Dialysis patient? No guide dog for you

[Riki]

I got an email last night from the guide dog training school that I was hoping to attend.  I had emailed them asking if they knew of dialysis centres in the area.  I figured that it was probably a common issue, since diabetes is a common cause of both blindness and kidney disease.

This is the email I received.

Dear Riki:

I'm so sorry for our lack of response; I don't believe I received your note of a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, even if there were dialysis centers nearby, we are not able to have students on dialysis in class purely as a practical matter as the time taken to travel to the hospital or center, along with the hours on dialysis, takes too much time away from training.  I honestly don't know if other guide dog schools have the same policy.

Thanks for your interest and again we are sorry we cannot be of assistance.

[name redacted]
Manager of Admissions & Graduate Services
[school name redacted]

I'm looking for other schools that offer the same type of program, but I'm hoping that they don't all have the same policy.  If they do, then I guess I'm not getting a dog.  I have found another school, and it looks like there's a dialysis centre a few miles away.  I've emailed them to see what they say.


EDITED:  Moved from Off Topic to Dialysis General Discussion - Rerun Moderator

[RichardMEL]

wow... really?

what are the hours of the class time? there must be some way to make it work... what about a D center that does early morning (finish before 9) or an evening, or even nocturnal, shift? I mean many people work full time hours and do D also.

I think that's a bit of a cop out by that school rep. The point is valid enough, but it doesn't show a lot of thinking in terms of being flexible to try and make it work.

Disappointing

[Riki]

I think their training hours are 8-5 Monday to Friday, but I'd have to check the website.  It didn't make much sense to me either, but I didn't think there was a point to argue their policies with them.  I'm going to let the CNIB know, though.  They highly recommended this school to me, and they knew I was on dialysis.

[Speedy1wrc]

I would think those who choose to serve others in any capacity, either verbally or from within should take an oath to "serve" no matter what the circumstances.

That just stinks and I would be one who would make a fuss about it.

[Riki]

It does stink.  I'm a cane user now, which is fine and dandy.  It does work.  However, a cane is not going to stop me from accidentally wandering into the busy street that I'm walking along, when I think I'm crossing a cross street and still headed for the sidewalk.  It has happened before.  For me, a dog means more freedom, more independence, and more safety, so if I can't find a school that will train me, I will raise a fuss

[MooseMom]

This just seems really strange to me.  I'd find out more about their training schedule.  You say that their hours are 8-5, M thru F, but does that mean that you would train with a dog every day, 8 to 5?  If so, for how many weeks would you train?  How does the manager KNOW that you could not POSSIBLY do D AND train?  This manager seems to be dismissing you and all D patients without any further thought.  This person is just lazy.

[Riki]

I don't know if she understands much about dialysis at all.  You have the dog 24/7, and you're there for a month.  I don't know why they couldn't use dialysis as part of the training, since, once I had the dog, it would be going with me to dialysis anyway

I had to dig a bit through their site, but I found this in their faq

Days begin at 5:30 a.m., breakfast is at 7 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 5:15 p.m. Each student goes on two trips per day; one in the morning, one in the afternoon. There is time in between trips for laundry, relaxing and socializing. Lectures take place after dinner.

From what I understand, from friends that have been there already, the lectures are on things like dog grooming and access laws.

[jeannea]

I think they are being lazy. They don't want to do the extra work to accomadate you. Jerks. I say make a fuss.

[amanda100wilson]

Discriminatory too which is shocking given the nature of their business.  I assume that you are in US so you may. want to point them to the Americans with Disabilities Act.  I am pretty sure that a facility that trains Guide Dogs would be in breach of this as it must be reasonable to make provision for someone on dialysis.  however, a solution may be to find a dialysis unit that will offer a nocturnal or evening shift, or alternatively you could ask the training center to research this for you, as it would be a benefit to others in your position, and ultimately, theirs.

where are you located?  I know of someone who socializes guide dogs before their training.  I am not sure if she would have any contacts that could help you, but I could ask.

[Riki]

I'm in Canada, but I can go to any school in North America that accepts foriegn students.  The school that I got the email from is in New Jersey.  I've been looking at schools in proximity to NYC.  Since most courses run for at least 3 weeks, and you need to go on your own, so if I was near NYC, my best friend would be close by.

[Angiepkd]

Wow. How disappointing! I say make a fuss! A big enough fuss that they reconsider. Maybe they are just unaware of what dialysis entails? If they were given more information they might change policy. You would be helping many others with similar circumstances.  Good luck! 

[amanda100wilson]

still think that the law would apply even if you are Canadian whilst on American soil.

[Bill Peckham]

What is the zip code of the place? You can check Medicare's Dialysis Facility Compare site for centers near a zip code and one piece of information they provide is if the unit has shift starting after 5PM.

This could be a situation where the person making the decision has some experience with a dialyzor who relied on funded transportation and the treatment did take seemingly all day, and the person was too wiped out to do anything for a day. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about dialysis. If there is a center nearby with evening hours then this could be a teaching moment - People who use dialysi scan learn to work with a guide dog.

[Riki]

Bill, according to DialysisFinder.com, there are 2 centres close by, but that site doesn't give a whole lot of info except that the centre exists

Amanda, I'm sure that an organization that's been in business for nearly 80 years and caters to people with disabilities knows what the ADA entails.  Is dialysis considered a disability in the US?

[Joe]

....

Amanda, I'm sure that an organization that's been in business for nearly 80 years and caters to people with disabilities knows what the ADA entails.  Is dialysis considered a disability in the US?

Riki, Renal failure is considered a disability in the US. I'm really surprised at the trainers response to you, I think I would press them.

[Riki]

....

Amanda, I'm sure that an organization that's been in business for nearly 80 years and caters to people with disabilities knows what the ADA entails.  Is dialysis considered a disability in the US?

Riki, Renal failure is considered a disability in the US. I'm really surprised at the trainers response to you, I think I would press them.

I'm waiting to see what the other school that I've contacted has to say first, before I cause any stink. *G*  I also have an ally in the area who knows how to have her voice heard if she wants it to be.  Six years ago, she was ready to file a lawsuit over NYC hotels not accepting my dialysis supplies for me before I arrived.

[Bill Peckham]

Bill, according to DialysisFinder.com, there are 2 centres close by, but that site doesn't give a whole lot of info except that the centre exists

Amanda, I'm sure that an organization that's been in business for nearly 80 years and caters to people with disabilities knows what the ADA entails.  Is dialysis considered a disability in the US?

Dialysis FInder is run by DaVita try Medicare Dialysis Facility Compare http://www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/

[Riki]

Dialysis FInder is run by DaVita try Medicare Dialysis Facility Compare http://www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/

OMG.. according to this site, the hospital in the town has a dialysis unit with shifts that start after 5.. holy fornication.... This is really starting to urine me off..

ps.. I'm trying to not use curse words because my grandfather keeps calling and telling me to stop swearing on the internet. *LOL*

[jeannea]

Your grandfather does that? 

[amanda100wilson]

 Riki, you would think they would know about ADA wouldn't you, hence. am surprised at their stance.  Bill makes a good point.

[Sax-O-Trix]

I am not trying to start anything, but doesn't "ADA" stands for AMERICANS with Disability Act, not Canadians with Disability Act?   I would be seriously suprised if the act applied to non-U.S. citizens, but I don't know squat about the ADA.   Doesn't Canada have guide dog programs you can apply to? 
 How many weeks is the program?  It seems the cost of doing dialysis in another country would be prohibitive.   Would the Canadian government pay for the guide dog and training, and dialysis for you?

[Riki]

I am not trying to start anything, but doesn't "ADA" stands for AMERICANS with Disability Act, not Canadians with Disability Act?   I would be seriously suprised if the act applied to non-U.S. citizens, but I don't know squat about the ADA.   Doesn't Canada have guide dog programs you can apply to? 
 How many weeks is the program?  It seems the cost of doing dialysis in another country would be prohibitive.   Would the Canadian government pay for the guide dog and training, and dialysis for you?

I would think that the ADA would apply, since it is an American organization.  They are not just prohibiting Canadians on dialysis, but anyone on dialysis.

As for Canadian programs, they are not as good as they American ones, and they require that when the dog retires, it goes back to the training organization, where with American programs, the dogs may be kept as a pet by their handlers.

As for the cost, when I  travel on dialysis, all expenses are my responsibility, however, when traveling to train for a guide dog, all expenses are paid by a charitable organization, usually a Lions Club local to the student.  The training itself is provided free of charge to the student, as the facility is a charitable organization as well.

[Riki]

I got a reply from the second training school today, and they said they have no problem taking dialysis patients, as long as their doctor says it's ok for them to walk for 30 minutes, twice a day, and sit through lectures.  I don't think my doctor would have a problem signing off on that.  They want me to do more walking anyway.  I'm pretty sure I could do it, if I could find a pair of shoes that didn't hurt my feet.. *L*

Yes, I have requested an information packet on the school

[Sydnee]

Yay
Now get good shoes.

[Riki]

I've tried.  I have odd shaped feet.  It's hard to find a good fit, and I don't know why they feel the need to shape the insides of the shoes.  They put rises in weird spots. That's what hurts my feet