
So they are using blindfolds now? Hope you get accepted. I really hated waiting to find out...
Just to make sure that my vision wasn't interferring with my cane skills, that I wasn't using my vision to detect all the obstacles in my way if that makes sense.
GEB is one of the schools I'm going to apply to if I decide I want to try for a dog again. But I think I'm going to wait until my situation is a bit more certain before I try.
I promised I'd update, and heres a new one.
Well, Ms. Claimen called me, and...
and...
and...
I uh, didn't get in.
Nah, just messin' with ya, I got in! I'm in for the june 7th class. They are going to email me everything on Tuesday, then we just wait for the day! I'm so excited!
Mike.
good one mike.
Awesome!
Congratulations. :)
I got my official acceptance letter in my email today, so now I gotta fill out the forms and such.
I'm leaving for seeing eye may 22 so I no how you feel. I can't wait! good luck to you. hope it rocks.
Same here. I got my stuff sent in the email, and my mom saw and printed it out, so when I go home for spring break tomorrow, I can sign it and send it back.
Todays the day! Todays the day! My plane leaves at 11:30 AM. I come back the 30th. Nervous ... excited ... Hope everything goes well.
Mike and unnamed dog.
Oh I live in NC too and reading this makes me want one so much more, you have to let us know how things went as I know you will, I get so exited when hearing about peoples stories of getting a dog almost as if I were the one getting one, OH I can't wait. I haven't even started to apply and don't think I will for a while, I live in a small apartment with another person and two cats and I also don't have money for the vet or food right now, after paying bills and sutch.
Opa!!! Way to go. I hope everything goes wonderfully for you. You pulled a mean one. *smile* I felt so bad when you said you didn't get it and then my heart jumped when I read that you did! Here's for a great time and a beautiful bond with your new friend and companion, whomever he/she may be.
Congrads, hope everything goes well with the dog, hope to get one soon.
You are super lucky! I tried getting a guide dog. I didn't get in. I'll just wait until I'm ready for college. That way, I'll be 18 and I'll for sure be ready and responsible enough.
I'm wavering back and forth about this myself. On the one hand I want a guide dog but I want to be absolutely sure I'll be able to care for him or her financially. It's a difficult decision since on the one hand I'm tempted to wait until I'm employed but let's face it, even if the economy were to bounce back tomorrow and there were jobs a-plenty regardless of where you lived, there'd still be no telling how long it would be before I was working since a lot of employers are ignorant of the fact that as blind folks we can still do just about anything a sightie can do excep drive, since I in no way see this supposed blind friendly car from the NFB as being affordable to the average blind schmoe, even if he happens to be successfully and gainfully employed. Even if it were truly accessible and drivable by a blind person it would be far too spendy. And we all know how hard it can be to get help with purchasing assistive tech.
I don't think I'm ready to care for a guide dog yet.
I got mine to. I no you'll have tuns of fun. Tell Daric Marissa says hi. i'm pretty sure he's in your class
please let us know how it all went!!!!! I'm so excited for you!!
On 08/09/10I'm leaving for GDB in California. Can hardly wait.
I personally think that people should only get guide dogs when they're working, when they're in a classroom setting of either high school or above, or when they do alot of traveling. To me, it seems wrong to keep a dog if you plan on mostly staying in the house. These are working animals and mostly hate to sit around and do nothing. Plus, it's a huge waste of money if you just want to go to the mall sometimes, check the mail at the mailbox or go to a friend's house. This is the biggest reason why I don't have a dog. It could be argued that one could and does grant a huge amount of independence, but if you have no real places to go, then they can't do that for you.
Oh if I get a guide dog while I'm still not working I'm definitely going to make every effort at least to go out for a walk each day even if I don't necessarily HAVE to go anywhere that day. It'll keep me in shape and it'll keep the dog in practice. And if I had a guide dog I would feel more comfortable walking to more of the places near my apartment, places I'd love to go to more often but don't on account of the fact that there are some streets, even in tiny little Twin Falls Idaho, that I absolutely wouldn't attempt to cross with a cane. I know plenty of sighted people who wouldn't attempt to cross these streets on foot. Of course even with a guide dog I suppose there's still a risk what with the idiots on the roads these days.
Hi all!
I'd like you all to meet someone.
Look over that way.
See him? See him? See the little furry dude in the crate? Yeah. The one with the Nylabone, Cuz and Steril bone next to him. Yup, the yellow lab. That's him/. That's Gavin.
We got back on the 30th, spent some time at home, and now I'm back here at North Carolina Central University, and classes start tomorrow. It was a great time, and I do feel more confident and independent. His tail starts going nuts if he sees or hears me jingle his leash, and he'll run around me in circles. He's awesome. I've got recordings from when I was at GEB, if anyone would like to hear them. I'm going to use the street name Blake. I came up with it because of when I used to play Miriani, that was the name I used, and its a pretty cool name.
Hell's_Angel, I did meet Derek, but I didn't check this board until now, so I didn't get a chance to say hi from you to him. Well, I gotta be up by 10 tomorrow, so guess I'll get outa here, so see ya all later.
Mike and Gavin.
That is so incredibly awesome! Hugs to both of you. I hope you have many happy and healthy years together. What did you mean by "street name"?
Cool you got your dog now. I saw your pic and bio on the GEB website.
Yeah, I want to know what a street name is too. Is it for safety, so that someone can't trace the dog's name back to you? It seems like a stretch, but I guess it makes sense.
Street name? I've never heard of that LOL.
A name that you can give to some one instead of giving your dog's actual name. I'll probably use it for people that I may see once or twice, but not many times, and just tell others that I don't want to tell you his name. Its just so that the dog doesn't get distracted if pepole start calling his name.
Ah. That does make sense. I'll have to think on that since my fiance is really encouraging me to try for a guide dog.