GDUI
GDUI Guide Dog Schools Survey 2006
(Section Summary)
APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS/APPLICATION PROCESS
1. For a first-time handler, how long is the average wait for a dog (including the time from your receipt of the application, to acceptance, to the student's class date)?
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: 3 months
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: 1 year
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): 2 to 6 months or for special needs, possibly up to a year
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 4 to 6 weeks (if paperwork is turned in promptly)
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 6 to 12 months
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): 3 to 6 months
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): 5 months
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): 6 months
KSDS: 4 months
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 30-60 days for acceptance plus 30-60 days until class
Pilot Dogs: 3 months or longer, depending on breed preference
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): 90 to 120 days
The Seeing Eye: 2 to 4 months
2. What is the average wait for returning students, seeking a successor dog (from submission of the re-train application to a class date)?
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: 3 months
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: 6 months
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): 2 to 6 months
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 4 to 6 weeks (if paperwork is turned in promptly)
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 3 to 6 months
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): 1 to 3 months
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): 4 months
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): 2 to 4 months
KSDS: “next class”
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 1-2 weeks for acceptance plus 30-60 days until class
Pilot Dogs: “when they can come”
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): 30 days
The Seeing Eye: 1 to 3 months
3. Qualified applicants for your program include(please mark all that apply):
people who are “legally blind”
(Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD)
only blind/visually impaired people with little or no functional vision
(GDA, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
blind/visually impaired people who require a dog to work on their right side
(All schools)
visually impaired people who are hard of hearing or deaf
(Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
people with little or no functional vision who are hard of hearing or deaf
(GDA, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
blind/visually impaired people who walk with a support cane
(Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
blind/visually impaired people who use motorized wheelchairs
(GDB, GDF, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
blind/visually impaired people who use manual wheelchairs
(No schools)
other (Please provide more information.)
(GDB: custom needs program, will work with individual needs on case by case basis, wheelchair program currently restricted to GDB grads; GDF: special needs program, people who use prosthetics, people who are developmentally disabled)
4. Are there upper or lower age limits for acceptance into your program?
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: Lower age-limit 16
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: No age restriction
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): 16 and older; No upper age limit
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): 16 minimum, no other age-restrictions
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): 18 and above
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): Generally only 16 and up
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): Minimum 17; No upper age-limit
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): Minimum 16; No max, as long as physically capable
KSDS: No age restrictions
Leader Dogs for the Blind: 18 years minimum and out of high school
Pilot Dogs: Youngest, Junior or Senior in high school
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): Must be at least 18
The Seeing Eye: 16 to 75
5. Your program requires applicants to demonstrate O&M proficiency before training with a dog.
Yes, O&M skill is required and we assess this in our admission process.
(Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
Only a basic level of O&M proficiency is required for training with our program.
(GDTX, KSDS, Pilot, SEGD)
We have no O&M requirement for applicants.
6. To satisfy our O&M requirement we offer pre-class O&M training.
Yes. (Leader)
No. (Fidelco, Freedom, GDDI, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Pilot, Seeing Eye)
We do not offer pre-class O&M training, but will supplement the training experience with some O&M work, if needed, during class.
(GDA, GDB, GDF, SEGD)
7. As part of the applicant assessment process(please mark all that apply):
The school requires home interviews.
(Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDTX, GEB, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
The school uses phone interviews.
(Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDF, GDTX, KSDS, Pilot, SEGD)
Applicant-submitted videos are reviewed to assess qualification.
(Fidelco, GDA, GDDI, GDF, KSDS, Leader, SEGD)
Character references are required to be submitted on the applicant’s behalf.
(Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
Documentation of disability and a doctor’s exam are required.
(All schools)
8. Please list any additional admission requirements, if any.
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: vision and mobility report
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: O & M questionaire for first-time handlers
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): “Must be experienced, independent travelers, and be able to provide the leadership needed for a successful guide dog team.”
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): “We request: O & M report (if O & M training received within 5 years of application), agency report (if applicant has received agency services within last 5 years), mental health specialist’s report if applicant has mental health conditions that require medication or therapy, ophthalmologist’s report indicating legal blindness”
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): “Video interviews can be submitted in place of an in-home interview if applicant lives some distance from our school”
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): Home interviews are conducted on a case by case basis.
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): Must be a resident of Texas
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): (No comments specified)
KSDS: (No comments specified)
Leader Dogs for the Blind: “Must be able to walk several blocks with no assistance; must be emotionally stable”
Pilot Dogs: “We will do in-home interviews if needed.”
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): “DBS referral, O & M referral”
The Seeing Eye: “Purposeful activity. Environment that is safe and contains several walkable destinations.”
9. If there are any physical or psychological conditions which would make an applicant’s acceptance to your program unlikely, please list them here.
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: (Nothing listed.)
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: “Each applicant is evaluated on an individual basis and their personal mobility needs, the basic ability to care for a guide dog and the ability to use one safely are the foundational basis for investigating any applicant further. Any other questions are addressed on a person to person basis.”
Guide Dogs of America (GDA): “An applicant must be physically and psychologically capable of handling a dog during the training course and in the home environment. Individuals with some physical challenges and mild cognitive conditions are assessed and considered on a case by case basis.”
Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): “Physical conditions that restrict the ability to follow the movements of a guide dog. Lack of physical strength and dexterity to work comfortably and manipulate the harness and equipment. Psychological conditions that prevent an applicant from maintaining a safe working relationship with a guide dog or would prevent an applicant from learning and implementing the skills required to work a dog effectively and safely.”
Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): (Nothing listed.)
Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): “Physical: Someone who has physical limitations that would prevent them from working a guide dog. Psychological: Someone who is not stable or mentally capable of completing the training program. We request documentation from a physician and or mental health specialist.”
Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): “Applicants must be physically and mentally able to properly care for and work a dog to minimum predetermined standards.”
Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): (Nothing listed.)
KSDS: “Applicants must be ambulatory, verbal, and able to sequence proper actions.”
Leader Dogs for the Blind: “Must be mobile.”
Pilot Dogs: “Not much luck with group homes”
Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): “Yes”
The Seeing Eye: “Applicant must be physically and emotionally capable of handling the stress of class.”
10. Upon acceptance to the program, what informational materials do applicants receive prior to class? (i.e. , training lecture notes, information on what to bring, contact information, etc.)
(Please refer to the individual surveys for this information.)
