I attended my first convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore in 1978. The summer before, I was completing my course work for my elementary teaching credential and for my master's degree in bilingual education. I was told that it was impossible for a blind teacher to teach sighted children to read and, therefore, the professor and the Dean of Education wanted to deny me the opportunity to take the Reading Methods class, one of the last courses I needed both for my Master's degree and my credential.

I was desperate. I didn't know where to turn or what to do. After many phone calls, I was finally connected with Sharon Gold. She told me about Section 504, and she wrote the necessary letters to the university on my behalf. Needless to say, I not only completed my coursework but also went on to obtain a teaching position, and I have been successfully teaching primary grade children how to read, and a great many other things, ever since.

Throughout the fall, winter, and spring which followed, Sharon kept urging me to go to Convention. I had never been much of a "joiner", and I didn't see the importance of joining up with a bunch of blind people. However, Sharon had played a large part in getting me where I was at that time, and I felt I owed her something. If it would make her happy, and if it would keep her quiet, I'd go to her silly convention. I could at least do that much for her, I reasoned.

Interestingly enough, in all the months which led up to my going to Baltimore, I don't remember Sharon ever mentioning that the Federation had a Teacher's Division, as it was called at the time. As a first year teacher, I surely could have benefited from knowing about it! Maybe she did say it, and for some reason I just blocked it out. Anyway, I arrived in Baltimore knowing nothing about the NFB and not knowing a soul except Sharon.

Three memorable things happened as a result of my first NFB Convention, which I attended in my ignorance:

(1) I read as much of Dr. Jernigan's writing as I could get my hands on, and couldn't put it down. The ideas began to penetrate into my brain, and I began to challenge my own notions about blindness and blind people. My whole philosophy about blindness and about myself as a blind person, over time, radically changed. I suspect most people reading this can identify with what I'm saying.
(2) As a result, following that Convention, I joined the National Federation of the Blind.
(3) I joined the Teachers' Division (now the National Organization of Blind Educators) and remain active in it to this day.

It happened like this:

Within less than a day after I arrived in Baltimore, I was standing in the registration line. I began making small talk with somebody in front of me, and it was pretty obvious to this person that I was attending my first convention. Gradually the subject got around to careers. I don't remember what my new friend's occupation was. However, on hearing that I had just completed my first year of teaching, he immediately said, "Oh, are you going to the Teachers' Division?"

"What's that?" I asked.

Whereupon he explained that the NFB has a variety of committees and divisions meeting the interests and needs of lots of different types of folks, and he pointed out that I could not only learn some useful techniques for functioning effectively as a blind teacher, but I could also share my ideas as well.

Why do I tell this story? Because every year people with guide dogs come to our conventions in ever increasing numbers. Some of them are here for the first time; others have attended several conventions. Many of these people are in fact members of the guide dog user's division of the NFB, otherwise known as the National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU) and our membership is growing. However, guide dog users come to our conventions who have never heard of NAGDU. They don't know the ways in which they can benefit from NAGDU membership, or the ways NAGDU can help them when problems arise.

This was brought forcefully to my attention a few months ago. There was a Monitor Miniature about a man whose dog became upset with the stress of convention. The dog became ill. Not wanting to miss out on everything, the man, who was attending his first convention, left his dog in his room for two days until the dog felt better and used his cane to attend seminars and sessions. To my knowledge, no one ever mentioned NAGDU to this gentleman. So what could NAGDU have done to help? What can NAGDU do this year if a similar situation arises? Well, let's see.

First of all, at this year's convention, NAGDU will have its own phone extension. Guide dog users can call to request help for anything from finding the relief area to asking for a "dog sitter" to stay with their dogs if they must leave them. It is very important that dogs never be left unattended in hotel rooms. Dogs often act very differently than they do when left in the familiar surroundings of their own homes. In a strange hotel, unattended dogs sometimes bark or cry, annoying other guests. They sometimes growl out of fear, or chew things, or urinate or defecate or vomit in the room. So, NAGDU will help find "dog sitters" for people.

Secondly, we now have many more guide dog schools attending our conventions that we did in the past. Last year we had a record ten schools in attendance. Therefore, chances are that most people's schools were there and, even for people who got dogs from schools who didn't come, or people who trained their own dogs, all the instructors from all the schools assisted people with orientation difficulties or dog behavior problems, even if the handler did not attend that instructor's school. Therefore, NAGDU can do two things to support guide dog users having difficulty at conventions: We can offer ideas and support to novices because our membership includes guide dog users of all levels of experience; and we can refer people for on-site instructor support when necessary.

NAGDU meetings are devoted to topics within the framework of Federation philosophy, which give people information on every aspect of guide dog use. WE have dealt with guide dogs in various work settings such as hospitals and schools. We've discussed how you know if and when a guide dog is right for you and how you know when it's time to retire a dog. We've discussed guide dog use and overcoming public misconceptions about our dogs and about us as blind people. We've dealt with issues too numerous to mention here.

Outside of conventions, we continue to mentor and support each other. NAGDU officers and members routinely write letters, make phone calls, and advocate in person for people who encounter discrimination from apartments, taxis and restaurants, to name only a few. We counsel people who have lost a dog to death, or who are going crazy with a new, young dog who's testing the limits. We educate the public and each other about what guide dogs can and can't do and about what guide dog use is as well as what it isn't.

Is this any different than what the educators or the lawyers or the diabetics do for each other? I think not. Our division has the same support and educating and mentoring and networking roles that any other division within the Federation has.

When you see anyone at convention with a guide dog, whether or not you think they are having problems, please refer them to NAGDU. NAGDU membership is only fifteen dollars per year, and for that members receive our informative semiannual newsletter, "Harness Up!" Making guide dog users aware of NAGDU should be as automatic as referring an educator to the educator's division, or a lawyer to the lawyer's division. Even if you do not currently use a guide dog, but have questions about it, ask NAGDU. Any question is a good question if the questioner really wants to know.

We look forward to seeing everybody in Atlanta. Y'all get those room reservations in now, and come to Atlanta! It will be a great convention.

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