Annual Update with Christine Benninger

Meet GDB Client Faith Snapp and her guide dog Prim. Faith sat down with host Theresa Stern to talk about her history with Guide Dogs for the Blind, her leadership role in FFA, and her future plans as she embarks on her newest adventure- veterinary school.

Did you know that GDB is 100% donor-supported and that we receive no government funding? Find out how GDB is able to offer our programs and services at no cost for clients thanks to the generosity of our community.

Guide Dogs for the Blind surveyed its alumni in the US and Canada to identify common experiences with rideshare denials. In this episode, GDB Alumni Association Manager, Amy Salger, and Lead Researcher, Melba Vélez-Ortiz, share the staggering results and what GDB is doing to ensure that rideshare companies are held accountable for these egregious actions.

Television and film producer Joe Strechay joins Theresa on Central Bark to talk about accessibility and inclusion in the entertainment industry. Joe was a producer on All The Light We Cannot See where he worked with GDB alum Aria Mia Loberti, who was the first legally blind leading actress to portray a blind character in a major studio production. They talk about his work in the area of disability employment advocacy and finally settle the "cane vs canine" debate.

Have you ever heard that its important to socialize your dog? What does this mean, exactly? Socialization is often used when discussing dog behavior, but what is it?! Join us as Theresa talks to Dr. Lynna Feng, GDB's Canine Research Manager, about the principals and practice of canine socialization and how it helps GDB's dogs go on to do life-changing work.

In this episode, we're answering one of your most common questions. "What happens to the dogs who don't become a guide dog or K9 Buddy?" Theresa sat down with James Dress, GDB's Dog Placement Program Manager to talk about what it means when a dog is Career Changed and how GDB ensures that all dogs find their purpose and their path.

GDB President and CEO Christine Benninger joins Theresa on the podcast for her third Annual Update. She talks about some of the biggest successes in the last year and what she is most looking forward to in 2024.

Careers & Canine Connections is back! This innovative partnership between Guide Dogs for the Blind and APH CareerConnect will once again bring young adults together to learn about how a guide dog will fit into their future college and career-related goals. Hear from Jane Flower, Youth Outreach Specialist at GDB, and Richard Rueda, Assistant Director at APH CareerConnect, about the impact of these programs and the need for career readiness programs like it in the blindness community. Applications for the 2024 program are due by April 1, 2024 and space is limited, so sign up today at guidedogs.com/youth-programs

In this episode, Theresa sits down with GDB Director of Orientation & Mobility Services, Marc Gillard, to talk about the importance of our Orientation and Immersion Program in helping clients reach their independent travel goals.

This week we welcome, Dr. Sarah-Elizabeth Byosiere, GDB's Director of Canine Research, to discuss how her team's work is working to change the lives of our dogs and the people who love them.