We’ve held our first ever ‘Test Drive a Guide Dog’ workshop in Western Australia, for young adults who may be considering a Guide Dog when they’re a bit older.
Seven teenagers, aged between 14 and 18 took part in the event held at VisAbility over the school holidays and all of them had some form of vision impairment.
The ‘Test Drive a Guide Dog’ (TDGD) workshop offered youngsters an insight on what it is like having a Guide Dog, and get a better understanding of how it could help with their orientation and mobility skills and future career opportunities.
Guide Dogs – opening up opportunities
There are many associated benefits of having a Guide Dog, which goes beyond improving mobility. It includes providing greater independence, confidence, companionship, and increased social interaction.
Three Guide Dog Mobility Instructors led the workshop. Topics such as grooming, dog psychology, and ownership responsibilities were all covered. The teenagers learnt commands such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘heel’ and were able to walk them in their harnesses.
A grant funded the workshop from the Department of Education’s Non-Government Centre Support Fund. The award of this grant enhances VisAbility’s commitment to providing better information opportunities.
A Guide Dog would give me greater independence and lead to a social life which matched my older sister’s. It would mean I could easily catch up with friends, plus it would be a great companion.
Tegan Reder
The verdict
Stewart, Cheezel, Winston and Loui enjoyed the workshop and showed impeccable good behaviour.
16-year-old Tegan Reder, who is legally blind is currently on a junior pathway to compete in Paralympic swimming and can’t wait to have a dog when she is older.
If you’d like to find out more about this program or Guide Dogs WA (link opens in new window) please email Jenny.Gleeson@guidedogswa.com.au