Guide Dogs/hearing Dogs

[Guest justinece]

Does anyone know if it is possible to arrange a visit from a guide dog/hearing dog into school?

 

I am covering the senses at the moment and thought it would be a great way of demonstrating their effectiveness to the children.

 

I am on my 8 week PGCE placement in a reception class, so not sure what the procedures would be.

[Guest]

We had a guide dog visit last half term (beautiful ). We did a risk assessment and ok'd it with management. The dogs are so well behaved we've not had a problem. We did ask on the weekly newsletter if parents could let us know if they thought their child would react badly (just as we do for Santa/ clowns etc) or allergies.One child was said to be frightened of dogs.We let the children know if they didn't want to be there they could spend the time elsewhere. The child stood at the back but was still not happy so left but returned to watch from a distance later. The lady also brought her watch, braile books and a fluid sensor and showed the children how she made a drink without spilling by pouring water into a cup over a childs head

 

The blind lady is an ex-grandparent so we have direct contact with her and she has been to visit in previous years and this was the second of her dogs we have met. We have written her a 'referance' this time about her visit/what we did/what the children got out of it as she is keen to develop visiting schools in the area.

 

If you want to arrange a visit once you have had the nod of approval from your line manager etc try contacting your local Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). Try the deaf association for hearing dogs but they are rarer.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Guest

[Guest tinkerbell]

Our school council decided to sponsor the training of a guide dog puppy .As Biccy says phone the (RNIB) and they will put you in contact with some one local who will do a school visit.

 

We had a man and his dog who talked to each class and then stopped for a school lunch! we just had to get staff to pick him up and take him home.

 

We have a school contract that covers all children touching animals that come into school with adult supervision eg we have guinea pigs,hatch chicks ,have pets in etc...the parents sign the form and any allergies or worries are put in the front of each class register for teachers to be aware.It would be good practice to do a risk assessment for the children and perhaps for the visitor who will need guidance around the building ,loo etc.

 

good luck it is certainly a worthwhile experience for the children...you may want to take your idea to a staff meeting and open it up to the rest of the school??

 

Tinkerbellx

[Guest]

I came across this that maybe of use. It was on the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf site rather than the Deaf Association

 

"Togs for Dogs 2009

 

Hearing Dogs is proud to relaunch our Togs for Dogs activity pack for 2009. One of the most important aspects of Togs for Dogs is learning about deaf awareness and communication tactics. Each lesson, exercise, activity and experiment has been carefully developed around the National Curriculum and Curriculum for Excellence guidelines for Key Stages Foundation to Four. The pack is also ideal as a resource for youth groups and guiding associations such as Brownies and Cubs.

Interactive activities include: Basic finger spelling, a competition to design the Togs for Dogs logo for 2010, a competition to design a non-uniform coat for hearing dog Phoebe, and projects to explain how hearing works among many others "

 

There is a telephone number and e-mail address on the site to get a support CD

 

Hearing dogs