Tip of the Week - Out & About
- Choosing a guide dog school
- Finding your hotel room
- Online restuarant menus
- Radios for sound orientation
- Your guide dog at work
- Crossing the street safely
- Finding Lobby on an Elevator Panel
Are you considering a guide dog as a mobility option but are unsure of which school to attend? Contact two or three accredited schools and interview them with a list of your questions. You will be able to get a sense of the school's personality and philosophy. For a list of accredited guide dog schools, visit the Guild's Guide Dog resource page. Back to top
Traveling for the holidays? When traveling to a hotel, arm yourself with rubberbands. Ask a member of the hotel staff to escort you to your room. Place a rubber band around the door knob of your room. From here on, you will know which room is yours. This tip submitted by Beth Finke. Back to top
If you are going to a new restaurant, check out the menu online before you leave to decide what you'd like to order. You will know what items cost and will require less reading assistance from your companion or the restaurant staff. Back to top
Have you tried... leaving a radio playing when working outside? This is an easy way to keep your orientation when you are working in the yard, vacuuming or shoveling snow. Back to top
Have you thought about...guide dog preparedness in the workplace? Keep an extra serving of food in a sealed plastic bag for those occasions when you might be delayed for the evening feeding. Also keep a large towel for those rainy days to dry off your guide. Extra pick up bags are always good to have on hand, too. Back to top
Having trouble … seeing the pedestrian walk sign on the other side of the street to know when it is safe to cross? Try looking at the sign that is on the same corner you are on. Also, don’t follow the crowd when crossing the street. Make sure you hear the parallel traffic before beginning your cross. Back to top
Getting to the main floor of a building when using an elevator can be a challenge – is it "G" for ground or "L" for lobby? Different buildings call the main floor by different names. Bypass this completely and look or feel for the raised star on an elevator button panel and it will take you to the main floor. Back to top
If you have any creative tips or simple solutions to tackle everyday issues, please send them via email to cherylm@guildfortheblind.org
