Guide Dog Experience Day
A hands-on exploration and introduction for people interested in the guide dog lifestyle.
Are you interested in learning if a guide dog is right for you? Consider attending a Guide Dog Experience Day at either our California or Oregon campus. This free, half-day event gives attendees self-assessment tools to make an informed choice about the guide dog lifestyle.
Topics and Experiences
- Cane or canine? Explore the differences between long cane and guide dog travel.
- Experience traveling a short route with a trained guide dog.
- Enjoy a walking tour of our campus.
- Get a first-paw perspective about Guide Dogs for the Blind’s program options, follow-up services, and lived experience from a seasoned guide dog team.
- Learn about Guide Dogs for the Blind’s admissions process.
- “Paws” for lunch with a meal provided by GDB.
Important Considerations and Requirements
- Reservations are required at least a week in advance to attend a Guide Dog Experience Day.
- These events are presented in a group setting in an adult learning format and are recommended for ages 14 and older.
- The Guide Dog Experience Day is intended for people who are blind or visually impaired, their family members, and blindness professionals.
Guide Dog Experience Day Locations, Dates, and Reservations
Guide Dog Experience Day sessions are held on Guide Dogs for the Blind’s campuses in San Rafael, CA and Boring, OR.
Open the tabs below for event dates, locations, and reservation information.
Location:
350 Los Ranchitos Road
San Rafael, CA 94903
2023 Workshop Dates:
- March 29th, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- May 11th, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- July 12th, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- September 27th, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- November 8th, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Register for Guide Dog Lifestyle Workshops taking place at GDB’s California campus by contacting:
Jane Flower, Youth Outreach Specialist
Phone: 800 295 4050
Email: [email protected]
Location:
32901 SE Kelso Rd.
Boring, OR 97009
Getting to and from campus:
If you need assistance with transportation to this event, GDB can help. We operate a vanpool shuttle near the Gresham Central Transit Center to our Oregon campus before and after the event.
If you would like to use this service, please be sure to share this in your registration and a member of staff will provide you with more information.
2023 Workshop Dates:
- April 12th, 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- June 21st, 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- August 23rd, 10:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- October 11th, 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Register for Guide Dog Lifestyle Workshops taking place at GDB’s Oregon campus by contacting:
Jake Koch, Community Outreach Specialist
Phone: 800 295 4050
Email: [email protected]
Meet the Presenters
Jake Koch
Jake’s role at Guide Dogs for the Blind includes facilitating educational opportunities about the guide dog lifestyle to people who are blind or visually impaired and blindness professionals. He also consults with agencies and businesses about accessibility best-practices for people who are blind or visually impaired and supports corporate and service organization giving/philanthropy efforts for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
In addition to Jake’s work with Guide Dogs for the Blind, he serves on the Disability Advisory Board with Alaska Airlines. This interdisciplinary board of experts is tasked with providing airline executives and staff with current best practices for serving travelers with disabilities.
Jake graduated with honors from Eastern Washington University, where he majored in Public Relations and minored in Journalism and Organizational Leadership.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, playing musical instruments (drums and ukulele), and spending time with family and friends.
Jane Flower
Jane Flower worked with older adults in the field of low-vision for over 12 years before taking her position at Guide Dogs for the Blind in 2013. Her previous role as Program Supervisor with Dayle McIntosh Center’s Aging with Vision Loss Program in Southern California afforded her the opportunity to share her personal and professional knowledge on such topics as Daily Living Skills, Assistive Technology, Braille Reading and Writing, and Self-Advocacy Training. Jane was born legally blind, and at the age of 8 was diagnosed with a retinal degenerative eye disease called Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). Because of her personal life experience with vision loss, she was also able to provide peer support to the older adults she assisted.
Jane received her current and third Guide Dog Pilaf in November of 2017. In her current role as Youth Outreach Specialist, she and pilaf travel throughout the U.S. and Canada sharing the mission and vision of Guide Dogs for the Blind to perspective clients and their families, and professionals in the field of blindness and low vision. Outside of work, Jane and her husband Wayne live with her retired guide dog Anya, their pet dog KC, and of course little Pilaf. They love to travel, hike, go for long walks with their dogs, camping, and spend time with friends and family.