Guiding Eyes for the Blind

I've Been Legally Blind for Decades — Here's What It's Like to Travel the World on My Own

"This nonprofit trains and provides guide dogs at no charge, relying on volunteer puppy raisers who care for puppies for 18–24 months before a formal training program that includes realistic simulations (for example, mock TSA checks). The dogs are trained to be quiet and unobtrusive in public and on aircraft—often tucked under seats and comfortable in the travel footprint—and typically are placed with handlers around two years old and retire at eight to ten. The program emphasizes practical, real-world readiness for independent travel and has produced many long-serving, pattern-oriented companions that reliably navigate airports, trains, hotels and streets." - Thomas Panek and Rachel Chang