Guide Dog Users Inc. Supporting Guide Dog Teams Since 1972

2006 Post-Training Policies

Post-Training Policies

1. Upon completion of training with your program: (please select one.)

• The school retains some form of ownership of the dog.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom)
• The graduate owns the dog.
  • (GDA, GDF, GDTX, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• The school retains ownership of the dog, but a graduate may apply for ownership after a specified period of successful partnership with the dog. Please indicate this amount of required time here.
  • (GDA: on occasion may offer 1 year conditional contract with follow-up visits prior to offering ownership; GDB: 1 year; GDDI: 1 year; GEB: 2 years; KSDS: 1 year; Leader: some probationary contracts)

2. Your program's response to cases of proven abuse would be best represented as:

• The school retains the right to remove a dog from a graduate�s home in cases of proven abuse.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDB, GDDI, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Pilot)
• The school works with Animal Control or other appropriate agenciesto remove a dog in cases of proven abuse.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDF, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• The school expects that civil authorities will deal directly with the handler to resolve situations of proven dog-abuse.
  • (Fidelco)

3. The school retains the right to remove a dog from a graduate in cases where (mark any that apply):

• The training staff deems the working team to be unsafe.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDDI, GDTX, GEB, Leader, Pilot)
• The school determines the handler's home environment to be unsafe.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDB, GDDI, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD)
• Once a dog is issued, the school does not involve itself in attempting to remove a dog under any circumstances.
  • (Seeing Eye)
• None of the above.
  • (GDA, GDF)

4. The program's policy concerning guide-related equipment is (please mark all that apply):

• The graduate owns the dog's work-related equipment upon graduation.
  • (KSDS, Seeing Eye)
• The school retains ownership of the dog's work-related equipment.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, Leader, Pilot, SEGD)
• The school reserves the right to remove the harness in cases where the training staff deems the team to be unsafe.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD)
• The school requests that the harness be returned to them upon retirement of the guide.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

5. If replacement equipment is needed by a graduate of your program: (Indicate any that apply.)

• The graduate will be referred to vendors from which they can purchase the needed equipment.
  • (GDB checked both options)
• The school provides replacement equipment free of charge to its graduates.
  • (Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• None of the above:
  • (Fidelco, GDTX, KSDS, Leader)

6. The school's policy regarding veterinary costs related to the dogs they provide is (please mark any that apply):

• Graduates are offered an annual stipend for veterinary care throughout the working career of the dog.
  • (GDB, GEB, Pilot)
• Graduates who keep their retired guides are offered an annual veterinary care stipend to use throughout that dog's entire life.
  • (GDB)
• The school covers the cost of veterinary care for a specified period of time. *Indicate this amount of time here:
  • (GDA: requests for assistance considered on a case by case basis; GDF: 1 year; Leader: case by case basis with a one-time stipend provided 6 months after graduation; Seeing Eye: 1 year)
• Heartworm and flea and tick preventative medications are offered to graduates free of charge (or the cost is reimbursed).
  • (GDB, KSDS, Leader, Seeing Eye)
• Heartworm and flea and tick preventative medications are offered to graduates at reduced cost.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDF, GEB)
• The dog's food is offered to graduates at reduced cost through the school.
  • (Fidelco, KSDS)
• The school offers loans or grants to assist graduates with vet costs if need be.
  • (Freedom, GDB, GDDI, GDF, Seeing Eye)
• The school assists graduates experiencing financial difficulties in finding organizations that might offer them funding for veterinary costs.
  • (Fidelco, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader)
• No options checked:
  • (GDTX, SEGD)

7. Upon completion of training ( indicate all that apply):

• The school has a graduation ceremony.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GEB, KSDS, SEGD)
• First-time graduates are treated to a dinner to celebrate completion of the program.
  • (GDA, GDDI, Leader, Seeing Eye)
• Graduates receive a packet of materials about their dog, their training, and about their access rights.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• Exit interviews are conducted during which graduates are encouraged to comment on their in-class experience.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

8. If a graduate wishes to share feedback about the program with the school (Indicate all that apply.)

• There is a process in place to allow graduates to comment on school programs and policies.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)
• The school has a Graduate Council.
  • (Fidelco, GDB, GDF, GEB)
• The school sponsors an email list for graduates and those interested in the school.
  • (GDDI, GDF, GEB)
• The school keeps ongoing communication with its graduates, informing them of program news and/or innovations, using its website as well as school newsletters.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)
• None of the above were checked:
  • (Freedom, SEGD)

9. Regarding access awareness (indicate all that apply):

• Our program provides a booklet containing access laws for the U.S. and Canada.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• we provide graduates with a card that is printed with the access laws for their home region.
  • (GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDTX, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• The school has staff available to assist graduates in advocating for their access rights and to help them educate the public about the working dog-handler team.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• The school has videos and written materials available to educate the public about the guide dog handlers' civil rights.
  • (GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• The school shares information with students about advocacy organizations, such as Guide Dog Users, Inc. (an advocacy organization which assists handlers in advocating for their access rights, and in educating the public about the guide dog-handler team).
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

10. If any of the following school policies apply, please indicate.

• Qualified graduates serve on the school's Board of Directors.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• Qualified graduates are employed at the school.
  • (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)
• Graduates of your program volunteer on behalf of your program.
  • (All schools checked yes for this option.)
• The school has a program that offers graduates opportunities to speak about the school and their guide dog related experiences in their local areas.
  • (All schools checked yes for this option.)
• Graduates are offered the opportunity to actively raise funds for the school by participating in school-sponsored activities or programs.
  • (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye

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