Author Archives: anneliesemdk

Golden Parachutes for Guide Dogs

I get asked about service dog retirement a lot. People always ask my dog’s age, and once that comes up there’s a high likelihood they want to know how long she’s been working and how long she’ll keep working. And then they ask “what happens after she stops working? Humans like stories, and they want to know that these heroic and noble creatures will have happy endings. And, very often, they do. Here’s a summary of the most frequently asked questions about dog retirement, and more detailed answers than I usually bother to give in person.

Flashback Friday: The Going Home Lecture Part II, Pre-Flight Prep

I’ve done a lot of flying since this first lecture, and a lot of rules and amenities have changed. I’ll throw in some advice from my own personal experience, but I encourage all teams to develop a relaxed, flexible mindset about air travel. It’ll never happen the same way twice, and that’s ok so long as you don’t depend on predictability for peace of mind.

Flashback Friday: the Going Home Lecture Part I, Airports

What occasional stressful situation can you make a plan for today?

Delightful and Descriptive, Honor Among Thieves: My Experience with Descriptive Video Service in a Movie Theater

Having that kind of control was kind of fun. And it meant that the movie theater experience wasn’t nearly as over-stimulating as I’ve found it to be in the past. Instead of feeling like my whole body was buffetted by explosive sound or pierced by higher pitches, I could really dive into what was going on, and I felt less “full of noise” as we walked out.

Flashback Friday: A Trip to New York

Today your favorite blindfluencer asks that you remember that over-stimulation is a common barrier to learning. Be kind to your nervous system for better results.

The Spare Man: Part I, Gimlet

I felt seen, understood, vindicated, and understood by this author, and am grateful that she’s chosen to share her vision with more readers than just me. I hope many, many other readers will see this, see me, see themselves.

Hands-Off Navigation, Please: How NOT to Give Directions to a Blind Person

And all you had to do to avoid it was keep your hands to yourself. Why does the sight of a mobility cane seem to erase that childhood lesson from adult brains?​

Flashback Friday: Transit.Tasks

There are lots of conflicting ideas about where and how it is safest for a dog to ride in a car. Personally, I think there are several right answers, depending on the dog’s size and health, the car’s design and age, and the dog’s familiarity with and comfort with car rides. Below i will explain how TSE taught us to load and unload our dogs safely into cars.