Bridge Handles?

[milos_mommy]

Originally Posted by frostfell

not meaning to be offensive, and i hope im not, but you all are clearly not blind, as youre typing on a computer/keyboard, so im curious what is a sighted persons use of those kinds of handles? i dont know a whole lot at all about various SD tasks, im afraid

Guide work (not even balance work, although lots of people use them for balance) can be used to help a handler with lots of different perception or mobility impairment issues. For example, I have seizures, and when I do, I sometimes wander a bit aimlessly where I have no idea where I'm going (ie, in to traffic, or in circles). However, if someone guides me by the arm or hand (or I'm holding onto a handle) I'll just follow where ever they take me. So a service dog with mobility would be trained to guide me someplace safe.

They can be trained to go to a car, seek out a public bathroom, guide the handler to a bed or bench, or even find homes. They're often used by handlers with PTSD and various neurological disorders (autism, seizures, Parkinson's, narcolepsy to name a few).

And plenty of blind people have the ability to post on forums and browse the Internet with modern software.

[frostfell]

Oh that makes sense, thank you!

[Saeleofu]

not meaning to be offensive, and i hope im not, but you all are clearly not blind, as youre typing on a computer/keyboard, so im curious what is a sighted persons use of those kinds of handles? i dont know a whole lot at all about various SD tasks, im afraid

It's already been pretty well covered, but yeah, I know a TON of blind people who use computers. MOST people who are blind do have some usable vision. The cutoff for "legally blind" is 20/200, and I know that I can still use a computer easily with vision worse than that (I've had 20/200 or worse...much worse...uncorrected since 3rd grade. Glasses fix it, but uncorrected it give me an idea of what some people might experience all the time of they have low vision). Even for those who don't have any vision,. there are all sorts of screen readers, speech to text, etc. One thing about the reCAPTCHAs that were here is that they're not accessible for those who are blind, deaf-blind, or have sensory processing disorders. The questions we have now are MUCH better because screen readers and other accessibility devices can pick them up.

Logan does guide work for my autism, or rather the associated sensory processing issues. I've probably scared more than one person when I am with Logan, then get in my car and drive away

[Flyinsbt]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

It's already been pretty well covered, but yeah, I know a TON of blind people who use computers. MOST people who are blind do have some usable vision. The cutoff for "legally blind" is 20/200, and I know that I can still use a computer easily with vision worse than that (I've had 20/200 or worse...much worse...uncorrected since 3rd grade. Glasses fix it, but uncorrected it give me an idea of what some people might experience all the time of they have low vision).

Interesting! My vision is much worse than that in my right eye (I think it's around 20/400, though I can't remember for sure), though my glasses mostly correct it. Not 100% fixable, but mostly. I will say, with my glasses off, if I get up real close to the screen, I can read it. Probably wouldn't be able to do the ReCaptcha things. Usually with my glasses off, I just look at things with my left eye, which is a bit far sighted. Well, and both eyes have an astigmatism, but I can see enough to read, or to walk around (depth perception isn't very good).

I didn't realize I was so close to being legally blind.

[Saeleofu]

I didn't realize I was so close to being legally blind.

In order to be legally blind, your corrected vision has to be 20/200 or less (and "less" means the bottom number is larger). Uncorrected it doesn't matter how bad it is, but it does give you some perspective. People can also be legally blind with 20/20 vision if their field of vision is down to a certain angle. I don't recall what that angle is right now, though. So small field of vision with 20/20 in what little area you do see is still blind.

When I was in elementary school we had a large number of blind and low-vision students, and they did a LOT of education over it. I found it quite fascinating.

[Flyinsbt]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

In order to be legally blind, your corrected vision has to be 20/200 or less (and "less" means the bottom number is larger). Uncorrected it doesn't matter how bad it is, but it does give you some perspective. People can also be legally blind with 20/20 vision if their field of vision is down to a certain angle. I don't recall what that angle is right now, though. So small field of vision with 20/20 in what little area you do see is still blind.

No, I got that part. I just meant that I didn't realize my uncorrected vision was legally blind, at least on the one side. (by "close" I meant "if it wasn't correctable"). I went without glasses for years, when I didn't drive. (no insurance, low income). I finally went to get glasses, and the optometrist asked me if I could read. Which I found amusing, because I read a lot.

After I got the glasses, my ability to get around without them decreased. But my vision has also gotten worse.

[kaykay21]

Originally Posted by frostfell

not meaning to be offensive, and i hope im not, but you all are clearly not blind, as youre typing on a computer/keyboard, so im curious what is a sighted persons use of those kinds of handles? i dont know a whole lot at all about various SD tasks, im afraid

my cousin is blind. he has a system that he talks to that types and reads for him. assuming cause someone is on the computer typing doesnt mean they dont have vision issues.

now to op im not sure what brand his handel is but ill post a pic of elliot wearing it. this particular one seems to work well for him.

[CharlieDog]

His harness looks really familiar. I can't remember the program name off hand, but their stuff may be made to fit the specific handler/dog it's for.

[stardogs]

I thiiink that harness/handle combo is from either Guiding Eyes or Leader Dogs.

It's interesting to see the shorter handle - most of the official guide harnesses with handles seem to put the handler waaaay behind the dog (at the hip basically) and for this dog and handler, we actually need him closer to her shoulder for walking.

[Saeleofu]

It's interesting to see the shorter handle - most of the official guide harnesses with handles seem to put the handler waaaay behind the dog (at the hip basically) and for this dog and handler, we actually need him closer to her shoulder for walking.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean "by the shoulder for walking." Can you explain that a little bit? I may be able to help you find something if I understand more what you need from the dog.

Generally handlers work at the hip of a guide dog (or near the flank if it's a long dog) because that way there's more warning when something comes up. you have the dog's whole body length to respond. And as I said earlier, it eases the strain on the handler's shoulders, hips and back.

The only person with a guide that uses a shorter handle that I know is in a wheelchair, and guiding in a wheelchair is different than guiding for someone walking.

Right now I walk even with Logan's withers or just behind. It works okay, but there are some ergonomics issues and some response time issues, which is why I'll be getting a guide harness.