In 1994, 33-year-old Alison Dolan’s life unexpectedly changed forever. A newlywed with a good job with the Central Intelligence Agency in New York, Alison completely lost vision in her left eye and became legally blind in her right eye. Secondary to type II diabetes, her kidneys were failing and she would need dialysis while she waited for a donor replacement. Alison received medical retirement from her job. As she slowly began to piece her life back together, another unexpected event would reopen doors to mobility and possibilities that had seemingly closed.
“It was like starting life all over again,” recalls the Pearl River, New York, resident after she become visually impaired. “I went through blind rehabilitation training to adapt to my new world and relearned basic activities of living—how to clean, cook, and get dressed.”
Alison also learned to become mobile again by walking with a long white cane, but she didn’t like it. Not only was the cane cumbersome and made it challenging to walk around unseen obstacles, it also flagged her as vision impaired.
“When you’re out walking with a white cane, people know what your issue is,” says Alison. “I’d get stuck on things I couldn’t identify and have to figure out how to get around them. I’d even get stuck on the cracks in sidewalks.”
Consequently, Alison rarely went out unless it was absolutely necessary. Two years, later all that changed when Alison overcame her resistance to the suggestion made by her mobility instructor shortly after she became blind, and later reinforced by her husband. She’d try a dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
“I didn’t go for it right away,” says Alison. “I was going through so many changes, including dialysis and kidney replacement surgery, and I was unsure whether it would be the right thing. How was a dog going to be my eyes?”
Yet a few months after going through an application process that included a personal visit from an instructor to assess Alison’s living arrangements, lifestyle, and mobility using a harness, Alison found herself in a 26-day course at the Guiding Eyes for the Blind facility where she would meet and bond with her new dog, Colleen.
“It’s typical to wait a few months after applying so the school can choose a dog specific to your individual needs,” explains Alison. Before they are ready to assume their new role, the dogs themselves go through a four-month training period after being raised for 14-16 months by volunteers who teach basic obedience and social skills.
On the day Alison met Colleen, a yellow lab, she felt both excited and nervous. But from the first big lick planted on Alison’s face, the two were bonded—a bond that would grow and deepen over the days, months, and years ahead. With 12 other vision impaired students from around the country, Alison learned how to use her dog as her eyes, and how to take care of Colleen, including playing, feeding, grooming, teeth brushing, nail clipping, and veterinary services.
“Meeting the other students and learning how they did things was a big benefit,” says Alison “It was the first time I ever lived or worked with other blind students.”
With Colleen, Alison gained a whole new level of independence and confidence.
“I really felt I had my freedom back,” she says. “I could go out in the world and do anything. Now my dog moves me around obstacles instead of me doing all the work.”
For Alison, getting a guide dog was the key to living an active and productive life again. She returned to school to get a master’s in communications with a specialty in public relations, and in 2006 she became the first visually impaired therapeutic horseback riding instructor in the United States.
“I wouldn’t live without a dog now,” says Alison of her second companion dog, Winnie, who goes everywhere with her. “It’s my preferred mode of travel.”
Although Colleen was retired at age 12, she will never be forgotten. When Alison and her husband got a sailboat three years ago, Larry named it in honor of Alison’s first guide dog.
“Colleen gave you safe passage to walk,” he told Alison. “So naming our boat Colleen will give us safe passage when we sail.”
About Guiding Eyes for the Blind
While living at a training facility is ideal, Guiding Eyes for the Blind also offers an accelerated 10-day program with a five-day in-home training session for those who can’t stay 26 days due to work or family obligations.
Training for a second dog is only 19 days. No fees are involved for the participants, as the organization relies on private donations.
Other Resources
Several other organizations across the globe offer guide dogs. The following is just a partial list. If you would like to help us create a complete list of organizations dedicated to guide dogs for the visually impaired, please contact the author, Lori Batcheller.
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
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