Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs will bring its expert staff and dogs in training to Gosford on March 24 to help people who are blind or have low vision learn more about the service.
The Seeing Eye Dogs roadshow will visit seven locations from March 10-25, with free information sessions, trial walks and more on offer to all who attend.
Seeing Eye Dogs Service Planning Manager Letisha Watson said the roadshow is open to anyone who thinks a Seeing Eye Dog could help improve their ability to be active and independent in the community.
“For first time handlers we can explain in detail the application process and training program they’ll go through, while for handlers who may already working with a dog guide we can begin to work through what can be quite an emotional process of their dog retiring and being matched with a successor dog,” she said.
“For both groups we can also work through what funding, such as the NDIS, may be available to help them access Seeing Eye Dog Services and provide some assistance on how they should navigate that as well.”
Currently the wait time for a Seeing Eye Dog is just four months and the organisation is keen to increase the number of handlers in NSW and the ACT.
“We’ve worked hard to reduce the waiting time and with Seeing Eye Dog instructors now based permanently in NSW, we are really keen for more people across the region to make the most of our Seeing Eye Dogs,” Watson said.
“Every person who is matched with a Seeing Eye Dog benefits from the two years and almost $50,000 it takes to train one of our dogs, so they can be confident they are working with a Seeing Eye Dog that will provide the support they need to be active and independent.
“Our instructors continue to work with handlers after they’re matched with their Seeing Eye Dog to ensure the partnership is working.”
Seeing Eye Dogs Roadshow sessions are free and open to anyone who is blind or has low vision.
The Gosford session will take place at Vision Australia, Ground Floor, Suite G02/40 Mann St, from 10.30am-1.30pm on March 24.
For more information go to www.sed.visionaustralia.org or email SEDClients@visionaustralia.org
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