Man’s best friend can help vision impaired Dublin

IRISH Guide Dogs for the Blind marked World Sight Day last week by inviting more vision impaired Dubliners to train with a guide dog.

There are currently only 58 people with guide dogs in Dublin and while there’s a waiting list for training it’s possible for man and canine to be partnered up within 6-12 months.

CEO of Irish Guide Dogs, Padraig Mallon, says training and support can help the vision impaired improve their quality of life.

“There are many vision impaired people in Ireland today who are completely dependent on their relatives or friends for getting out and about,

? he explained.

“Because they have not had access to training and support with their mobility they rarely leave home alone.

“This can be very isolating and lonely. We want to get the message out there that we can provide support to them and getting access to independent living skills, long cane training or a guide dog is a positive, doable experience that can be the difference between existing and really living your life.

?

Irish Guide Dogs also runs an Orientation and Mobility (Long Cane) Training programme, which can also help participants gain more independence.

“People think a long cane or a guide dog may not be for them,

? Mr Mallon continued.

“They may fear the responsibility might outweigh any potential advantages.

“They also may worry that having a dog marks them out as being different to other people and brands them as someone who has a disability.

“In our almost 40 years of experience however, we have found universally positive response to having a guide dog, particularly from people who didn’t consider themselves

‘dog’ people or who simply thought it wasn’t for them.

?

One Dubliner who’s benefited from having a guide dog is Gerry Kerr from Glasnevin. Gerry (54) has always known he was going to go blind after being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition which causes rapid eye deterioration later on in life.

He was extremely dedicated to his job working with young offenders but when he lost his sight in 2002 he was forced to give it up.

“I found coping with my sight loss very hard, I became a very difficult person to live with,

? Gerry admits.

Now, after going to therapy to help cope with his disability, Gerry is extremely positive and upbeat, and regularly works as a motivational speaker, even talking about his disability on RTE’s

‘A Life Less Ordinary’.

Orva became Gerry’s guide dog in 2007 and he now has a level of independence and mobility he never thought possible. He regularly takes trips on public transport around the country and is a fabulous storyteller.

Gerry hopes his story will help encourage other Dubliners with vision impairments to reach out for help.

People don’t have to be completely blind to train with a dog. All services are provided free of charge, including a three-week residential training programme with the dog at the Irish Guide Dogs HQ in Cork.

The lower age limit is 16 and there is no upper age limit for getting a guide dog.

To find out more about training with Irish Guide Dogs call LoCall 1850-506300.