It is a question as old as time itself. Well, not exactly as old as time but at least dating back to the early 1900's when Dorothy Eustis agreed to train student Morris Frank to work with Buddy, the first guide dog brought back to the United States as a service dog. Ms. Eustis and Mr. Frank continued the dream by building the first guide dog school in the United States called Seeing Eye. Since that time, other guide dog schools appeared opening doors to the blind so they could become as independent as possible considering most blind people have little to no vision.
There seems to be a major misconception in the minds of the public regarding the definition of blindness. It is possible for someone to have some sight yet still be blind. Social Security's definition of blindness is 20/200 or worse in the better eye or less than 20 degrees peripheral vision in the better eye. This definition proves that despite having light perception remaining, it is possible to still fall into the category of blindness and be unable to travel independently without the use of a sighted person, cane, or guide dog.
For more than ten years, I spend at least a few days of each school year lecturing children about blindness and guide dogs. Elementary children have to be my favorites among those I teach about blindness if for no other reason than the fact they have the most interesting questions. It is probably questions adults have yet are too polite to ask. Here are a few children ask each year along with some of my most favored from a decade's worth of children.
Do blind people see black? Answer: Totally blind people, meaning people without any vision at all do not really see black. They see the absence of light. It is a great area where there is nothing there so the person has to rely on other senses to get an understanding of the world around them.
Why did you go blind? Answer: My blindness is in part due to a hereditary eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. I also have extraordinarily small optic nerves, which are the nerves that go from the eyes to the brain. These nerves tell the brain what the eyes see but mine are so small, they cannot tell the brain what is going on outside. Additionally, with the retinal disease, it makes the optic nerves' job even more difficult because my retinas are broken. Last, I have two autoimmune diseases called systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's disease. These diseases in addition to the medication to slow the progression of lupus cause retinal damage, which damages my retinas more.
What do you see? Answer: I am a low partial, which means I have some light perception but it is unusable. Imagine holding two dark drinking straws in front of your eyes and then adding a piece of cellophane wrap across the end of each straw. Now, you see what I see. My peripheral vision is gone; as time progresses my central vision goes with it.
How does a guide dog know where to go? Answer: The handler tells him or her which way to go or what to find as a landmark to give the handler an idea of where they are in a city or building.
Does a guide dog tell you when he has to go potty? Answer: Often a guide dog can tell you when he has to go potty; however, a guide dog's training teaches him/her to have a specific eating and drinking time so he or she has a specific potty break time. Unless the dog is sick or somebody slipped him/her people food, which is a no-no, he/she only potties on a schedule.
Can I play with a guide dog? Answer: The answer is maybe. It all depends on whether or not the dog is working and if you get the handler's permission first. Never distract a guide dog while he/she is working. To a blind person, calling a guide dog is like grabbing the steering wheel of your mom or dad's car while they are driving in traffic. It can cause an accident and even death under the right circumstances. However, if you want to pet a guide dog, always ask permission before doing so. Some handlers can allow it while others cannot. It depends a lot on the temperament of the dog and his/her ability to get back on track after a distraction.
Other questions through the years fall into the category of why the dog has a leash and a harness. What is the harness made of and why is it so hard? Does a guide dog bite? Can a guide dog go into a restaurant? Can a guide dog go into a hospital? The answers vary.
