Spring Break
Seeing eye-dogs help visually impaired
Regina Shirkey
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Lifestyle
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Imagine for a moment that you're blind and trying to find your way around three floors of the new and somewhat complex UC. Suddenly the idea doesn't seem so easy anymore.
Having to get used to and eventually memorize an entirely new UC is a reality for UW-Whitewater junior Jason Corning, who has been blind and deaf since birth.
Corning has faced several navigation obstacles throughout his life and college career, but luckily he doesn't have to face those obstacles alone.
His seeing eye-dog, Spencer, serves as his eyes and ears. When last year's construction started, Corning was used to walking all the way around the UC and his trained yellow lab, knew exactly where Corning wanted to go on campus.
"If I walked on the side of the street going toward Carlson, he knew I was going in that direction," Corning said. "If I walked in the middle of the main sidewalk, he assumed McGraw or the library. If I walked toward the new building and Upham, he assumed Heide or Roseman."
According to guidedogs.org, the combination of specialized training and tender loving care are the characteristics that make up a good seeing-eye dog like Spencer. Physically, the dog must be healthy, of good working size and low maintenance. Tempermentally, a guide dog must show a willingness to work, be confident, tolerant, not shy or frightened in any situation, non-aggressive, adaptable to change, have initiative and the ability to concentrate.
Corning and Spencer recently made their first trip to the new UC and were both satisfied with the outcome.
"Spencer got so excited about the new UC," Corning said. "He was a little confused at first about the new setting, but we managed to get around okay."
Corning believes the university keeps students with disabilities in mind when constructing buildings like the new UC, but came up with a few suggestions on how to make the building even more accessible.
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