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CABINET NOTES: The Cabinet invited a group, led by the Manager of the Industrial Workshop for the Blind, to its sitting, in order to seek to improve the standard of care which is received by the blind and the severely, visually-impaired population.
A blind male and his “seeing eye dog” and his spouse (Mr. and Mrs. Adams) were a part of the seven-person delegation which included Mr. Greenaway (with a single leg), Dr. Robins (who trains dogs), a middle-aged blind female, and a resident of Antigua who is going blind because of an inherited condition that has affected her mother and grandmother before her.
Her preference is to begin working with a seeing-eye dog as her eyesight deteriorates, since she wishes to be independent.
The Cabinet was told that 1% of our adult population is completely blind (>950 men and women); >750 adults in addition have very low vision; and, 3 out of every 100 children also suffer from very low vision.
A guide dog is superior to a white cane—the latter being the usual method employed by most blind men and women in Antigua; however, a seeing-eye dog is far superior for re-gaining independence, for living alone, and for alerting the non-seeing person of an emergency.
Many blind Antiguans would prefer having a seeing-eye dog but the animals must be bred and trained here in Antigua; and, according to Dr. Robins, the strays and the roaming dogs that aren’t on leashes are a threat.
That particular challenge must first be overcome.
The Dog Control Act provides the solution but the law is not enforced, he asserted.
The need for dog pounds and other methods of control, including the work of the Humane Society, would be self-financing.
The Minister of Health made a pledge to work closely with the team to enhance the possibilities and conditions that would be helpful. The group departed after spending one hour before the Cabinet.
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What about the blinds who are afraid of dogs?
Hope there’s a solid plan for training and long-term care of these guide dogs.
Will there be public education to help people understand guide dog etiquette?
More infrastructure changes are needed too, not just guide dogs.
How soon can we expect to see this program rolled out?
will people with visual impairments be part of the planning?
Even blind people now y’all trying to fool! Election is around the corner and after all those years, ABLP government is all of a sudden, wants to get dogs for blind folks… good God, what’s next? People cannot even get proper blood works at MSJMC and soo many other areas of need and now talking about dods for the blind. That venture is a multimillion dollar one and it WON’T happen… it’s a gimmick!
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