{"id":13545,"date":"2019-12-13T13:18:55","date_gmt":"2019-12-13T18:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chronicle.hvcc.edu\/wpdev\/student-gains-independence-and-confidence-with-guide-dog\/"},"modified":"2019-12-13T13:18:55","modified_gmt":"2019-12-13T18:18:55","slug":"student-gains-independence-and-confidence-with-guide-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chronicle.hvcc.edu\/wpdev\/student-gains-independence-and-confidence-with-guide-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Student gains independence and confidence with guide dog"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

This article, written by Megan Potter, first appeared in Saratoga Family (Winter 2019), a publication of Saratoga Today Newspaper.<\/em><\/p>\n

My Buddy<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>When they are by our side, friends give us the confidence to freely follow our own path.<\/p>\n

Two years ago, Megan Hale met a friend like this. \u201cHer dog is by her side for everything. Hero is awesome! He helps her get around safely. He runs with her. He watches out for her and makes sure she\u2019s okay,\u201d said Tiffany Mitrakos, director of Camp Abilities Saratoga.<\/p>\n

Finding New Freedoms<\/strong>
\nEach summer since middle school, Hale has been attending Camp Abilities Saratoga\u2019s week-long program. As one of 26 blind and visually impaired campers between the ages of 10 and 16+ in the program, Hale had the opportunity to participate in sports including track, baseball and bicycling, on the grounds of the Skidmore College campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter camp, I tried out for and joined the varsity team at school starting in 8th grade. I was able to join and tell them how to adapt things so I could do them, too,\u201d said Hale. This summer, Hale was a counselor-in-training at Camp Abilities and is currently a freshman at Hudson Valley Community College pursuing a Physical Education Studies degree.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have realized, over the years and going to camp especially, that not many students with a disability \u2013 any disability \u2013 are being included in sports. There are not many teachers out there who know how,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A Special Sidekick<\/strong>
\nHale\u2019s sense of sight has been substantially affected by Leber congenital amaurosis, a condition that she describes as, \u201csimilar to going to see a 3-D movie without 3-D glasses on, and with no peripheral vision.\u201d She had primarily been using a cane to get around until high school, when she was old enough to be matched with a guide dog.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was nervous. Growing up, we didn\u2019t have a dog and we\u2019d never had dogs in the house before. This is my first time being around a dog, but I knew the benefits, and that pushed me forward,\u201d said Hale.<\/p>\n

Guiding Eyes for the Blind trained Hale how to work with and care for her guide dog, a yellow Labrador named Hero. \u201cHe\u2019s like a car and they teach us how to drive the car. I call him my \u201cLab-orghini,\u201d she said. Hero has given Hale an inspiring new independence. \u201cShe is the only camper that has ever come to Saratoga with a guide dog. It was really cool for the other campers to see that might be an option in the future for them, too,\u201d said Mitrakos.<\/p>\n

Coaching Companion
\nTogether at Camp Abilities Saratoga, Hale and Hero not only participated in sports, but also experienced leading others.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will basically be at my side the whole time. They call us Coach Megan and Coach Hero. On the very rare occasion that I\u2019d need to guide athletes, he\u2019d guide both of us,\u201d said Hale. As heroes are apt to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore people will get excited about physical activity if people like them were a part of leading it. I just think that everyone should have equal access to it and it should be open, with opportunities for everyone to participate.\u201d<\/p>\n

To find out more about Camp Abilities Saratoga, go to CampAbilitiesSaratoga.org.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Published:<\/strong>\u00a0Fri, 13 Dec 2019 13:18:55 +0000 by\u00a0d.gardner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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