January 2010 Visionary - International Guide Dog Federation

GPS goesto the dogsUSA | Leader Dogs for the BlindRachelle Kniffen – Marketing SpecialistLeader Dogs for the Blind, USA“I love my Breeze. I use itconstantly at home,” says GaryThompson of Springfield,Missouri. “The Breeze hasmade my life a lot easier,especially when traveling innew areas.”Gary is a new Trekker Breeze GPS user,and has been a dog guide user since1988. “The Breeze and a Leader Dog gotogether like peanut butter and jelly.For instance, the Breeze announceswhen I’m nearing a cross street; sowhen my dog slows down then stops atthe curb, I’m completely aware of mysituation.”The Breeze is an audible GPS devicethat gives step-by-step directions for aprogrammed route and notifies theuser of upcoming streets andlandmarks, among other functions.Leader Dog students are trained in theuse of the device during their 26-daydog guide training. In April 2009, LeaderDog graduated its first class to receivefree Breeze GPS units along with theirdog guide. “I’m looking forward to usingmy Breeze and my Leader Dog ‘LindyLou’ in my home environment,” saysDean Swanson, a member of the April2009 class. “Using them together willincrease my independence and allowme to get out more often by myself orwith my daughter.”“We strongly believe that thistechnology is an effective tool forindependent travelers,” says GregGrabowski, president and ChiefExecutive Officer of Leader Dogs for theBlind. “Preliminary research suggeststhat people using the device expandtheir travel environments andexperience less travel anxiety,especially in new or unfamiliar areas.”Since November 2008, Leader Dogstudents have been using Breeze GPSunits during their dog guide training.Now, U.S. and Canadian students whomeet eligibility criteria will be able totake the Breeze home with them – forfree.A student trains in Rochester, Michigan with his Leader Dog and Breeze“Leader Dog has revolutionized theart of dog guide travel by including atalking navigational device in trainingand providing this state-of-the arttechnology for free to students alongwith their Leader Dog,” addedGrabowski. “We are so confident in thebenefits of using a Breeze GPS that weare making the units available at areduced cost to all active dog guideusers regardless of which dog guideschool they attended.” Leader Dog isselling the Breeze GPS unit to active dogguide users for $825. This is a $70saving over the manufacturer’ssuggested price. Leader Dog is able tooffer this reduced rate throughcontributions made to the Breeze GPSprogram. For more information on thisprogram, visitwww.leaderdog.org/programs/breeze.To complete their Breeze program,Leader Dog will offer training fororientation and mobility instructors aswell as dog guide mobility instructorsinterested in learning how to trainpeople to use the Breeze. The dates forthis training will be available on theLeader Dog website in the near future.For more information on Leader Dogsfor the Blind programs, call (888) 777-5332 or visit www.leaderdog.orgIssue 15 | January 10 | 15