2006 Survey, Program Options
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.