GDUI

GDUI Guide Dog Schools Survey 2006

(Section Summary)

GRADUATE SERVICES

 

1.         The program’s policy on home-based instructional follow-up is best described as (choose one): 

 

Our program cannot currently provide in home instructional follow-up to graduates.

 

In-home instructional follow-up is available for our graduates throughout the U.S. and Canada. (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)

 

In-home instructional follow-up is available to graduates within a specific area. (Freedom: “We place dogs in the Northeast where we can do follow-up as needed.”, GDTX: Texas only, KSDS: Kansas and Nebraska, SEGD: Florida, Georgia, N.C. and S.C.)

 

*For programs that offer home-based follow-up: 

2.         The school can provide at home instructional follow-up upon graduate request within:

 

a few days of the request  (GDB, GEB, KSDS)

 

a few weeks of the request  (GDDI, GDF, Pilot)

 

Schools that checked both options: (Freedom, GDA, GDTX, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

No answer given: (Fidelco)

 

3.         Telephone-based support for graduates is best described as:

 

The program has instructors available during office hours to immediately answer graduates’ questions.

 

An instructor returns a graduate's phone call for advice/assistance on a same-day basis. (GDB, Pilot)

 

An instructor returns a graduate's phone call for advice/assistance within a few days. (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS)

 

Schools that checked more than one option: (GDTX: second & third, Leader: all, SEGD: first & second, Seeing Eye: first & second)

 

4.         The school has vet staff available during business hours to speak with graduates regarding health-concerns they have about their guides.

 

Yes. (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDF, GEB, Leader, Pilot)

No. (Freedom, GDDI, GDTX, KSDS, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

5.         School veterinarians are available to consult with a graduate’s local vet as necessary. 

 

Yes. (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)

No. (GDDI, KSDS, SEGD)

 

6.         The school has counseling staff available to speak with graduates regarding stressful or difficult issues concerning their handler-dog partnership.

 

Yes. (Fidelco, GDB, GDDI, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)

No. (Freedom, GDA, GDF)

No answer: (SEGD)

 

7.         The school offers graduates assistance in placing retired guides if they request it. (Please choose the most accurate reply.) 

 

Yes, we have a program for placing retired guides with screened volunteers.

 

Yes, we first offer the dog back to its raiser and then to screened applicants from our waiting list, if necessary. (Freedom, GDB, GEB, KSDS)

 

Yes, we’ll help find a home for a retired guide if a graduate has no other option. (Fidelco, GDDI, Seeing Eye)

 

Schools that checked more than one of the above options: (GDA: second & third, GDF: all of the above, GDTX: all of the above, Leader: first & third, Pilot: all of the above, SEGD: all of the above)

 

We are not able to place retired guides in adoptive homes. (No participating schools checked this option.)

 

8.         The school can offer kennel services for a guide, if a graduate requests that.

 

Yes. (Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

No. (Fidelco, GDTX)