GDUI
GDUI Guide Dog Schools Survey 2006
(Section Summary)
PROGRAM OPTIONS, FACILITIES AND SPECIAL SERVICES
1. How many teams, (on average, does the program graduate annually?
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: 70
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: 12 now, with new trainer hoping for closer to 24
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): 50
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 340
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 16
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): 80
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): 160
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): 4
KSDS: 5
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 250
Pilot Dogs: 150
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): 100
The Seeing Eye: 263
2. What is the instructor to student ratio for most classes?
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: 1:1
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: 1:1
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): 1:3
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 1:4
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 1:3
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): 1:4
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): 1:3 or 4
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): 1:1
KSDS: 1:3
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 1:6
Pilot Dogs: 1:6
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): 1:3
The Seeing Eye: 1:4
3. What is the duration (days/weeks) of your school's training program for first-time guide dog handlers? (If the time varies, please indicate the range.)
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: 15 days
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: 2 to 3 weeks
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): mandatory 28 day program
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 28 days
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 28 days/4 weeks
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): 20 to 25 days
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): 26 days
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): 1 to 3 weeks in facility plus 1 to 3 weeks in-home
KSDS: 24 days
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 25 days with flexibility based on student need
Pilot Dogs: 4 weeks
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): 26 days
The Seeing Eye: 26 days
4. For how many days/weeks must previous graduates of your program re-train to receive successor dogs? (If the time varies, please indicate the range.)
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: 10 days
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: 1.5 to 2 weeks
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): 2 to 4 weeks
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4 weeks
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 2 weeks in class or 7-10 days in-home
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): 14 to 25 days
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): 15 to 19 days
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): minimum 3 weeks
KSDS: 10 to 24 days
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 10 to 19 days
Pilot Dogs: 2 weeks
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): 21 days
The Seeing Eye: 19 days
5. How many days/weeks must handlers who are new to your program, but who are previous graduates of other schools, train with you to receive a successor guide? (If this varies, please indicate the range.)
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: 10 to 15 days
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: 1.5 to 2 weeks
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): 2 to 4 weeks
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4 weeks
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 2 weeks in class or 7-10 days in-home
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): 14 to 25 days
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): generally 19
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): minimum 3 weeks
KSDS: 24 days
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 19 to 25 days
Pilot Dogs: 2 to 3 weeks
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): 26 days
The Seeing Eye: 19 to 26 days
(Please mark all that apply.)
6. “Our training program offers”:
in-home training for any student who requests it
(Fidelco, Freedom, GDB)
in-home training for re-train students ONLY
(GDA, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)
facility-based training
(All schools except Fidelco and Freedom)
a combination of facility-based and home-based training
(GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, Leader)
a combination of facility-based and home-based training for re-train students only.
(GDA, GEB, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
7. Please indicate the statement that describes your program’s policies for applicants who are considering the location of your school.
(Not applicable for home-based training programs.)
Your program provides school-subsidized transportation to and from training.
(GDA, GDB, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)
Your program can offer limited or “case by case” school-subsidized transportation to and from training.
(GDDI, GDTX)
The program cannot provide transportation to and from training.
(KSDS, SEGD)
8. The program can accommodate non-English speakers.
No, our training is offered only in English.
(Freedom, GDA, GDB, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, SEGD)
Yes*, we offer either bilingual training or interpreters for certain languages.
(GDDI: Materials and instruction can be provided in Spanish.; GDF: ASL, Spanish and Portuguese; GEB: ASL and working on Spanish program; Leader: Spanish and ASL; Pilot: No information given.; Seeing Eye: Spanish using Spanish-speaking instructors and French using French interpreters.)
No answer given: (Fidelco)
9. If your program is a strictly home-based training program, please check here
and skip to APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS/APPLICATION PROCESS.
(Only Fidelco and Freedom checked “yes”.)
10. Your organization provides some on-site medical services for students in training, including a school nurse.
yes (GDA, GDB, GDF, GEB, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
no (GDDI, GDTX, KSDS, Leader)
11. Your residential facility provides meals for students with special dietary considerations. (Please mark all that apply.)
Not applicable/We do not provide meals.
No. We provide meals but cannot accommodate special diets.
Yes, for medical needs.
(All schools)
Yes, for vegetarians
(All schools)
Yes, for religious considerations (Please specify)
(GDA: will accomodate based on specific guidelines given by student; GDB: will work with an individual to best accomodate their needs; GDDI: can address all dietary needs; GDF: Kosher and Halal, meatless meals on Fridays in observation of Lent; GEB: Kosher meals; GDTX: accomodate individual requirements as fully as they can; KSDS: if available resources; Leader: adjusted on an individual basis; Pilot: Kosher; SEGD: not specified; Seeing Eye: Kosher)
12. Amenities for students on campus include (please mark all that apply):
private rooms
(GDA, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, Seeing Eye)
phones in student rooms
(GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
computers adapted with accessible technology
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
internet connection in student rooms
(GDB, GDF, GEB, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
laundry facilities
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
microwave and/or coffee maker in a common area
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
vending machines from which students may purchase snacks
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
non-smoking public areas (such as dining and lounge facilities)
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
non-smoking student rooms
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
special areas designated for smoking
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
musical instruments
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)
library of materials in accessible formats
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
TV/stereo
(GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
exercise equipment
(GDB, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
other (Any other special services or facilities your school provides during training.)
(Several programs listed information for this option. For additional ammenities, please refer to each program’s individual survey. )
