(no subject)

[ashelterofpages]

I really do think that getting in the habit of both looking at my reading list, and doing my best to leave comments on things, is helping me think about posting here again. I've been making an effort to try and do the commenting thing because it's what I like about platforms like this. I absolutely understand and respect lurkers and would never discourage someone from doing so if that's what they're comfortable with, but part of this for me is stretching my social interaction muscles and engaging with people when I have the brain for it.

I've started reading a few stories out of The Dangers Of Smoking In Bed and I've enjoyed what I've read so far. I'm also working through a backlog of short fiction I've had piled up, as well as a bunch of articles I've had saved. Text-to-speech has been such a big help in getting through some of this. I forget how daunting physically reading is for me, even in small amounts, and doing so through audio feels like a game changer for me and my poorly made eyes.

Speaking of eyes, I saw my Orientation and Mobility instructor today. She thinks I should be pretty much good to go to start applying to guide dog schools. This fact is both fucking terrifying but also kind of exciting. With how my sight has been getting even worse over the last year, I think it's going to help give me confidence in going out on my own and eventually living by myself, which is something I've lost a lot of confidence in.

So, while I'm not sure how long it will take, y'all might be getting guide dog updates at some point soon! Also, I'll do my best to include many pictures of all the good, good dogs.

Comments

[muccamukk]

Dog school sounds very cool. My nephew just got a service dog to help with interacting with the world (he has autism), and getting it with a whole process, but it's sure been making a difference.

[ashelterofpages]

Yeah, it's definitely a whole song and dance, but we'll see how it goes. I'm hoping that I can maybe get them to help me with a few things for interacting with the world as well (I have some PTSD stuff, as well as agoraphobia to go along with the blindness) but if not, I'll have at least had experience training a dog, so it might give me a leg up in teaching them other skills.