How Karlee navigates University with her Guide Dog, Isla.
Starting university can mean learning a completely new environment, from finding classrooms and cafes to navigating busy pathways. Hear from Karlee, a university student, how she learns to navigate a university campus safely and independently with her Guide Dog, Isla.
How did you prepare to navigate your university campus?
Before I began my university degree, I had to do a lot of planning and orientation and mobility training to ensure I could navigate the campus safely and independently. I had many sessions with my Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) that focused on developing a mind map of the campus and identifying tactile and audible landmarks to support my orientation.
I had multiple classrooms to learn, so we worked on one at a time and broke the travel route up into sections to help Consolidate it in my head. My Guide Dog was also learning the new travel routes as well, so it was important to work on one route at a time to prevent her from getting confused or overwhelmed.
How did orientation and mobility training help you learn new travel routes?
I used many techniques to assist me with learning the campus. We would walk the route first via sighted guide and without my Guide Dog working to make sure we had identified the best and safest way to go prier to teaching it to Isla. My GDMI would trace particular sections of the route on my hand with her finger to help me with Mapping it in my head which was super helpful.
How did landmarks help you navigate the university campus?
Targeting landmarks was also crucial for my navigation. My GDMI would find various landmarks along my travel route including specific poles, bins, changes in surface and audible noises that I could use to act as a guide and orientate me. Isla absolutely loves targeting so she would get very excited to show me the pole, steps or crossing.
Once we had learnt each section of the route, we would put it all together, and my GDMI would step back and observe to ensure we could navigate it independently.
How do a Guide Dog and Guide Dog Mobility Instructor support university travel?
It is complete team work between myself, my Guide Dog, and my GDMI. It involves a lot of problem solving, communication, and a lot of cognitive energy at first when learning the travel route, but the end result is amazing.
Isla and I can now navigate my university campus independently and find all of my classrooms, Specific cafes and of course a toileting area for Isla.
What happens when university classes change?
Each semester when I have new classrooms to learn, I will do more training with my GDMI prier to The semester starting. Myself and Isla are supported throughout the whole process, enabling me to attend university and navigate my surroundings with greater confidence.