POST PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION PACK 2017/2018 - www.guidedogs.ie - Irish Guide Dogs
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POST PRIMARY SCHOOL
EDUCATION PACK
2017/2018
www.guidedogs.ie
HISTORY OF
IRISH GUIDE DOGS
FOR THE BLIND
I N T R O D U C T I O N Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is a non-profit organisation
& CONTENT
that provides life-changing services to people who are
vision impaired and to families of children with autism.
Here at Irish Guide Dogs we have come a long way since
we were co-founded by the late Mrs. Mary Dunlop and
History of Irish Guide Dogs 1 Mr. Jim Dennehy in 1976.
We achieved our first Guide Dog partnership in 1980 and
Fundraising Ideas 2
have not looked back since.
Information on School Visits 3
For over 40 years we have provided life-changing
Become a Friend of Irish Guide Dogs 4 services and support to people across Ireland with sight
loss. In 2005, we were the first organisation in Europe
Student Volunteer placements @ HQ 4 to provide Assistance Dogs for families of children with
autism.
Case Study: Martin Gordon and ‘Jake’ 5
Throughout that time we have consistently focused on
Support and services available 6 innovation, to ensure that we maximise the number of
people who can benefit from our services. Since starting
Smart Street Heroes 7 our journey in 1976, we have greatly advanced our
knowledge and understanding of dog training.
Debate Activity 8
We have invested in state-of-the-art training facilities
World Sight Day 9 and developed programmes that deliver the best dog, at
the right time, with the most suitable temperament to
Types of Vision Loss 10
match our clients’ needs.
Annual Fundraiser: HEROES 11 All our programmes are offered free of charge, with
intensive support and aftercare available to all our clients.
SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES
1976: Organisation is founded
2005: Introduction of our Assistance Dog
Programme for families of children with
1980: Moved to our current site in Model Farm
Road, Ballincollig, Cork and trained our
autism
first Guide Dog partnership
2010: Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opens
€5m redevelopment of National
1988: Introduction of the Orientation &
Mobility Programme (Long Cane Training)
Headquarters and Training Centre.
1999: Introduction
Programme
of the Child Mobility 2016: President Michael D. Higgins visits the
National Headquarters and Training
Centre to celebrate the 40th Anniversary
2004: Launch of The Independent Living Skills
training facility and programme
of Irish Guide Dogs and to recognise the
significant contribution of its voluntary
community.
1
FUNDRAISING
Help us to provide life-changing services to people
who are vision impaired and families of children
with autism. We raise more than 85% of our income
from voluntary donations and events. We need YOU
to make sure we can continue to meet the demands
for our services.
Get involved today by organising an
event in your school. Here’s a few ideas to
get you started:
• Create own events; sports days, table quizzes,
sponsored silences, cake sales etc.
• Get involved in our annual fundraiser in April
(see page 11)
• Virtual pet show: pay €2 to enter a photo of your
pet, have a local vet judge the winner, display the
photos on your school wall
• Christmas: Sell Irish Guide Dog Christmas cards
and calendars in your school
• Hold a jumble sale for unwanted Christmas gifts
• Hot chocolate sale
• No uniform day
Contact us at education@guidedogs.ie to discuss
how we can bring your ideas to life and support you
in any way we can.
2
SCHOOL VISITS
AND TOURS Below are some pictures of schools that
have completed a fundraising event in aid of
Irish Guide Dogs and have received a
school visit or tour of our Headquarters
and Training Centre in Cork.
Cree National School Clonmel School - Coláiste Chluain Meala
School Visit HQ Tour
Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan
School Visit
Nagle Rice Secondary School Scoil Dean Cussen
HQ Tour School Visit
Patrician
Academy,
Mallow
HQ Tour
3
Become a Friend of Irish
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Sign up for our online Student Newsletter
by visiting www.guidedogs.ie/education and
completing the sign up form to join the mailing
list and receive a quarterly newsletter containing
a roundup of stories from schools around the
country.
Why not send in a photo of your school group
participating in an Irish Guide Dogs activity and
see your own school featured.
School Visits
If your school is learning about vision impairment
or autism why not have one of our Volunteers visit
your school with one of our Ambassador Dogs, or
if your school has completed an Irish Guide Dogs
project why not reward yourselves with a visit and
tour of our Headquarters and Training Centre in Cork.
Please contact the Regional Co-Ordinator in Scoil Dean Cussen
your area to book your visit: School Visit
Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Clare, Limerick
Tipperary, Waterford
Katie Kiely
Anne Burns
t: 021 487 8246/085 887 6580
t: 021 487 8259/087 195 4827
e: katie@guidedogs.ie
e: anne@guidedogs.ie
Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Laois,
Meath, Wexford, Wicklow Leitrim, Longford, Mayo,
Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,
Julie Ann Ramsell Sligo, Westmeath
t: 021 487 8292/087 264 7172
Lynda Foley
e: julieann@guidedogs.ie
t: 021 487 8238/085 859 5072
e: lyndafoley@guidedogs.ie
Student Volunteer placements @ HQ
We are pleased to be able to offer placements for Post Primary students as part of our Student Volunteer
Programme at our headquarters and training centre in Cork. Teachers can apply on behalf of students to
volunteer@guidedogs.ie who can provide you with an application form. This is a great opportunity to join an
office based team and learn about team work, attention to detail, computer skills, as well as helping organise
events and supporting our Dog Care and Welfare team in our kennels.
4
G A N D COMPRE HENSION
SE STUD Y R E A D IN
CA
O w n e r M a r t i n
Guide Dog u i d e D o g
Gordon wi t h h i s G
Jake
When Martin Gordon closed his eyes on the night of bring me there.” Jake
June 15th 2002 he had no idea it was the last time he became an extension
would ever see. During the night, he suffered a retinal of Martin, acting
detachment. He woke to complete darkness, his sight as his eyes, taking him
was gone. He was 17 years old and terrified that life everywhere he needed to go, guiding
as he knew it was over and that every dream he’d ever him around every obstacle which lay in their path.
had was lost. Martin says “Having Jake meant I could get from A to
Martin had lost more than his sight. He’d lost his way B so much faster. The cane was an obstacle finder but
of life. A life that like so many boys his age revolved a Guide Dog is an obstacle avoider. With Jake I was
around playing football and rugby, skateboarding and dodging obstacles I didn’t even know were there.”
kayaking. Martin’s greatest fear was that along with
his sight, he’d lost the dreams he had for his future. Finally, Martin and his parents could see his future and
His dreams were the same as many young men his his dreams coming into view again. Can you imagine
age; of going to college, forging a career, falling in love the relief his parents felt when they realised that with
and one day having a family. Martin told me about the Jake by his side their son could achieve everything
moment he realised how much his life had changed he dreamed of? And so, with Jake by his side Martin
and how important it was that he get his independence completed his Leaving Cert and achieved his dream
back. “It really hit me the first time we left the house. of going to college in Galway. Something Martin says
I felt helpless. I was a fit 17-year old and I was like a would not have been possible without a Guide Dog.
child. I had to be guided by my parents. I couldn’t do Martin remembers his days in NUI Galway as some
anything for myself. I knew I didn’t want to have to of the best of his life. “Over my four years in Galway
hold someone’s arm forever. I didn’t want my parents I had the absolute time of my life. I was able to have
with me everywhere I went.” School also presented its the exact same college experience as everyone else.
own challenges. “I had to learn how to learn again. How Thanks to Jake.” But Martin’s dreams didn’t stop there.
to read poetry. How to do maths. How to learn Irish. He had more to do. And so, Martin and Jake made the
Gradually I worked out what worked for me.” move to Dublin where he attended Trinity College.
And as his confidence grew so did his ambition. After
But Martin was determined to fight to get his life back. graduating from Trinity Martin made the decision to
Not just the life he’d known before he lost his sight train as a barrister. With Jake by his side Martin knew
but the future life he’d always dreamed of. Using his that anything was possible, that included finding love,
cane to get around took its toll on Martin. “I found a Martin remembers the important role Jake played in
long day using the cane would drain me of energy. In introducing him to his partner Louise. “This girl came
the evenings I was wrecked, I’d fall asleep at my desk over to me and said I’m so sorry I’m after tripping over
trying to do homework.” Martin knew that to get the your dog. And I joked don’t apologise to me, apologise to
Leaving Cert results he needed something had to him. And that was how I met Louise. I guess she fell for
change. And that’s when he made the decision that Jake first and then she fell for me.”
would give him the independence he needed to turn
his dreams into reality. Martin applied for a Guide Dog. Today, seven years later Martin and Louise are settling
Eventually, the call came telling Martin we had a dog into life as new parents to 16-month-old Norah. He says
for him. His name was Jake, Martin was ecstatic and “Everything good happened to me happened with Jake.
could tell immediately that having Jake was going to Every graduation, qualifying as a barrister, meeting
be a game changer. “I remember thinking this is going Louise. Sometimes being blind is a pain. There are loads
to be great. I’ll be able to get around town on my own. of things I’d love to see; I’d love to see my little girl’s
No more needing to ask people to bring me here or face, but I can go to work, come home, go to the shops
and do things any father would.”
5
Maths Quiz What Support Is Available?
It costs €38,000 to raise a Guide Dog from As well as providing Guide Dogs to people who
Breeding to Retirement. Dogs work for are vision impaired and Assistance Dogs to
families of children with autism, we also deliver
approximately 10 years. It takes about 2
confidence-building rehabilitation services to
years to fully train a dog. adults, young people and children including long
cane mobility training, communication and daily
Number of clients in Ireland:
living skills.
• 162 Guide Dog Owners
• 273 Assistance Dog Owners Our services are designed with the needs of the
• 738 Other vision impaired clients individual at heart and we go to great lengths to
match each client with the right dog to suit them
This year’s plan: and their lifestyle.
• Create 30 new Guide Dog partnerships
• Create up to 36 new Assistance Dog Services include:
partnerships • Guide Dog Programme
• Train 15 clients in Long Cane Skills • Assistance Dog Programme
• Train 12 clients in Independent Living Skills • Independent Living Skills Training
• Child Mobility Programme
Every year we: • Next Step Programme for young adults
• Conduct 600 aftercare visits to client
moving out of home
homes
• Long Cane Training
• Gardening Programme
Maths Questions: All of our programmes are offered free of charge
1. How many clients do we have in total? with intensive support, and after care available to
2. How many NEW clients will benefit this all our clients.
year?
3. How many TOTAL clients will we work with
this year?
4. In “Dog Years” how long does it take to
OUR ES
train a Guide Dog?
5. How many new partnerships
SERVIC
will we have in total according to this
year’s plan?
Answers to Maths Quiz are on page 9.
D
GUIDE OGS
Case Study :
MOBILI N &
Answer the following questions:
PR
YOU AMMES
ORIENTATI0
TY
OG
1. How old was Martin when he lost his sight?
R
TH
2. For how many years has Martin been vision
impaired?
3. What is Martin’s dog’s name?
GO
ON
S NCE
4. What does Martin say the difference is when
PP IN G TA
SU
S I S
using the cane and using a Guide Dog in relation
OR AS
to obstacles? T DOG
5. When Martin made the decision to get a Guide
Dog, what did he hope this would give him in life?
6. Fill in the blanks: Jake acts as Martin’s ____,
helping him get from A to B so much ______?
Answers to Case Study questions can be found on page 9. 6
SmartStre
et H
I am a
ero
SMA R T S T R E E T
Last year we launched a Smart Street 1. Become one of our
campaign as part of World Sight Day SmartStreet Heroes
to create better awareness of how the Explain to your family members how they can
public can help people with vision loss in help people with vision loss in the community
their community by keeping pedestrian by:
pavements free of obstacles, i.e. parked • NOT parking on pavements
cars, over-hanging branches, household • NOT blocking pavements with household
wheelie bins and street furniture such as wheelie-bins
signage. These obstacles put the safety of • Trimming garden hedges and
people with vision loss at risk by causing overhanging branches.
an injury or by forcing them on to the road
where they are unable to see on-coming 2. Take the SmartStreet Pledge:
traffic. Show your support for our SmartStreet
Campaign in October, by pledging your
commitment to keep our pavements free
This is an ongoing campaign and we would
of obstacles. Keeping pavements free of
like you to support it by speaking to your
obstacles, also, helps children with autism who
students about the importance of keeping
own an assistance dog and other pedestrians,
pavements clear of obstacles so they can
such as parents with buggies.
relay this important message to their
parents/guardians. The following activities
may get the conversation started in your 3.Show and share :
classroom. Show and share the SmartStreet video
featuring Joe Bollard and his Guide Dog
showing how blocked pavements make their
daily walks difficult. This can be found by
visiting: www.guidedogs.ie/smartstreet
Connect with us online!
www.guidedogs.ie
7DEBATE
ACTIVITY
Discuss whether employers • The government runs a wage subsidy
scheme which offers financial support
should do more to diversify their for employers who employ certain
workforce to include people with people with disabilities on a full time
a disability. basis. (Citizens Information)
• People with disability are only half as
How to get started: likely to be in employment as others
of working age (National Disability
If possible, move the desks out of the way to
Authority)
make a clear space for people to stand in the
middle of the room. • For employers limited disability know-
how and a fear of the unknown can be
Ask the class to decide if they agree or issues. For the individuals, poor health,
disagree with the following statement. lower levels of skills or education, low
People who agree should stand to one side expectations, fears of losing benefits,
of the room and people who disagree on the and practical issues such as transport to
other side. work can be issues (National Disability
Authority)
“Employers should have a target
quota of people they aim to employ • In international terms, Irelands
with a disability in order to diversify employment rate for people with
their workforce to include people with disabilities is low (Government’s
disability”. comprehensive employment strategy for
people with disability)
Start to ask certain people why they chose to • The social aspects of real workplaces
agree or disagree with the statement can be as important as the job itself
(Government’s comprehensive
As the conversation moves along, introduce employment strategy for people with
some of the following points of information. disability)
At the end of the discussion ask people if
they would like to change sides of the room, Debriefing Questions for the Class:
depending on whether the discussion and
information changed their mind. What surprised you most about your
personal reaction to this topic?
Points to consider during What surprised you most about other people’s
views on this topic?
the discussion:
How do you think a person with a disability
feels when they don’t get past the interview
• It is illegal to discriminate against any
stages of jobs they are qualified for?
employee on the basis of disability
and this right is set down (Citizens What could you do differently in your own life
Information) based on what you learned today?
8Wo r l d S i g h t
Day
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held A study conducted by Trinity College Dublin
in October to focus global attention on blindness and highlighted the importance of mobility services, like
vision impairment. ours, for people registered blind. The study found over
a third of older people registered are unable to get out
World Sight Day reminds us to pay attention to in to their local community independently.
eye care issues that impact lives everywhere, both
developed and developing economies. There are Over half of people who are vision impaired have
simple things you can do like going for an eye test, difficulty visiting places they are unfamiliar with. Over
wearing your glasses when you’re supposed to and a third of older people registered blind are unable to
giving yourself regular breaks from staring at mobile get out in their local community independently. Our
phone, iPad and computer screens! services enhance the mobility and emotional wellbeing
of people who are vision impaired.
The main causes of vision loss in Ireland are:
• Age-related Macular Degeneration (which people
acquire over the age of 50)
Fundraising for WSD
• Cataracts, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma and Encourage students to become a
Retinitis Pigmentosa SmartStreet Hero by getting sponsored
• There are 54,810 people in Ireland who are blind or for €5 (or more) by making 3 or more
vision impaired. SmartStreet interventions such as:
• Getting family members to park their cars or
vans on the street not on the pavements
Bag Pack • Cut back overhanging branches from your
garden
We have Bag Packs
• Ensure wheelie bins and refuse containers are
in lots of stores
not left on the pavement
nationwide. If you and
your classmates would • Report broken street lights, potholes or badly
cracked paving slabs
like to support one of
our Bag Packs, please
ask your teacher to
contact the Regional
Take a look at the photos across
Volunteer coordinator the page to gain an insight in to
in your area to discuss further. how our Guide Dogs might look
Contact details can be found on Page 4. to their vision impaired owner.
dreams into reality, 6) Eyes, Faster
1) 1149, 2) 96, 3) 696, 4) 14, 5) 69 whereas a Guide Dog is an obstacle avoider, 5) Independence to turn
Answers to Maths Questions: 1) 17 years old, 2) 15 years, 3) Jake, 4) The cane is an obstacle finder
Answers to Maths Quiz from Page 6: Answers to Case Study from Page 6:
9TYPES OF
VISIO N L O S S
NORMAL VISION CATARACTS
AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY GLAUCOMA
10We would be delighted if
you would get involved in
our annual fundraiser. Here
are some ways in which your
school can participate:
Order a HEROES school pack which will include items Hold a HEROES fundraising event in your school. See
to sell to students and teachers in your school; You will page 2 for some additional ideas
receive
We are also calling on support from students
• 100 HEROES Pins over 16 to:
• 100 HEROES ‘Independence’ wristbands • Sell our items in your local community on-street
(we can arrange a permit for the date that suits
• HEROES Posters to put up around the school your school schedule and provide all the pins,
buckets, hi-visibility vests etc.)
• Collection buckets
• Volunteer to sell pins in your local Supermarket
Sell your HEROES items to your friends and family
11 If you would like to take part, please contact the Regional Co-Ordinator in your area. Details can be found on Page 4.You can also read
