GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS

Guide Dogs of Texas would like to provide a quality Guide Dog to any blind Texan who would benefit from their skills, and who can handle and care for a Guide Dog. In addition, we want to provide annual and continuing education and support for every Guide Dog team.

Our short-term goals include:
Providing information on Guide Dog Mobility to potential applicants
Assessing all Guide Dog Applicants across Texas (applicants who have returned their application)
Breeding, Raising, and Training Quality Guide Dogs
Matching and Training these Dogs with Applicants accepted on the list (also called 'class')
Provide Annual visits by a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor for every Team
Every Guide Dog Owner and Applicant receives individualized mobility assessment and instruction, advocacy for issues facing people with low or no vision, and assistance when needed to overcome any obstacles they face.

In addition to the San Antonio main campus, Guide Dogs of Texas placed a certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor in Austin in 2015. Before 2021, the Dallas/Fort Worth satellite and Houston Satellite will also be in place. This will allow better opportunities for education throughout Texas, quicker services to applicants in those areas, more Guide Dogs trained in those communities, more Guide Dog Team placements, and better services for graduates. Other areas of Texas will be served by the closest Instructor.

In particular we will:
1. Expand awareness of Guide Dog Services through publicity, educational events, and volunteers.
2. Provide information and resources to people who contact GDTX.
3. Provide assessments by Guide Dog Mobility Instructors for all applicants.
4. Train Guide Dogs in the central, and satellite locations. Puppy Raising has expanded to the Austin, Houston and DFW satellite areas.
5. Match and Place Teams throughout Texas.
6. Provide efficient graduate services to all teams.

Guide Dogs of Texas has 3 certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructors. World-wide, certified Instructors are in short supply, and training to become an Instructor takes 3-4 years after receiving a bachelor degree. GDTX will recruit or train an Instructor to launch the DFW satellite. By placing Instructors in the larger cities throughout Texas, we are closer to the people who need our services. This reduces overhead and travel, and allows us to provide more efficient service to blind Texans.

In order to fill this need, Guide Dogs of Texas launched a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Apprentice Program to provide the pipeline of professionals needed to meet our goals,

Guide Dogs of Texas is well-positioned with the expertise to carry out this mission. We are accredited by the prestigious International Guide Dog Federation. There are only 11 other accredited schools in the US, and no other schools in Texas. Our high-quality and personalized training model, is well-regarded internationally. We participate in bi-annual continuing education through the Federation, and are members of the American Council for the Blind, Guide Dog Users International, and the Council of US Guide Dog Schools.

Guide Dogs of Texas has achieved extremely high-quality service, and dedicated, professional staffing. Establishment of the Austin area satellite was achieved in the summer of 2015. With the advancement of our Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Apprentices, the placement in the rest of the Texas Satellites should occur within the next three years.

We are still working to expand education and awareness of the program to potential clients, volunteers and donors throughout Texas. The sustaining membership program was created in 2014, and an endowment fund was created in 2015. Both of these programs are in development, and are benefiting from an expansion of awareness of Guide Dogs. In 2019 we completed the construction of an event/training pavilion, a Puppy Enrichment Center as well as added additional accessible restrooms to service those areas. Promotion of these critical funds, and cultivation of donors will assist us in reaching our long-term impact goals.