Adapting the traditional guide dog model to enable vision-impaired adolescents to thrive

9 A working holiday: From home to destination with a guide dog

“…Previous research has discussed the role of guide dogs from a day-to-day perspective (see Higgin, 2012;Audrestch et al, 2015;Gravrok et al, 2018), but has yet to focus on the role of a guide dog when traveling outside of its home environment. The role of a guide dog is to guide their handler safely past obstacles and hazards once given a direction.…”

“…The dogs are trained to follow directional commands, stop at curbs, stop to avoid vehicles and locate certain objects (Craigon et al, 2017). Thus, research has demonstrated a number of benefits to owning a guide dog in day-to-day life, such as increased mobility, independence, confidence and social interaction (Tomkins et al, 2011;Audrestch et al, 2015;Gravrok et al, 2018). Indeed, more recent research indicates a preference for the use of guide dogs as a mobility aid, as opposed to the white cane or more modern alternatives among vision impaired persons (Glenk et al, 2019).…”

“…While owning a guide dog increases levels of mobility, independence, confidence and social interaction (Tomkins et al, 2011;Audrestch et al, 2015;Gravrok et al, 2018), much less is known about potential benefits, challenges and limitations of traveling away from home with a guide dog. Due to this uncertainty, Guide Dogs has created an extensive travel checklist for those considering international travel with their guide dog (Guide Dogs, 2019).…”

“…It has been well established that guide dogs improve their owner's mobility within their local communities while also contributing to higher quality of life through greater independence, confidence and social interactions (Lloyd et al, 2008;Tomkins et al, 2011;Audrestch et al, 2015;Gravrok et al, 2018). Moreover, research indicates a preference for guide dogs as a mobility aid, as opposed to a white cane or other alternatives (Glenk et al, 2019).…”

Interventions for quality of life and related outcomes among unpaid caregivers of older adults with visual impairments: A scoping review

“…Due to this failure by the health care industry, the burden of care most often falls on their unpaid family members or caregivers. Importantly, this is not just a failure of the health care industry, but also across society more broadly, since our everyday environments are not designed in line with the mobility and sensory priorities of certain segments of society such as long cane users or guide dog owners (Gravrok et al, 2018; Kirchner et al, 2008). Generally, this exacerbates the challenges of participation and therefore contributes to detrimental emotional transitions that can accompany the onset of sight loss, particularly in old age.…”