Published: August 23, 2008 04:48 pm            

A friend and guide

Labrador retriever helps Cleburne

Amanda Berkley wore glasses most of her life but could otherwise see fine. Everything changed shortly after she turned 18, however.

“May 23, 2006, I went blind,” Berkley said. “It was caused by fluid retention on the brain, which I learned I was born with the gene for.”

The condition affects males most often, Berkley said, but can affect women, usually between the ages of 14-40.

“The doctors told me puberty usually triggers it, around 14,” Berkley said. “But I didn’t have any symptoms until I was 18.”

The condition, hydrocephalus, left Berkley partially sighted.

“I see shapes, shadows and forms,” Berkley said. “I can see you’re over there, but I don’t see a lot of color, and I’m losing the ability to see color.”

Despite the loss, Berkley, who was born and raised in Linden, carried on.

“I just dealt with it as something I have to accept because it’s not going to change,” Berkley said. “Some people get angry with themselves and everyone else. But that doesn’t solve anything.”

In the two years since going blind, Berkley has moved to Austin to attend rehabilitation classes, gained a boyfriend, moved to Cleburne and traveled to Oregon to pick up her guide dog, Leah.

“She basically had to give up a year of college to relearn how to read and write and everything again,” said Pat Cromer, Berkley’s mother.

Berkley attended the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center in Austin. The center teaches blind people to achieve employment and independent living goals, according to its Web site.

“How to cook and clean, use a computer, kind of life skills,” Berkley said.

While in Austin, Berkley met Taylor Scott, who is also blind and grew up in the Johnson County area. After Berkley finished the program at Criss Cole, the two decided to move to Cleburne.

“If I had it my way she’d still be here [in Linden] with me,” Cromer said. “But, she’s strong willed and 20 and wants to live her life.

“Actually, I’m proud of her. If it were me I’d still be on the couch. I sure wouldn’t be out living on my own two years later. But she just grabbed the ball and ran and never gave up.”

Berkley got around by using a cane for two years before deciding she wanted a guide dog. Berkley heard about Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc., which has locations in California and Oregon, through a friend with a guide dog.

“The program is free and they give a yearly stipend to cover veterinarian care,” Berkley said. “Me being a broke college student.”

Berkley spent 28 days at the campus in Boring, Ore., receiving training becoming familiar with Leah.

“It’s funny because I told my mom I was going to Boring, Ore., and she said I shouldn’t talk about a place I haven’t been like that,” Berkley joked. “She thought I was saying Oregon was boring.”

Berkley spent most of July in Oregon, a welcome change from the Texas heat.

“It was in the 50s in the mornings,” Berkley said. “I wore a hoodie the whole time. It reached the 90s for two days, and they called it a heat wave.”

Guide Dogs for the Blind was founded in 1942 to serve veterans blinded in World War II. The organization receives no government funding and is entirely supported by private donations, said Debbie Hibbard, Guide Dogs for the Blind spokeswoman.

Students receive transportation, room and board, costs of training, equipment and support services free of charge. When their guard dog retires, students may return for training and a new dog, Hibbard said.

About 10 major guide dog schools exist in the U.S. and several smaller ones, Hibbard said.

“We attract students from all over the U.S. and Canada,” Hibbard said. “Many are referrals from graduates, and we work closely with agencies that serve the blind. I think the range of complete services and follow-up we offer are somewhat unique and attract people.”

Guide Dogs for the Blind uses Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and Lab/golden mixes, Hibbard said, although other schools sometimes train other dog breeds.

The puppies are bred at the center’s San Rafael, Calif., location then sent home with one of the center’s many volunteer puppy raisers to learn normal socialization and behavior such as house training, Hibbard said.

The dogs then undergo formal training to learn guide-dog duties. Those that don’t make it are used for pets, therapy animals and other uses, such as assisting deaf people, Hibbard said.

“The dogs receive extensive training in being a guide dog from professionals before they meet and take classes with their new owners,” Hibbard said.

Berkley said she always loved dogs and describes Leah as both a pet and a working dog.

“Yep, when she’s not in her harness, she’s running up and down the hallway and through the living room like a regular dog,” Berkley said. “She’ll get on the bed, spread out and try to push me off.”

Leah’s presence has helped Berkley’s confidence and mobility, she said.

“I notice I walk a lot faster and don’t run into near as many things,” Berkley said. “With the cane you can still run into planter boxes or poles. She kind of just goes around that stuff now so I don’t have to worry.”

The choice to use a guide dog varies, Berkley said. Scott, who has been blind since he was about 7 years old, said he loves Leah as a pet, but has no desire to get a guide dog of his own.

“She has to take the dog out to go to the bathroom on a certain schedule and feed her on a schedule,” Scott said. “I’d rather just keep getting around the way I always have.”

Berkley and Scott said they rely on family and friends for transportation but often walk around their neighborhood and to area convenience stores.

Berkley attends Hill College, pursuing a business administration degree. She intends to transfer to the University of Texas at Arlington to finish her degree and then hopes to become a real estate agent.

“We’re just real proud of her and what she’s doing,” Cromer said. “She’s a sophomore in college and going after her dream. She never stopped to take time to feel sorry for herself.”

For information on programs, or opportunities to donate or volunteer to Guide Dogs for the Blind, call 1-800-295-4050 or visit www.guidedogs.com.

        

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