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Came for funny movie story, stayed for encouragement about using tools unashamedly to help you navigate the world! Thanks for sharing your story Hope! 🎆

Hope, your 7 tips for service dog access issues are excellent. First let me say I can't wrap my head around any public place denying access for a guide dog for the blind. That is criminal. In fact I would rather more guide dogs than people. lol. But I have been in situations where people coming into resturants holding a dog, that has no collar or leash, and becoming beligarent when told they can not be there. It is a very tense situation. Even if the police are called, they do not always know the law. You would think by the year 2024, all people would be informed, and care! Your information is insightful and informative. Thank you.

Bless her heart ❤️

I just was thinking about this my girl will climb onto my lap she hates fireworks we have discovered that she likes going to the basement so we got her a blanket and bed and let her go down there

Love it hate that it happens to us I get it a lot because my guide dog is a poodle usually they relent and let me in but like you said it makes us doubt ourselves and fear for our safety had a nurse tell me my girl can’t come in because it’s a clinic I was like she a guide dog and she says to me well first of all you can’t be blind so that can’t be a guide dog and second of all all guide dogs are German Shepard lucky for me one of the lab techs was walking by and was like oh it’s Meg and Maui go on to the pharmacy thank goodness cause I was so sick at the time

I didn’t realize how rude or unwilling people can be when it comes to accommodating guide dogs. Like if you have a guide dog ( in my country they usually have special harnesses) you really shouldn’t need to be questioned and prove that you need it. These situations seem very tiring to go through and I felt really sorry about the bus situation!

I'm sorry that you had to go through these situations. Denying a service dog means denying the person, their disability and their ability to partake and just makes the person feel unwanted which is awful. But honestly I think it's more of a law issue, these ADA questions are probably too vague even though they're meant to protect your privacy I think they rather protect fake service dog users. In Germany, we recently got an official ID for all service dogs which I think is the best solution. Yes, there will still be places that deny access, but at least you have an official document in hand to prove your point and don't have to talk your way through laws and stuff. Although that ID raises the issue of retired dogs losing their access rights but that's a different story. Anyways, I think it's easy to imagine yourself in a situation like that and going "oh, I know my rights and can stand my ground" but these things catch you so off guard and being in a situation like that just sounds really intimidating. So it's really courageous of you to advocate in places like that and great to see that it sometimes helps these businesses update their policies! I hope I can be as brave if I ever get into an access issue with my future guide dog.

You are so right! And I want to apologize for how my question came across. That truly was not my intent when I commented “this way”. I am so very sorry, and I hope you can forgive my mistake and horrible phrasing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, and I very much admire you talking about being legally blind, as someone who is also legally blind. I was born with cataracts in my left eye, and as an infant had surgeries to remove it and to put in a prosthetic lens in that eye. Nonetheless, I am legally blind in my left eye. I asked my question because I was curious about your situation. I don’t know anyone else who is also legally blind, and I was comforted when I came across someone openly talking about it, so please know, I am very thankful you still answered question and going forward I will be better about the way I say things!❤️

Great video!!!

Hey, thank you all for watching! What are you looking forward to learning from this video?

💭follow-up question: do you ever feel left out or in a middle space of not-belonging as a legally blind person? not completely blind but also not not blind?

just looked up Pete Guston and wow!!! i’ve heard his voice so much and had no idea!!! thanks for sharing!

such a good reminder that rest is important for both human and dog on hard days!

That’s neat seeing the entire Braille alphabet with their letters like that. <3 But I’m still confused over the pattern. :(

Ohhh that explains it. :o Well I’m really happy for you and the other blind students that it got taken care of this well! :D :) <3

Thanks for answering our questions Hope! 🤔

Oh wow I just stumbled over this video and the timing couldn't be better. I am on the waiting list for a guide dog right now and will get one in around 2 years (waiting time is insanely long here sadly). While I'm waiting I try to get all the input on the topic that I can and this is exactly what I was looking for! So many service dog handlers romanticize life with a service dog and make it seem like the day that they got their dog was the beginning of a perfect life. So I feel like it's so important to talk about the days when it doesn't feel right, when you're overwhelmed and frustrated. Because that allows people like me to build realistic expectations for my future guide dog and really think about whether it would TRULY fit my lifestyle with all the pros and cons. Especially the part about remaining usable vision was very insightful to me. I have extreme tunnel vision but still use the last bit to it's fullest when I'm out and about. So my biggest concern about my future guide dog is that I won't be able to give them full control, because using my remaining vision just became like a reflex to keep me safe. I think that it's probably going to be really hard to unlearn that but I'm glad I'm not the only one with that problem and that it apparently turned out well for you! So thank you so much for the video, sharing your experiences as a guide dog user is so valuable for others, can't wait for more! <3

Thank you for all the excellent information!

Congratulations!!! 6 years together ❤️❤️

What blind people inspire you?

Great questions so far! I'm going to start pulling questions and recording by Wednesday, so make sure to get your questions in by then and have your notifications turned on so that you don't miss the video where I answer your questions!

Were you born this way, or did the blindness gradually develop?

what is your option on fake guide dogs

Question: legally blind vs blind blind what is the difference? (Asking for other people lol)

Curious, legally blind but why you use glasses?

I always feel bad for zoo animals, but I think they had fun watching your dog :)

Hope you enjoy! Comment below on what else you would like for me to do a video on!

He looks at you with absolute love.

Love him all his life in thanks

I wish people would stop bringing their untrained animals places because it ruins things for people that actually have REAL service animals.

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Interesting again, but a backwards q, my word, still all confusing. :(

The only letter I remember is “l” (lower case L (not capital i) cause it looks like a “l” made of dots, so it’s easy for me to remember. But I’m still all confused. :(

Interesting, but I don’t understand why there’s no contractions in it especially when I have no idea what a Braille contraction is.

Of course is right. Bless Buddy’s <3 for wanting to help you off duty for keeping you safe. <3

Whoops, didn’t comment my thoughts: Good for those parents helping all you blind people out like that! <3

That sure makes sense. And I remember this was used in the crossword puzzle you made me. :) You and I have of course already met each other in person friend! :D <3

I don’t get it.

I’m confused on the purpose of the video. I mean isn’t your hearing fine?

Still confusing especially since I have no idea what a Braille contraction is, but I really like this video my fellow friend! :D :)

Interesting, but sounds confusing to me. :( How did you decide on doing Rowan? <3

Awww, this is lovely and I’m sooo happy for you friend, I love it. <3 Precious boy, Buddy! <3

Interesting, I’ll try to keep that in mind, but of course I shouldn’t bother if when I come visit you and Buddy at your apartment since I would obviously remember you’re blind! :)

Well that sure is neat! :D Unfortunately I’m struggling to understand this pattern though. :(

I’m really happy for you Hope and good for you Buddy, good boy! :D :) <3 I’m so sorry that’s happened to you before then though, I don’t blame you for panicking and I wouldn’t blame you for feeling afraid either. :(

Sorry for that sort of embarrassment, but interesting and yeah, that was really cool of her to do that for you. :) Also, I didn’t know she knows braille as someone who’s not blind, neat! :D

For someone who’s blind, very well done on the drawing friend!!! :D <3

Brilliant idea is right, like seriously!! :D But I’m sorry to hear about the accident he had. :(

That figures, glad you can see it at that time. :)

You’re welcome! <3 My thoughts: Wow Buddy, you go boy, like OMG! :D <3 Way to go, me not expecting you to be able to do that, I’m so proud of you, you handsome boy! :D <3