The Seeing Eye’s Seminar for Youth Introduces Teens to Guide Dogs
This past summer, we held The Seeing Eye’s Seminar for Youth (SESY) program for the first time in over a decade. This program helps teenagers learn how a guide dog can enhance their mobility and prepares them to meet the qualifications for a Seeing Eye dog when they come of age.
Through SESY, The Seeing Eye hosted 10 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 from all over North America at our Washington Valley campus. They lived in residence in our dormitory and ate meals in our dining room while learning how to care for and be guided by a Seeing Eye dog.
The students worked one-on-one with Seeing Eye instructors, first learning routes using their white canes in Morristown, then traveling those same routes while being guided by a Seeing Eye dog. They also attended lectures where Seeing Eye graduates spoke about the experience of working with a guide dog.
The Seeing Eye will host SESY again in 2024 from August 19-22. Stay tuned for more information on how to sign up for the 2024 program.
