How a new arm of guide dog training is giving wheelchair users fresh independence

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Wheelchair users who are vision impaired are benefiting from a unique program that pairs them with seeing eye dogs. Vision Australia says their training program is part efforts to support people who are blind or have low vision.

Transcript

00:00Lily Alford moves around her community with a trusty companion by her side.

00:08The 24-year-old was born legally blind and uses an electric wheelchair with the support

00:12of her specially trained seeing eye dog, Prince.

00:16He's allowed me to become independent.

00:18I would not be the same as a power wheelchair user and being blind.

00:24The program really aims to work with people using an electric wheelchair and require a

00:29primary mobility aid to navigate in the community.

00:33The dogs are trained to identify different obstacles that handlers face on a daily basis.

00:37Before using their dog guides, they were using the cane and so the ability to smoothly travel

00:44along a footpath rather than sort of being stopped every couple of metres because the

00:49cane's getting stuck or be able to navigate around obstacles is quite a big thing for

00:55a wheelchair user.

00:56We're looking for them to find the accessible bay and so they're going to come in, identify

01:01a seat and then we want them to tuck on under so that way they're not presenting any hazards.

01:08This program now means that Lily can confidently move through the community with Prince by

01:12her side and return to the activities she used to do before she started using her wheelchair.

01:17I go to TAFE, I go swimming, I go to friends and family's houses.

01:21We travel quite a bit.

01:22The program is funded entirely through donations from the public.

01:26It's a huge sort of advantage that we have is the generous sort of support that we have.

01:31Lily knows she'll eventually have to find a successor dog once Prince retires, but for

01:36now the pair will carry on as a team.

01:38I feel like he is perfect for me.

01:42We've made lots and lots of life changes together.

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