The Federation for the autonomy of visually impaired people Centre-Val de Loire is launching an ambitious project: the creation of the first guide dog school in the region, reports France Blue Orléans .
Only 50 guide dogs in the region
This initiative responds to a crying need: 64,000 people suffer from severe visual impairment in the region, but only 50 guide dogs are active. The objective is thus to reduce waiting times, currently three years, a real “surrender factor” according to Michel Brard, president of the Federation.
Currently, the closest guide dog schools are in Limoges (Haute-Vienne), Angers (Maine-et-Loire) or Île-de-France, which makes access to this essential service difficult for people concerned.
The creation of a school in Orléans (Loiret) would make it possible to locally support people with visual disabilities.
See also: Near Angers, at the guide dog school for the blind
An ideal environment
The House for the Visually Impaired, already located in the heart of Orléans, seems to be the ideal location, notes The Central Republic . Its urban environment provides a perfect setting for training dogs to navigate the city. “We have everything nearby,” underlines to our colleagues Vincent Dubois, director of the House.
The project is progressing concretely with the imminent recruitment of a specialized educator, who will be responsible for training the puppies and the foster families. To date, fourteen families have volunteered to house the dogs during their training, which lasts twelve to fourteen months.
A call for donations
To make its project a reality, the Federation therefore launched a call for donations in order to raise the €100,000 necessary initially. This amount will make it possible to recruit a trainer and purchase the puppies.
As Michel Brard recalls at the microphone of France Bluethe guide dog, “he is a wonderful companion, a daily mediator in the connection with others, a guide who brings you security, ease, tranquility in your travels”.
