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VIDBE-Q Volume 63 Issue 4
The week-long camp that I was able to be a part of gave me the additional
opportunity to work with clients that were younger than most Leader Dog clients. During
camp there were many activities that provided the campers with the chance to see what
they could do independently that they may not have realized that they could do. These
activities included tandem biking, rock climbing, zip lining, and using a handheld GPS.
Most of the campers that attended camp had received Orientation & Mobility for several
years, so the focus of camp was more on the GPS and giving the campers chance to
expand their Orientation & Mobility knowledge into new areas. The camp also provided
the campers a chance to meet and interact with others their age who also had a visual
impairment.
In completing my internship at Leader Dog, I was given the chance to see a
different side of Orientation & Mobility that I knew was out there but would not have
been able to see so completely if I had completed my internship elsewhere. I not only
learned more about the cane skills I will be teaching in the future but gained some
insight into dog guides and what they can provide to our clients. The extra opportunities
at Leader Dog were many and I feel that they really rounded out my experience as an
intern. For anyone who will be completing an internship in the future – don't be afraid to
try something you hadn't previously considered, you never know where it will take you.
