Kiss your emotional support peacock goodbye! As of January 11th, 2021, the US Department of Transportation has aligned their definition of “service animal” with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), limiting the designation of dogs only on planes. There are currently no breed restrictions. The […]

America’s animal lovers have spoken, and after more than half a million votes from across the country, Frances from Staten Island, New York is one of only 21 courageous canines to be advancing to the semifinal rounds of the 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Awards®, […]

Every dog has its day, and one four-legged local is hoping that day will come for them on September 29 at the eighth annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards® in Beverly Hills. Guide Dog Frances, my four-year-old Labrador Retriever from Staten Island, New York will be […]

Guide dogs receive specialized training before being matched with their human partners, exposing them to a variety of social situations and desensitization to loud noises. Even with this intense training, it is our responsibility as guide dog users to make good decisions before including our […]

I thought the sudden snow storm that Saturday morning was nature’s way of telling me I did not have to go tour pre-schools for my almost 4-year-old daughter. My husband, on the other hand, was hell-bent on not letting a little snow get in our way. We […]

Frances and I were en route to my local hospital for a doctor’s appointment.  It was a cold, December night and we had taken a cab to our destination. Once arrived, Franny lead me towards the front door of the building. She stopped midway, indicating […]

I’ll never forget that feeling almost 5 years ago. I had been assigned an Orientation & Mobility (O&M) instructor from what was then called the Jewish Guild for the Blind. My instructor, Carol, arrived at my home for my initial consultation. I had been blind […]

Dear Frances: It feels like this family has been waiting for you forever. Four and a half years is a long time for a blind woman to wait for her first guide dog. I’ll admit, giving birth to two beautiful baby girls, running a household, […]

Since being matched with my guide dog, Frances, in September I have received countless emails asking me questions relating to my overall experience. While I’ve posted an extensive video diary on YouTube chronicling my Home Training with Guiding Eyes for the Blind; I thought it […]

Applying to Columbia University for my graduate degree was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. The application, gathering references and writing my essay took months to prepare. There was no one more shocked than I was when I finally received my acceptance […]

Shortly after the initial shock of my vision loss began to subside, my husband and I discussed things we could do to potentially make my transition into blindness easier. My greatest fear during those early moments was becoming completely dependent on him for everything, from […]