Journal created:
on 13 June 2007 (#13152881)
Updated:
on 6 November 2012
Location:
Australia
Membership:
Moderated
Posting Access:
All Members , Moderated
Welcome to the Guide Dogs Australia community.
This community exists for guide dog handlers in Australia, their friends and family, and anyone else interested. Membership is open to everyone, all you need to do is click and join.
There are a few basic ground rules -
No flaming - everyone is entitled to their opinion, if you don't agree just move on.
No promotions - the exception is if it guide dog related. Relevant communities and products are allowed at the distrction of the maintainer(s).
If you believe that it's cruel to the dog this is not the place for you.
A little basic info on guide dogs!
Guide dogs help blind and visually impaired people get around. They're highly trained and incredibly smart dogs that generally love their work. When they're in harness they're on duty - that means you shouldn't pet them, call them, or distract them in any way. They do get time to relax, and they do get a lot of love and affection.
Handlers don't have to be completely blind to qualify for a guide dog. As with any other group there is a whole range within handlers. Some will have no vision, others have quite a bit of useable vision, and there's everyone else in between. That said, if you see someone who doesn't 'look' blind with a guide dog, chances are there's more to it than you can see. Guide dogs aren't given to anyone that asks for one, the person applying has to qualify.
australia, blind, guide dogs, guide dogs nsw, guide dogs queensland, guide dogs victoria, independence, orientation and mobility, seda, vision australia, visually impaired
