Guide Dog Application Timeline

Being that this month marks three years since I applied for Eve, I thought I would write a timeline as to the length of the process for me. In sharing my timeline, I know for every person their timeline looks different as each person's lifestyle and circumstances are different. Overall, as a first time handler my timeline was about 16 months from start to finish. As those who are getting successor dogs I have heard that their timelines are sometimes shorter based on individual needs. Regardless of the amount of time it takes to apply for a guide dog, the common steps one will take as seen in my timeline is an initial application, medical documentation including an eye report, an Orientation and Mobility report, home interview, and in some cases letters of reference.

February 2022

During the 2022 virtual Washington Seminar, I got a call from Guiding Eyes for the Blind reminding me that I had a pending application that I needed to finish. Even after this call I let this application sit a little longer.

April 18th, 2022

After a scary encounter with a six lane intersection I finally submitted my initial application. To hear more about completing my application, you can read my post titled April 18th, 2022.

Lindsay with friends on the Chicago River Walk.

April-May, 2022

I was able to get all of my documentation including medical and my orientation and mobility reports in.

May 31st, 2022

I got the call to complete my home interview the next week as there was going to be a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) in my area that next week. To hear more about that experience go to my post titled May 31st, 2022.

June 3rd, 2022

On this day I had my home interview. This home interview went so much better than my first home interview about 12 years prior. The only thing that I can chock that up to is the lived experience I had built for myself in that time. To read more about this experience go to my post titled June 3rd, 2022.

July 5th, 2022

I was attending the National Federation of the Blind’s (NFB) 2022 summer conference in New Orleans. While there I was told to visit the Guiding Eyes for the Blind table as I would meet some of the Guiding Eyes staff. While there little did I know, I would do more than meet the Guiding Eyes staff. You will have to read my post titled July 5th, 2022, to hear what happened.

July 29th, 2022

This was a normal work day for me, but during my break I looked in my inbox to find an email from the Guiding Eyes admissions team. This email was to tell me that I was accepted into their program. You will have to read my July 29th, 2022, post to hear more of what I found out.

September 2022

I followed up with Guiding Eyes to inform them of my next semester school plans, as it may have some impact on when I could come into class.

Late March 2023

I followed up with Guiding Eyes once again to see If I would be in a summer class as, if this happened, it would delay my graduation a little bit from my masters program.

April 5th, 2023

After taking a midday nap I looked in my inbox to find an email from Guiding eyes asking my availability to come into a summer class. Feel free to read the post titled April 5th, 2023 to get a better understanding of how I was feeling in that given moment.

April 6th, 2023

I followed up with a call to Guiding Eyes, where I found out that there was a potential for me to come into a class starting on July 10 and ending on July 29th, 2023. All of this was dependent on whether they would have a dog ready for me.

June 2nd- 10th, 2023

I received several emails confirming that I would be in the class starting on July 10th and ending on July 29th, 2023.

June 29th, 2023

I received official flight information to attend class.

July 3rd, 2023

I once again met up with the guiding Eyes staff at their booth at the 2023 National Federation of the Blind’s (NFB) summer conference in Houston. While meeting with them I might have walked myself into a little trap, but you will have to read my post titled July 3rd, 2023, to hear the trap I walked into.

July 5th-7th, 2023

I received several phone calls from staff that I would be working with from my instructor, nurse, client experience team, and kitchen staff. After each call I was feeling more relieved in the decision that I had made for myself.

July 9th, 2023

I boarded my red eye flight to attend class in New York. I wrote a greater post titled July 9th, 2023, recounting everything that happened that day including going on a SPA day to running into another blind traveler.

Lindsay getting her hair done before going into class.

July 10th, 2023

First day of class. In my post titled July 10th, 2023, I recount everything from arriving on campus, to being given potential colors and genders of dogs, to meeting my classmates.

July, 12th, 2023

Dog Day! On July 12th, 2023 I was told which dog I would be receiving including their color, breed, gender, and name. Feel free to access my July 12th, 2023, post to hear more about this day.

July 29th,, 2023

Graduation day. In the post titled July 29th, 2023, I recount everything from meeting my puppy raiser, graduation, and meeting up with distant family that live in the area.

Lindsay and Eve standing together in front of the Guiding Eyes statue.