September is Guide Dog Awareness Month, and the Center for the Visually Impaired wants to recognize the pets who guide us through life and the role they play in fostering independence, mobility, and confidence for their handlers.
There are over 10,000 trained and registered guide dogs in the United States, but less than five percent of visually impaired individuals in the U.S. use a guide dog. To become a bona fide guide, dogs must undergo a rigorous two-year training process which roughly 45 percent of dogs pass.
Before receiving their guide dog, applicants must complete their own training. Dog training services, such as the Guide Dog Foundation, require recipients to complete an orientation and mobility training and meet other eligibility requirements. CVI’s specialized services equip our clients with the tools and preparation necessary to become guide dog owners.
“A guide dog is a replacement for a white cane. If replacing the white cane with a guide dog, then a client needs to be able to navigate indoors and outdoors independently, including crossing streets,” says Ernest Burton, Adult Services Manager and Orientation & Mobility Specialist at CVI. “Travel skills are important with or without a dog guide.”
Orientation and mobility training is offered by our vision occupational therapists and specialists at CVI. With the completion of these services, clients regain their independence and are prepared with the skills required to apply for and use a guide dog, if they choose.
When interacting with a guide dog or service animal, remember these things:
- If a guide dog is wearing a vest, the dog is working.
- Do not touch, pet, or feed a guide dog.
- Do not try to distract a guide dog or get its attention.
- If a guide dog is not wearing a vest, be sure to ask for the owner’s permission before petting or interacting with it.
To celebrate Guide Dog Awareness Month, CVI is highlighting the community’s guide dogs on our social media. If interested in submitting photos, please email them to sricketts@cviga.org with the subject “photo submission”.
To learn more information about our services, please call CVI at 404-875-9011.
To support CVI’s mission click here to donate!