IGDF | UK
First and foremost, membership of the IGDF
enables Guide Dog Schools around the world to
join a community dedicated to serving the visually
impaired. That community needs and wants to
share its knowledge and the IGDF facilitates that.
The map below outlines the contributing
countries for this edition of Visionary.
Registered in England Company No 2376162
Registered Charity No 1062441
The Seeing Eye Inc | USA
Message from
the Chair
Contents
3
Message from the Chair
James G. Kutsch
4
IGDF Assessments
4
Development Committee Update
5
Escuela Perros Guia Argentinos
Segunda Entrega de Perros
Hugo de Arce
5
Leader dog makes ClickAndGo
Maps available to
Rachelle Kniffen
6
Taking the lead to support
Australian Guide Dogs
Sally Edgar
7
Developing our strategy
7
Ray hangs up the harness after
52 years
Guide Dogs, Australia
8
Free-Feeding in a Canine Breeding
Facility
Eamon Quinn
9
My first visit to guide dog program
in Shanghai, China
William Chen
9
A UK guide on travel with a guide
or assistance dog
John Welsman
10 Cities Unlocked - exploring the
world using 3D Soundscapes
John Shelton
11 Man's best friend has a human side
Dr Bob Proesman
12 With a little goodness to
happiness on a leash
Darinka Leãnik-Urbancl
13 We’re starting late in Romania
Capt. Stan Platt (OBE)
14 The Integration of a Psychologist
into IGDCB Training Staff –
a pilot study
Jed Schlesinger
James G. Kutsch - President and CEO
The Seeing Eye Inc, USA
Hello everyone and welcome to the
latest edition of Visionary.
On behalf of the Board of the
International Guide Dog Federation, I
would like to wish all of our Members
and colleagues a Happy New Year.
2014 was a busy year for the IGDF and
I would like to take one final
opportunity to thank everyone
involved in making it a successful year
on so many levels.
From those
involved in the planning and smoothrunning of the Tokyo Seminar to the
Development Committee in their
support of development opportunities
for both existing and emerging
members; from the Accreditation
Committee (& Assessors) who travel
the world assessing and monitoring
the standards set by the IGDF to my
colleagues on the Board who work on
your behalf in so many ways; and to
all of you reading this as individuals
involved with IGDF member schools –
thank you to all.
Les Chiens Guides d'Aveugles de
L'ouest (France) kindly hosted the
recent November Board meeting, at
which the ongoing IGDF Strategy was
subject to significant discussion –
more of which you can read about
within the pages of this magazine.
Efforts in this key area of our ongoing
work and development will continue
as we move further into 2015.
The Board members are also
reviewing the Annual Report process
in order to ensure we are in a position
to use the data provided to better
inform our Members and, also, to
guide organisations driving towards
membership through the Development
Committee. The review is based upon
significant feedback we have received
from our Members and we are aiming
to send out a revised Annual Report
return form in the coming months.
Work continues on the development
of a Wiki facility within the pages of
our website and, once complete, this
will lead into a review of the website
on a wider scale.
Whilst the next Seminar is not scheduled until 2016, it does take a
significant amount of time and effort
to prepare for the event. The Board
has started to develop the plans to
work alongside our Croatian hosts in
order to best prepare for another
success with this key event in the
Guide Dog calendar.
These are just a few of the many tasks
in which the Board and its
Committees act on your behalf. We
look forward to your continued
support in our efforts.
James G. Kutsch
IGDF Chair
15 International travel with guide dogs
Martine Abel
Disclaimer
Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading
Berkshire RG7 3YG United Kingdom
www.igdf.org.uk
Whilst the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) retains editorial right to
all articles presented within the Visionary, accuracy of specific detail and figures
quoted are as provided by the author and their supporting organisation.
The IGDF, whilst welcoming feedback on content, will not enter into any
dialogue relating to perceived inaccuracies in these areas.
Issue 25 | February 15 | 3
IGDF | UK
IGDF
Assessments
Congratulations to
our newest members
of the IGDF:
l
Guide Dogs of America, America
l
Fondation Frédéric Gaillanne,
France
l
OccuPaws Guide Dog Association,
America
l
The Rehabilitation Centar Silver,
Croatia
Congratulations to
the following schools
which passed their
five-year assessment:
l
Blindenführhundschule
Katharina Richter, Germany
l
Dog Guides Canada, Lions
Foundation of Canada, Canada
l
Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog
Society, Canada
l
Geleidehondenschool Herman
Jansen BV, The Netherlands
l
Les Chiens Guides d'Aveugles du
Centre Ouest, France
l
Samsung Guide Dog School, Korea
l
Southeastern Guide Dogs Inc,
America
l
Stiftung Schweizerische Schule
für Blindenführhunde Allschwil,
Switzerland
The following
organisations have
been accepted as
Applicant
Organisations:
l
Mathilda Guide Dogs,
Czech Republic
Please note there are additional
organisations being processed.
4 | the Visionary | IGDF
Development Committee
Update
The IGDF Development Committee
(DC) thanks the many organizations
who so generously provide puppies,
adults and breeders to help others.
We want to share a success story with
you with the hope that maybe your
organisation can take part in the
future. The Rehabilitation Centar
Silver, a guide dog organisation in
Croatia, needed puppies for their
programme and asked the DC for
help. Guiding Eyes for the Blind
donated a pregnant young adult
named Marissa to be hosted at Belgian
Guide Dogs where she whelped and
raised her litter. As promised, some of
the puppies were provided to Centar
Silver. Bob Proesmans from Belgium
drove halfway to Austria, where he
met Julijana György Mate‰iç from
Croatia. A male was exchanged for an
extra female from CESECAH, the
French National Breeding Programme.
The remaining puppies were used in
the training programme at the Belgian
Centre for Guide Dogs, in thanks for
their hard work. Marissa’s future
matings will be to proven top guide
dog stud and brood dogs and the
puppies distributed again.
Similar collaborations are taking place
in South America between AO's based
in Brazil and Uruguay, meeting the
needs of being able to share puppies
between organisations, having less
cost for shipping and reducing the
burden of raising pups until old
enough to ship.
The DC therefore supports IGDF’s 16
AO’s, 10 EO’s (Enquiry Organisations)
and, from time to time, Member
Organisations (MO) who require
additional support to maintain
successful accreditation and IGDF
membership. A brood or stud could be
donated or loaned to be hosted by one
IGDF member organisation located
close
to
other
organisations
requesting dogs.
Contact a Development Committee
member if you would like guidance
organising something like this or have
another idea of collaborating with
others.
In response to interest from many
members, applicant and enquiry
organisations the DC encouraged and
supported the 3rd Breeders Workshop
on 28 & 29th March 2015 in Lezoux,
France. This workshop is being hosted
by CESECAH, in collaboration with the
French Federation of Guide Dog
Schools (FFAC). The purpose of this
workshop is to provide staff managing
the breeding with basic information
about basic genetic principles, steps to
follow to build and then manage a
small breeding colony, using data to
identify the best young dogs to keep
for breeding, practical information
about canine reproduction and an
introduction to the Behaviour
Checklist (BCL), a tool for scoring
components of a dog’s temperament.
We have also planned informal
discussion time with attendees and
members of the DC. Space is limited
to 40 attendees. If you would like to
know more about this workshop
contact Anthony Morin, Breeding
Manager
of
CESECAH
at
[email protected]. If
you are interested in future workshops,
please go to
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/
FutureBreedersWorkshops
and fill out a survey to provide input
and make us aware that you are
interested.
Respectfully
Ian Cox
Bob Proesmans
Jane Russenberger
Ivana Merryman Boncori
USA | Leader Dogs for the Blind
Escuela Perros Guías Argentinos | Argentina
Escuela Perros Guía Argentinos
Segunda Entrega de Perros
Rachelle Kniffen – Director of Communications
& Marketing
Leader Dogs for the Blind, USA
Hugo de Arce - Cordinado General
Escuela Perros Guías Argentinos, Argentina
Argentinian Guide dogs
school (Escuela de
Perros Guía Argentinos,
EPGA.) delivered four
dogs, Danko, Rocko,
Zamba and Randy, from
the second generation.
These dogs were trained
following IGDF’s
international protocols.
The guide dogs were handed to blind
users from different cities in
Argentina.
Ximena Daiara Vera
Ceballos (15) became the first
teenager to use a guide dog in the
country; their development was
amazing.
Another six dogs are already training
in preparation to be delivered, during
the next year, to potential Handlers
who are also preparing their readiness
for having a guide dog.
Leader dog makes
ClickAndGo Maps
available to clients
Using the latest in
narrative map technology,
Leader Dogs for the Blind
has transformed their
campus and training
routes into a series of
audible plans that clients
can listen to online,
Present at the formal ceremony were
Hugo de Arce (President of Lions Club
Quilmes Oeste and EPGA Manager),
Carlos Botindari (EPGA Headmaster),
Nina Lozeva and Maximiliano Araoz
(EPGA Trainers.
EPGA has also incorporated a new
breed onto their programme certifying a first quality Labrador
retriever – and we look forward to a
new year of hard work and new
challenges in increasing its experience
in Latin America.
download to their portable music
player or access on their smartphone
prior to arriving for training. Via
ClickAndGo
Wayfinding
Maps
(clickandgomaps.com),
incoming
clients have the ability to study maps
of our buildings, campus and cities
that we train in to aid in location
familiarity and reduce the anxiety of
traveling in a new environment.
While clients are on campus, they can
use Leader Dog Wi-Fi to access
wayfinding maps to help them easily
navigate through buildings and the
on-campus training course. Common
areas such as the dining room,
laundry and dog feed rooms can
become familiar early in the training
cycle.
Routes for the various communities
and parks we utilize for training were
mapped by our Certified Orientation
& Mobility (O&M) Specialists using
standard O&M instructions and
directions. Identifiers, such as sound
clues and significant landmarks, are
also included on the maps.
Implementation of this service
supports Leader Dog’s commitment to
the use of new technology in
empowering people who are blind or
visually impaired with lifelong skills
for independent travel.
For more information, go to
http://www.clickandgomaps.com/
leaderdog.
Issue 25 | February 15 | 5
Guide Dogs | Australia
Taking the lead to support
Australian Guide Dogs
Sally Edgar - Public Relations Coordinator
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
For International Guide
Dog Day 2014, the Guide
Dogs’ organisations
across Australia launched
a public education
campaign aimed at
addressing an issue that
affects Guide Dog owners
around the world –
attacks on working Guide
Dogs by uncontrolled pet
dogs.
Called ‘Take the lead’, the campaign
was developed after a survey of
Australian Guide Dog Owners revealed,
on average, three Guide Dogs a month
were attacked by a pet dog while
working over the past year. There are
currently around 1,000 Guide Dogs
working across Australia.
Around the world, Guide Dogs for the
Blind in the UK reported in 2013 that
attacks on British Guide Dogs had
increased to a new high, with more
than 10 Guide Dogs a month being
attacked by other dogs, up two attacks
per month since 2012. A research
paper in the Journal of Visual
Impairment & Blindness (Oct/Nov
2011) reports that while data on the
frequency of dog attacks on Guide
Dogs is not readily available, a 2011
survey by The Seeing Eye in the US
found “44% of Guide Dog teams have
experienced at least one attack and
83% have experienced interference by
an aggressive dog”, while a 2003
survey of 119 Guide Dog handlers in
the US and Canada found “42% of
Guide Dog users have experienced
some form of attack on their Guide
Dogs and 89% have experienced some
form of interference from another dog
while working with their Guide Dog on
a public walkway”.
6 | the Visionary | IGDF
In Australia, 80% of the Guide Dogs
handlers surveyed said they regularly
experience pet dogs distracting their
Guide Dog from its job.
Internationally it’s been reported that
attacks from off-lead pet dogs is one of
the main reasons for the premature
retirement of Guide Dogs.
The
Australian survey found one in four
(27%) Guide Dogs sustained injuries
from dog attacks, with two Guide Dogs
retired as a result of the trauma. In the
UK, five of the dogs attacked in the
period March 2011 – February 2013
have been permanently withdrawn
from service, costing Guide Dogs an
estimated £171,657 (AUD$320,097).
Australian
support
from
With
celebrity TV vet Dr Lisa Chimes
(Channel 10’s Bondi Vet), who has two
pet dogs, the ‘Take the lead’ campaign
called on the nation’s dog lovers to
ensure the 4.2 million pet dogs across
the country are always walked on a
lead in the name of responsible pet
ownership.
The campaign also drew support from
Guide Dog handlers who shared their
personal, and often traumatic, stories
of the impact of having their Guide
Dog attacked by another dog.
To encourage the public to keep their
pet dogs on a lead and under control
when out and about, dog leads
featuring the tagline ‘I’m taking the
lead to support Guide Dogs’ were
distributed free of charge to schools
and local councils and were made
available for sale online and at events.
A light hearted TV advertisement was
also created to appeal to the public to
help make the community a safer
place for Guide Dog teams. The
advertisement can be viewed on the
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx
SURp7Yi98&list=UUAlQWt0DtuytU6w
SIr5kK7A
Pic caption: Doing the right thing – A
dog owner controls his dog as he walks
past ‘Take the lead’ ambassador and
Australia’s
then
Disability
Discrimination Commissioner Graeme
Innes AM and his Guide Dog Arrow.
IGDF | UK
Developing
our strategy
IGDF Board
At a recent face-to-face Board
meeting, the ongoing strategy of the
International Guide Dog Federation
was high on the agenda.
Working from the previous strategy,
the Board reviewed progress on the
agreed priorities of:
•
Setting & monitoring standards
•
Promoting quality
•
Working together
We then considered what should be
the key priorities for the next few
years, in line with the proposed new
Vision:
Effective guide dogs for safe,
unrestricted, independent mobility
available, from our Members, to all
people who are blind or partially
sighted around the world.
The Mission for the IGDF will remain
the same:
The
International
Guide
Dog
Federation supports its Members in
their efforts to encourage and
advance the provision of guide dogs as
a safe means of independent mobility
for people who are blind or partially
sighted.
From this, the 3 proposed strategic
goals which will enable us to achieve
our Vision and Mission are:
•
Be the guardian of the global
standard for guide dogs
•
Be the enabler of existing and
emerging guide dog organisations
to achieve, maintain and exceed
the global standard
•
Be the driver (advocate) for open
global access for guide dogs
There is still a great deal of work to
complete on this; we will be
consulting at many levels before we
reach the final goal – we look forward
to hearing from you as we provide you
with more detail in the near future.
Australia | Guide Dogs
Ray hangs up the harness
after 52 years
After a record-breaking career of 52
years working for Guide Dogs in
Australia, Ray Joyce (whose 50-year
milestone was recognised in the January
2012 issue of Visionary), retired in
December 2014.
As the world’s longest serving Guide Dog
Orientation and Mobility Instructor,
having worked with over 500 Guide Dog
teams across Australia, there’s no doubt
that Ray has made a significant
contribution
to
enhancing
the
independence of people who are blind
or vision impaired. He was also highly
regarded as a mentor to up and coming
instructors.
With a love of dogs, Ray started working
as a Guide Dog Instructor when he was
just 21 years old. In the early 1970’s, Ray
became one of the first in Australia to be
trained as an Orientation and Mobility
Instructor based on the teachings of the
legendary Richard Hoover.
For Ray this was his dream job.
“This job fitted me like a glove,” said Ray
on reaching 50 years. “It’s the best job
that I could imagine me doing because
of my love for dogs and affinity for
working with people.”
Enjoying the challenge of problem
solving, Ray is highly regarded within
the industry for his ability to provide
innovative solutions for clients.
Ray’s invention of a device called the
‘Pramtow’ has helped to revolutionise
how parents with Guide Dogs or long
canes get around with their babies. More
recently, he has expanded upon this
idea to develop the ‘Shopping tow’.
Even though Ray has retired, it doesn’t
mean he’s slowing down with plans for
travel and continuing his passion for
singing.
Ray’s career and retirement were
honoured by his many friends at Guide
Dogs at a party in November, when he
was presented with a wonderful
caricature of himself doing what he
loved best, training Guide Dogs.
Congratulations to Ray from everyone at
Guide Dogs in Australia and, indeed, the
international guide dog community!
Guide Dogs Victoria | Australia
Free-Feeding in
a Canine
Breeding
Facility
Eamon Quinn – Kennel Attendant
Guide Dogs Victoria, Australia
Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV) has been
purpose-breeding guide dogs for many
decades. Since the development of the
Breeding Centre in 1993, procedures
used in raising litters have been
developed and refined.
Three years ago, Breeding Manager
David Markham proposed an alternate
and, what seemed to some, a radical
change to one of those procedures. The
concept surrounded the way in which
bitches and puppies were fed during
their time in the facility, allowing them
free access to an unlimited supply of
food 24 hours a day. This free feeding
routine or “Ad-lib Feeding Programme”
was aimed at tackling common issues
faced in the rearing of young puppies.
Prior to the introduction of ad-lib
feeding, fixed amounts of food were fed
to pregnant and lactating bitches as
they nurtured their litters. Quantity was
increased or decreased according to the
age of the pups. Puppies were slowly
introduced to solid foods over a period
of a few weeks, with the type and
amount varying on age and growth rate.
Each pup was fed individually three
times per day before being fostered out
to a puppy raising volunteer.
This method had some disadvantages.
The weight of each bitch was often
difficult to maintain and close
monitoring was required to avoid
excessive loss of condition during
lactation. Likewise, the weekly weighins for pups was vital to ensure
adequate growth and development. The
entire process was labour intensive and
challenging for staff, particularly during
periods of high occupancy in the
Breeding Centre.
In late 2011, the Ad-lib Feeding
Programme was put to the test. The
concept of having an endless supply of
food on offer to our breeding bitches
and puppies was plagued with concerns
and queries by anxious staff. “We didn’t
know what would happen when we first
8 | the Visionary | IGDF
introduced a pregnant dog to that much
food when they entered the breeding
centre”, recalled one staff member, “not
knowing what to expect made us a bit
uncomfortable.”
The dogs, however, proved there was
little to worry about. At first, many
bitches did overindulge but with time
most began to self-regulate.
Early data demonstrated that most
dogs were eating only marginally more
than during their previous portioncontrolled diet. The intake of each bitch
tended to coincide with the age of their
pups and demand for milk production.
As each litter developed they began
exploring their quarters and found the
food also available to them. Placing
each bitch on a diet of kibble aimed at
small puppies ensured that the food
was the right size and palatable enough
for the pups if they were ready to accept
solid food. "It was surprising how young
the pups were when they began eating
solid kibble;" staff commented, "some
were eating at 2 weeks old." Historically,
a move onto solid food for pups was a
lengthy process involving multiple
dietary
changes
coupled
with
demanding preparation. Pups on an Adlib Programme are free to eat at their
own pace and have fewer dietary
changes.
After initial trials proved successful the
Ad-lib Programme became standard
routine within the breeding centre. The
results of the programme have been
delightful to observe, and some
unexpected
consequences
have
become evident.
The body condition of nearly all bitches
improved dramatically and weaning
pups off their mother became a gentler
and more fluid process. Concerns over
milk production became an issue of the
past with weaning weights rising
significantly. Coprophagic behaviour
declined as did the incidence of
diarrhoea.
The average weaning weight of pups at
six weeks of age today is 36 percent
greater than that of pups bred in 2010.
Notably, birth weight has remained
almost constant over the years. At this
stage there is insufficient data to
determine if this increase in weaning
weight is having any impact on the
pups’ later development.
An unexpected benefit from the
implementation
of
the
Ad-lib
programme has been the dramatic
change in atmosphere within the
breeding centre itself. Anxiety and
stress behaviours associated with
predictable feeding times have simply
faded away in both adult dogs and
puppies. This aspect alone has been
welcomed by staff and dogs alike.
The programme is not without its
shortcomings. On rare occasions
bitches have faced difficulty with
elimination as a result of excessive food
intake. In addition, pups being far less
food focused have taken time to learn
the set meal time routine when placed
in puppy raiser homes.
Overall the Ad-lib Programme has been
well received. Importantly, with less
time devoted to a strict feeding regime,
staff and volunteers now have more
time to devote to providing invaluable
human contact with each developing
pup in a relaxed calm environment.
Taiwan Guide Dogs | Taiwan
UK | Guide Dogs
My first visit to
guide dog program
in Shanghai,
China
A UK guide on travel with a
guide or assistance dog
William Chen – General Manager
Taiwan Guide Dog Association, Taiwan
John Welsman - Guide Dogs Policy Business
Partner (Travel and Transport)
Guide Dogs UK
Following a request from the Shanghai
City Disabled Union, and almost 6
months’ communication by both
phone and email, I made a trip to
Shanghai to see their current of guide
dog programme during November
2014.
Recently
introduced
European
regulation
now
supports
the
accommodation of recognised guide
dogs trained by IGDF member
organisations on most modes of
transport into, around and out of
Europe.
It was a great chance to see the real
cases, the challenges & difficulties
they are facing, to understand and
exchange the ideas or approaches that
might be doable and beneficial to the
programme.
To accommodate travel by air, car, sea
and inland waterway, rail and coach,
Europe has a strict Pet Passport process
in place to support public health
related issues.
Some quick facts about the guide dog
programme in Shanghai:
1. The Shanghai City Disabled Union is
incharge of managing the guide dog
programme. This is the only
programme, government run, in
China.
2. The programme was started in 2007
and currently there are 25 active
guide dog teams working in
Shanghai. The newest goal is to
have 5 teams graduate in 2015.
3. These guide dogs are trained by
police & military dog trainers since
there is no professional or certified
guide dog trainer in Shanghai.
From my visit, the basic working
standard of these dogs was fine. Due,
however, to lack of knowledge &
experience, there is no puppy walking
programme and the procedures for
interview and follow up are really
limited - almost non-existent. These
have become the major concerns to
continuously developing a guide dog
programme in Shanghai for the
future.
From a UK perspective, Guide Dogs UK
has worked with Government and its
agencies, service providers and
transport operators to ensure that
guide and other assistance dogs are
accommodated
appropriately
on
services into and out of the UK. To
support this, Guide Dogs has produced
a website with the support of the UK
travel industry which aims to advise
guide and other assistance dog owners
about international travel.
The website serves to guide and advise
UK guide dog owners about European
regulation which supports travel with a
guide dog, the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS),
what to do to prepare for travel with a
guide dog, who to speak to, what to
think about during a journey and when
visiting countries outside of the UK.
Guide Dogs UK recognises that the
information contained on the website
http://www.assistancedogtravel.org.uk
may also be helpful to guide dog
owners visiting the UK, but suggests
that the site is only for guidance and
advise purposes, and that guide dog
owners should always seek advice and
support from the organisation who
trained them, a veterinarian, their
transport operator and relevant
government agencies in the country
they are visiting.
John Welsman, Policy Business Partner
for Transport and Travel at Guide Dogs
UK says,
“We recognise that more guide dog
owners would like to take advantage of
international travel with their dog. And
we hope that the website goes some
way to provide them with resources
which support their travel. This is a
complex
issue
which
needs
consideration,
especially
when
traveling to and visiting countries
which we recognise to have different
access issues, cultural norms and
animal health considerations, to those
found in the UK. So we hope the
website spells out the processes and
issues a guide dog owner needs to think
about before taking a journey.”
The website is just one of the resources
Guide Dogs UK provides for guide dog
owners who may need advice and
guidance with access related issues,
many of which are supported in the UK
through its Equality Act 2010 or
Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
As there are so many blind people in
China, there is really high demand for
a guide dog service. Whilst many
aspects indicate China may not yet be
ready (e.g. culture, environment,
society, animal welfare), I do believe
that, through support and assistance
from the IGDF and its Members, a
guide dog programme is possible.
Issue 25 | February 15 | 9
Guide Dogs | UK
Cities Unlocked - exploring the world using 3D
Soundscapes
John Shelton – Cities Unlocked Programme
Manager
Guide Dogs UK
Background
In 2013 Guide Dogs and Microsoft
created a film called A Family Day Out
to demonstrate technology concepts
that could greatly enhance the quality
of life for blind and visually impaired
people. Following the launch of the
film, Guide Dogs and Microsoft
teamed up with Future Cities Catapult
to research and pilot some of the
concepts; the programme of work is
called Cities Unlocked.
To bring the concepts imagined in the
film to life, we conducted an in-depth
analysis of current technology and
transport issues affecting intermodal
journeys made by people who are
blind or partially sighted. This
research identified the key stress
points in their journeys and possible
solutions to alleviate them.
We then set about designing and
developing prototype technologies
that, with a little training and
practice, dissolve into the background
of the user experience to enhance but
not hinder cognitive ability. The pilot
technologies are moving us closer to
Social Computing – whereby places,
points of interest and objects are
aware of each other, and are
contextually aware of us and our
social interactions.
How the technology works
Crudely speaking, there are three
aspects to the technology:
• A ‘Cities Unlocked’ smartphone app
that can be used with just one hand
bone-conducting
headset
•A
containing
a
Gyro, GPS
and
Accelerometer to place information in
3D space relative to the direction the
user is facing
• A boosted environment using GPS,
WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy
beacons to aid orientation, navigation,
transport and retail experiences
Once user preferences have been set
and a route selected, the phone can be
stowed in a pocket or bag, leaving the
10 | the Visionary | IGDF
user free to go about their business
whilst receiving useful information
through the headset in a unique 3D
Soundscape. Additional
buttons
mounted on the headset, allow the
user to access more information on
the move without needing to take the
phone out of their bag or pocket.
Here are examples of some of the
features:
• If the user is facing in the wrong
direction they hear a clip-clop sound
coming from the direction that they
should be facing
• The user rotates towards the clipclop sound, and when they are facing
in the right direction they will hear a
gentle ping sound
• The ping sound plots the route, so
the user simply follows the ping
whilst using their guide dog or cane
• Along the route the user receives
navigation information e.g. “turn left
in 20 metres”
• They also receive contextual
information e.g. “dropped curb
approximately 3 metres” or “caution,
this street regularly has cars parked
on the pavement”
• Points of interest, shops and street
furniture are also announced in 3D
Soundscape – it sounds as though the
announcement is coming from the
direction of the point of interest. If the
user
changes
direction
the
announcement
automatically
changes direction accordingly.
• Bus stops, bus timetables, and when
the next bus is approaching are
announced. On the bus journey the
technology continues to announce
approaching stops and points of
interest that the bus is passing. It also
works in a similar fashion on train
journeys.
Results from our user trials
We conducted a trial with 8
participants and used data collection
tools to assess mobility and quality of
life factors while the participants
undertook a long, complex and
unfamiliar
intermodal
journey
without the technology. This provided
a baseline measure against which to
measure any positive or negative
effects when travelling the same
journey some weeks later using the
technology.
The
illustration
shows
the
improvements across 17 wellbeing
measures in six areas; physiology,
orientation
skills,
cognitive/conceptual skills, mobility
skills, safety skills, and use of residual
vision (for those that had some). The
pink area shows results using their
normal mobility aid, the blue area
shows the improvement when the
technology is used alongside the
mobility aid.
The results show that the concept is a
success in helping VI people’s
mobility. Importantly, none of the
markers showed a negative impact,
and the results indicate that the
technology is a complement to
traditional mobility aids.
Next steps
Recognising that the solutions need to
be sustainable on their own merit,
otherwise they will raise expectations
and lead to disappointment, we have
now started planning for Phase 2 to
incorporate the lessons learned into a
bigger and more ambitious project.
We know that what we are doing is
important globally – but we must all
remember that what we are doing
isn’t really about the technology; it is
about people and the user experience.
Watch the Cities Unlocked film with
audio description:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9
49D1IhKKYs&list=UUpQ0GgeaP6qbUd
bSxdr-GAA
Belgium | Guide Dogs
Man's best friend has a human side
Dr Bob Proesman
The Belgian Centre for Guide Dogs
“You give them more
than a dog, you give
them eyes.”
That’s the idea behind the three eyecatching adverts by Publicis Brussels
for the Belgian Centre for Guide Dogs.
The striking images were captured by
none other than famous photographer
Mark Seliger. All three ads portray just
how perfectly guide dogs complement
their owners.
In the first ad, we see how a guide dog
stares at a pair of lady legs; in the
second, an expensive sports car is the
object of desire. In the third and final
ad, the dog eyes the window of a
jewellery store, because its female
owner can’t.
The Belgian Centre for Guide Dogs
have made the three images available
to
the
international
umbrella
organization, The International Guide
Dog Federation and now also proudly
make them available to Centres for
Guide Dogs everywhere.
Should you wish to use any of the
three images, please send a mail to
[email protected] for more information.
They will gladly send you any of the
visuals in high resolution.
Through shared collaboration like
this, we can better increase visibility
and raise awareness for all of our
Centres - not just for the dogs, but for
their masters as well.
Publicis and the Belgian Centre for
Guide Dogs were so enthusiastic
about the initial idea, that a lot of
effort was put into making sure the
adverts saw the light of day. Once
finished, they were published in
several Belgian newspapers.
The images were also proudly pinned
to the office walls of the Belgian
Centre for Guide Dogs. And of course
the homepage of the official website –
geleidehond.be – got a whole new
look.
Finally, the campaign was shortlisted
at the prestigious Cannes Lions
advertising festival in the category
Outdoor Lions.
Issue 25 | February 15 | 11
Guide Slo-Canis | Slovenia
With a little goodness to
happiness on a leash
Darinka Leãnik-Urbancl - President
SLO-CANIS, Slovenia
Slovenian Instructors Association Centre for Guide Dog and Assistance
Dog SLO-CANIS, established 2007, is a
non-government organisation consisting
of trainers and guide dog users, who
share the same goal training guide
and assistance dogs. SLO-CANIS has
an officially recognised status as an
organisation working in the public
interest in accordance with the
provisions of the Association Acts and
applicable law.
SLO CANIS was founded with the sole
purpose to train guide and assistance
dogs. We are the only GD school in
Slovenia to have the status of
humanitarian society and we are the
first GD school in Slovenia to have
adopted IGDF and EGDMS Guide Dog
Mobility Instructor competencies.
Our Mission: We are specialists, not
generalists. Not bonded to profit
earning and, thereby, relieved of profit
pressures, we take the long-term view
of building long lasting relationships
between the association and its
supporters. We will always act in the
long - term interest of our clients.
History: In Slovenia we have only two
(2) million inhabitants on 20,000
square kilometres - about 3,900 blind
and, currently, only 28 Guide Dogs. In
Slovenia there are four private GD
trainers - self employed in small
enterprises and one GD School - SLO
CANIS. As the result of that challenge
all of our staff are volunteers – GDMI
instructors, mentors and helpers.
Members 2014: 25 (including 6 GDMI,
3 mentors, 8 helpers and other are
guide dog users) Number of trained
dogs (as at October 2014): 18 (including
12 Guide Dogs, 2 therapy dogs - already
passed to institutions, where people
with special needs live in a
community - and 4 assistance dogs for
people in wheel-chairs). Currently we
are training one guide dog and one
assistance dog.
If there is something new to be done
in Slovenia, SLO-CANIS is somehow
involved. In this case, SLO-CANIS was
chosen to train a guide dog for the
first candidate under the Slovenian
age limit of 18 years. The boy (16)
attends regular secondary school in
Ptuj and we are very proud to be, once
again, breaking new ground in
Slovenia (we also trained the first
guide dog in Slovenia to travel by
plane some years ago).
We believe our hard work resulted in
an invitation to co-operate in one of
biggest European projects in the field
of guide dogs – creation of European
Guide Dog Mobility Standards –
EGDMS (2010-2012). Two years of hard
work with Guide Dogs UK (project
leading partner), EGDF, EASPD, Lincoln
University and guide dog schools from
Belgium, Poland, Romania and
Bulgaria resulted in establishing first
standardisation
basic
European
document for guide dogs and GDMI
Competences CEN CWA 16520. At the
moment, 14 of 33 members of CEN
have implemented or published the
standardisation document. Through
CEN agreement we all signed the
standardisation document and it was
sent
to
European
parliament.
Slovenian standardisation body (SIST a member of CEN) published ‘Guide
Dog Mobility Instructors – Competences
- SIST-TS CWA 16520:2014’ (1 May 2014).
This is very important because our
new *Law on equalisation of
possibilities of disabled people*
directly refers on SIST-TS CWA
16520:2014. Standardisation documents
are not obligatory unless legislation
refers on their use. They then become
part of legislation and are obligatory
for use. Thus, Slovenia became one of
the first members of CEN and
European Union to adopt the
standardisation document on a
legislative level.
Our volunteers at SLO – CANIS are
very proud to have received
encouraging words from Mr. Alan
Brooks who said in 2012: "Last year I
enjoyed an opportunity to examine
the skills, knowledge and experience
of the trainers of guide dogs for blind
and visually impaired people in
Slovenia. I believe that as a result of
the visit I am in an ideal position to
comment on the standard of training
they are able to achieve. I am
delighted with the quality of
temperament and behaviour of the
dogs in the working partnerships I
observed. The standard of training in
the dogs is high and trainers were able
to demonstrate considerate and
effective training techniques. The
techniques practiced were well
established and proven methods."
For sure, we will not stop in our
development; we have not run out of
new ideas and we are always open to
any suggestion or will for co-operation
throughout the world.
To bring theoretical knowledge to a
higher level in comparing best
available practices, SLO-CANIS visits
our partners every year. We are
grateful for letting us to do that –
THANK YOU ALL.
12 | the Visionary | IGDF
Romania | IGDF
We’re starting late in Romania
Capt. Stan Platt (OBE) - Chairman
Light into Europe
seen one. There is no O&M
programme for blind and visually
impaired people to receive training in
cane skills.
You will understand, therefore, we
still have many mountains to climb or,
in guide dog language, many obstacles
to overcome!
Starting late does, however, have a few
advantages.
Of the 27 European
Union member
countries we believe
that all but three have a
guide dog programme.
“Light into Europe” of
Romania is probably the
most recent,
and is also one of the new applicant
members of IGDF. Starting late means
of course that many blind people have
been unable to obtain a guide dog
until now. It also means that there is a
massive unmet need amongst the
impaired
blind
and
visually
community in our country. If we
compare with the United Kingdom
(who have an 85 year history of guide
dogs), to provide the same number of
dogs per head of population we would
need over 1,600 guide dogs.
As a former communist dictatorship
Romania has a poor record of care for
disabled people but following the
revolution of 1989 thing have changed
and that change continues. We are,
however, the third poorest country in
Europe; we have generations who
have grown up with no culture of
giving,
philanthropy,
charitable
sponsorship or volunteering. The
street infrastructure has not taken the
needs of blind or disabled people into
account, nor are there any laws to
allow public access for guide dogs or
other assistance dogs. Many members
of the general public do not know
what a guide dog is, nor have they ever
There are now many other guide dog
organisations worldwide, with wellestablished
training
methods,
genetically
developed
breeding
programmes, proven educational
systems for instructors and standards
set by the IGDF.
sabbatical from her employer, Vision
Australia. We also, in addition, bring in
other expertise from outside Romania
to help ensure we maintain high
standards.
Most importantly we have 4 working
guide dogs and 5 guide dog users. Yes
the figures are correct - one of our
partnerships is what we believe is
called a “Tandem” unit.
This husband and wife both work as
physiotherapists at the same clinic in
a city of north-west Romania. They
travel daily to work from their home
where five adults - our two clients,
father, mother and brother - all live
together in a small apartment.
In the late 1920’s Dorothy Harrison
Eustace started the international
collaboration when she sent her
instructors from Switzerland to
establish the giants of the guide dog
movement, “The Seeing Eye” and
“Guide Dogs UK”.
Today, with other programmes sharing
their knowledge, staff, puppies and
breeding stock, small emerging
national organisations like ours can
leap forward in putting guide dogs on
the road much more quickly than
would otherwise have been the case.
Why should we make the same
mistakes earlier programmes made
when, with their help, we can by-pass
them?
How have we done so far?
We currently have 2 brood bitches and
one stud dog - all from other guide dog
programmes. One of the broods is
currently
pregnant
from
an
established GD stud. We have four
puppies at walk, four dogs in training
and two Apprentice GDMI’s (Anca and
Sevy) who are largely being selftaught.
Our senior apprentice, however, has
had six months invaluable experience
in Liverpool UK and we hope to soon
send our second instructor to Ireland
for a similar period. We have also had
the benefit of a six month
secondment to us of GDMI Anna
Gigliotti-Skret who volunteered with
us - thanks to her being granted a
Their dog Max was bred by Irish guide
dogs and puppy walked in the UK
before receiving training and then
arriving in Bucharest. It is great
testament to his breeding that he is so
adaptable he can work for either
client or both of them together. We
believe that there are very few
“Tandem” units around the world and
many well established guide dog
programmes have yet to take this step
so, although we are late starters, we
are now racing ahead.
We look forward to the day quite soon
when we can shed the title of
applicant and take our place amongst
the IGDF full members but first we
need to train our ten partnerships.
Finally, there are many organisations
and individuals who we would thank
for the support they have given in our
journey so far; we also look forward
working with many more of you in the
years ahead.
Issue 25 | February 15 | 13
Israel Guide Dog Centre | Israel
The Integration of a Psychologist into IGDCB
Training Staff – a pilot study
Jed Schlesinger - Clinical Psychologist
Israel Guide Dog Centre for the Blind, Israel
G phoned me at 10:30pm
the night before the first
day of the guide dog
course. She was having
panic attacks and
couldn’t sleep.
T told me, with tears in her eyes, how
ten years ago at age 17 as she was
losing her sight, and as she was
leaving her house on a family outing—
her father told her to leave her cane
behind as she was "bringing shame"
on the family. At age 27, at the
beginning of the course she recalled
her mother telling her "you'll never get
a guide dog," apparently because of
her low level of physical stamina.
defined skills. The course syllabus
translates into a schedule aimed at
imparting those skills in a relatively
standardised fashion, designed for a
small group. In reality each course
member is a unique individual sharing some common goals and
characteristics, perhaps, but each
having unique histories and qualities.
a guide dog? I've come to understand
that, while we on the staff are very
invested in imparting the skills and
knowledge necessary to succeed in a
partnership with a guide dog (i.e.
while we are concentrating on
training issues), our clients are often
preoccupied with relevant personal
issues.
From the onset of the pilot, I've given
much thought as to how to establish
myself as a valuable team member,
rather than an isolated and separate
professional entity. I'm part of the
team in each course, accompanying
them on many walks and training
exercises. I talk to both course
members and instructors primarily in
the field, rather than in the
psychologist's office, (there is no office
per se, and that's a positive thing).
As a psychologist on the team, my
goal was initially seen as adding to the
probability of a successful outcome.
Today however, one year into the
scheduled two year pilot study, I strive
as an integral goal to enrich each
successful
outcome.
Identifying
personality types and coping styles,
gaining the clients trust and hearing
his or her story, have enabled me to
aid them to successfully focus on
training and attaining new skills,
rather than becoming derailed by
anxiety, frustration and disappointment.
Between walks I sit with them and
might simply ask "how's it going?" I
am continually surprised at how
much they want to share and to be
understood. These talks are often very
productive.
B, age 40, lost his eyesight at the age of
one due to cancer, while he was
learning to walk. Until the guide dog
course his mobility outside the home
was dependent mainly on sighted
guides. He arrived at the guide dog
course full of trepidation and
ambivalence. On the morning of the
first day when I met B he smiled his
conquering smile and said to me "I'm
so glad you're here, we have a lot to
talk about!"
This pilot study evolved from the
concept that the integration of a
psychologist on staff would improve
eventual outcomes for successful
guide dog partnerships and also
decrease failure rates. My activities
include: involvement in the processes
of screening potential clients,
monitoring and providing support for
clients during the guide dog course,
and providing subsequent follow up
post-course. I function as a team
member and consultant for the
course
instructors,
aiding
in
understanding the individual clients
and their needs, learning style and
coping skills.
On a practical level, the onsite guide
dog course deals with attaining well
14 | the Visionary | IGDF
I ask myself about each client: What is
the context of the course for each
individual, i.e. where is he or she at in
life in general, and with blindness
specifically? What does participating
in an onsite course involve for each
person, (for example a young mother
away from home, leaving her young
children home for the first time, or for
another client participating in the
course who may be finally coming to
terms with their blindness rather than
denying it, etc.) What is involved for
each client in the transition to
mobility through the partnership with
Whether clients are mourning their
previous dog and questioning a new
one's ability (or their own ability to
adapt to a new one), or are partnering
with their first guide dog, each
individual deals with personal issues
which effect course outcome. Some
clients tend be concerned with
disappointing the instructor and
thereby feel inadequate; some have
developed
very
controlling
approaches to their environment and
have difficulty learning to trust the
guide dog. Others, in compensation
perhaps for their visual impairment,
feel the need to excel in all
endeavours - difficult when learning a
whole new approach to mobility. I
often define myself as a facilitator or,
perhaps, a coordinator; attempting to
enable
individuals
and
their
instructors to realise course goals to
the fullest rather than have results
or
unrecognized
limited
by
unaddressed "background noise" and
emotional baggage.
I find talking with clients before they
leave the facility to the next phase of
New Zealand | World Blind Union
The Integration of a Psychologist
into IGDCB Training Staff – a pilot
study, Cont.
training at home can both normalize
the ensuing and anticipated drop in
self-confidence
and
strengthen
their
motivation for achieving
original goals, (and more) that they
had in mind when they thought about
a guide dog in the first place.
I ask myself about
each client: What is
the context of the
course for each
individual, i.e. where
is he or she at in life
in general, and with
blindness specifically?
On the part of the instructor, I am
considered to be someone who,
perhaps, understands the client in a
different light; I may be able to offer
suggestions for adapting different
instruction strategies or, perhaps, a
different
manner
of
dealing
personally
with
a
"difficult",
challenging client. Often reviewing a
day's work together, we come up with
new approaches to the next day's
challenges. Sometimes just being
there to hear the instructor can aid
them in and his or her coping with a
challenging
and
demanding
profession.
I'm hoping to hone the knowledge and
understanding gained over the first
year of the pilot in order to increase
my contribution as a psychologist to
the clients and instructors. With
experience comes more challenges
and questions, (among others, how to
effectively measure the impact of the
pilot). We at IGDCB are curious about
similar endeavours and experience
any of you may have at other guide
dog schools, either past or present,
and
welcome
any
comments,
questions
and
suggestions
to
[email protected]
International travel with guide
dogs
Martine Abel – Working Group Chair
(Access to the Environment )
World Blind Union
More countries than ever before are
now allowing assistance dogs,
including guide dogs, to accompany
their handlers, due to improved ways
of animal health monitoring and
strengthened
veterinary
care
practices in the area of animal disease
control,
leading
to
increased
international
co-operation.
And
although this has made travel more
accessible for some, there are still
many stumbling blocks in the way of
smooth or seamless travel, taking into
account the preparation before-hand
in terms of veterinary care related
form-filling, the actual flight travel
and last but not least processes
around being welcomed on the other
side, in the country of your
destination.
Barriers identified so far through
discussion with guide dog handlers
who’ve been traveling with their guide
dogs include:
- Financial cost: (linked with
prescribed pre-travel veterinary
visits and form-filling for instance
when export certificates are being
applied for;
- Bureaucratic systems: (in terms of
a lack of communication between,
and inconsistency of compliance
practices by various local, regional
and state departments);
- Discriminatory
policies:
(for
example by some airlines that are
still refusing access to guide dogs
onto the aircraft);
The WBU Access to the Environment
Working Group is keen to receive
feedback from blind and partially
sighted people as well as from
consumer
organisations
and
blindness service providers to this
regard, so, please distribute this
survey
to
your
membership
organisations and guide dog handlers.
Survey questions:
1. If you’ve been traveling with your
guide dog, what worked well for
you?
2. While travelling with your guide
dog,
what
problems
were
experienced?
3. If you’ve not been travelling with
your guide dog, what stopped you
from doing so?
4. Does your country have policies
and legislation in place to ensure
inclusive international travel with
your guide dog?
If the answer is yes, please list and
attach those.
5. If required, do you have access to
financial support or subsidising
schemes available to assist with
the costs associated with traveling
with a guide dog? If so, please
describe those briefly.
6. As far as you’re aware of, are there
systems and practices in place in
your country internally, as well as
internationally between departments
from countries to ensure that
various involved parties (such as
airport
authorities,
airlines,
customs departments, etc.) are
working collaboratively to this
regard? If so, please provide
examples of policy or practice
documentation and anecdotal
evidence.
additional
have
you
7. Do
suggestions re what could be
happening at international level to
improve access to travel when
accompanied by a guide dog?
Please send filled in surveys to the
following email address:
[email protected];
Filled in surveys plus accompanying
documentation should be received
by 15 March 2015.
Issue 25 | February 15 | 15
The deadlines
for Visionary
submissions
are May 31st
& Nov 30th
Please supply your articles as a
word file with original images
sent separately as jpeg images.
Remember to include your
country of origin, school name,
name of the author of the article,
their position within your
organisation and any captions
for photos.
For the index, please include a
one-sentence description of
your article.
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