None of the reputable guide dog providers will place a guide with anyone under the age of 16 in most cases, and only after the person has completed proper Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training using the white cane. The person must be capable of independent travel using the white cane before being considered for placement with a guide dog. A 4 year old is nowhere near being able to travel independently, nor be able to properly care for or use the guide, so no reputable guide dog provider will place a guide dog with your son no matter the qualifying blindness level.
Seriously, your son has many obstacles to overcome before you should even begin with the idea of placing a guide dog with him. He still has at least 12 years before a reputable guide dog provider will even consider placing a guide with him, so use that time to help him acclimate to living in a sighted world. Contact the National Federation of the Blind, The American Council of the Blind and your states special education department to assist you in finding the best ways to prepare your son (and yourself) for the challenges ahead. Once he has overcome those challenges, then that is the time to start looking into the possibility of using a guide dog. He has a long road ahead of him; do not try to hurry too much or he will become overwhelmed and withdraw from any assistance offered.
You need to contact the Association for the Blind in your country. They will direct you to the Guide Dog Association if and when your son is elligible.
i'd say not but it depends on which organization your wanting to get the dog from. some train dogs for kids, some do not.
i know kids who have seizures can get a service dog. the best thing you can do is research. google service dogs and you can find service dog organizations. just keep in mind that organizations for training service dogs have priorities to who they give a dog to. so there is a waiting list that could take forever for you to get one. there's not a ton of organizations that train service dogs and a lot of the dogs do not become service dogs and just become regular pets.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
None of the reputable guide dog providers will place a guide with anyone under the age of 16 in most cases, and only after the person has completed proper Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training using the white cane. The person must be capable of independent travel using the white cane before being considered for placement with a guide dog. A 4 year old is nowhere near being able to travel independently, nor be able to properly care for or use the guide, so no reputable guide dog provider will place a guide dog with your son no matter the qualifying blindness level.
Seriously, your son has many obstacles to overcome before you should even begin with the idea of placing a guide dog with him. He still has at least 12 years before a reputable guide dog provider will even consider placing a guide with him, so use that time to help him acclimate to living in a sighted world. Contact the National Federation of the Blind, The American Council of the Blind and your states special education department to assist you in finding the best ways to prepare your son (and yourself) for the challenges ahead. Once he has overcome those challenges, then that is the time to start looking into the possibility of using a guide dog. He has a long road ahead of him; do not try to hurry too much or he will become overwhelmed and withdraw from any assistance offered.
You need to contact the Association for the Blind in your country. They will direct you to the Guide Dog Association if and when your son is elligible.
i'd say not but it depends on which organization your wanting to get the dog from. some train dogs for kids, some do not.
i know kids who have seizures can get a service dog. the best thing you can do is research. google service dogs and you can find service dog organizations. just keep in mind that organizations for training service dogs have priorities to who they give a dog to. so there is a waiting list that could take forever for you to get one. there's not a ton of organizations that train service dogs and a lot of the dogs do not become service dogs and just become regular pets.
Yes, contact your nearest place for visually impaired people.
He's too young, I believe.
No.