Mobility Update August 2022

My August update starts very positive. Today, 3 August, I had my first mobility session of the month. Following our newly created routine, we walked the block route first and then the beach route. I almost did the block route completely unprompted. There was only one turning I went the wrong way. This feels much more successful, even to me. The beach route was pretty great, too. I only muddled up a part where I’m supposed to indent in behind a bus stop but didn’t. It was a nice day weather-wise so I think that helped. Sadly no doggy cuddles along the way this time, although a black Labrador that was in his owner’s front garden while he was mowing the lawn did come trotting along behind us for a bit. Tomorrow, my mobility officer is going to put my situation to case review and recommend I’m ready for the Guide Dog Assessment. We’ve got two more 2 hour sessions next week before she goes on annual leave so that should be enough to ensure I’m practised enough on the beach route in preparation for the GDA. Thankfully, they won’t assess me on the block route yet. The more simple route is more suitable for the GDA. So I look forward to hearing the outcome tomorrow afternoon when she phones me to confirm what’s been decided.

 

Sadly, my second session in August, Monday 8^th, wasn’t as successful. For some reason, I felt tired so was a bit sluggish along the block route especially. We practised both again and they were all right but nowhere as good as they’ve been the last few times. I was a bit disappointed but I know I’m going to have times where I’m tired so not so focused. Thankfully, today’s session two days later was much better. Again we practised both routes. The block route was much better and I felt wide awake for the whole thing, even with the 25 degrees heat we’re currently experiencing. I still muddled up a couple of turns again on the block route but I just need to keep reading the instructions and feeling the map to memorise it completely. The beach route was great and spot on. When we got back to the flat, my mobility officer said she’d send her notes in for case review tomorrow and the team will decide whether I’m going forward for the GDA; my mobility officer seems confident there won’t be any reason why not. She’s off on holiday now for 3 weeks and our next session is scheduled for 6 September so there isn’t any other mobility news to write about in August.

 

However, I received a phone call a week later confirming I have been approved for the GDA and the team are starting the process of arranging it. They understand my nervousness surrounding doing short handle walks with an instructor rather than a dog in harness but have asked me to do a practice harness walk with one of the mobility instructors just to see how it goes. If I’m still too nervous then they’ll continue looking for a suitable dog to do the assessment walk with. But if it is a success and I don’t go to jelly then we’ll do the GDA as a short handle walk. Again, it seems the way Southampton conducted the GDA is different to the Newcastle team’s approach. It still amazes me that although all of the Guide Dogs teams are supposed to be working to the same training and processes but there’s still so much variation between them. This time it seems like it might actually benefit me.

 

Today (31 August) I had a phone call from the lady in the Newcastle team who is going to do my short handle walk. She’s actually the lady I had for two mobility sessions in June while my original mobility instructor was off work ill and before I started working with my now permanent mobility instructor. We’ve arranged to do the short handle walk on the afternoon of 13^th September. Obviously I’m nervous but it’s really helping me that I already know her. She was lovely on the couple of occasions I met her before and was great over the phone today. So fingers crossed that goes well. While I wait, I’m looking forward to my mobility instructor returning to work next week. I’ve been reading the route instructions daily and am hoping that’ll help me walk the routes well first time round. I’m confident on the beach route but have a few wobbles with the big route. Hoping they don’t come to anything. Despite the fact that we haven’t had many sessions this month, I still think it’s been a pretty positive one. I’ve made even more progress and am now ready for the GDA. Considering I only started working with my mobility officer in June, I’m pretty chuffed with the progress I’ve made. I don’t think I’ve ever learnt routes so quickly. Looking forward to next month when we revisit both routes I’ve already done and hopefully start a third. If I’m really lucky, I might even get my GDA in September too.