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Message from the President
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Small Populations Welcome Here
- Published in: Update - Issue 1 - 2010
- Listen to Article
Working at Leader Dogs for the Blind is a mind-opening experience. Prior to coming here I hadn't met many people who are blind; consequently, my perception of this group of individuals was shaped by misunderstanding and misinformation. This truth was even more pronounced when it came to people who are deaf and blind.
The Deaf-blind community is pretty small, between 70,000-100,000 people in the United States. So chances are slim that you know someone, or have ever met someone, who is Deaf-blind.
But today you are lucky. You will get to learn more about this small population of our students. You will get to read about Jason Corning, a young man that focuses on what he can do (which seems to be just about anything) and not what he can't — see or hear. You will get a small glimpse of the unique communication style of people who are Deaf-blind and your perceptions may change.
Leader Dog is proud to be the first dog guide school in the United States with a dedicated program to pair people who are Deaf-blind with a dog guide. Thanks to you, our supporters, we are serving more people who are Deaf-blind today than at any time in our history.
Every month we challenge a new group of students to open their minds to a different way to live their lives. We ask them to open their hearts to their new four-legged companion. Today, I challenge you to open your mind to understanding people that are different than you in a few ways — but are similar to you in many more.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.
