“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.”
- Helen Keller

As ones eyesight diminishes, the world often closes in and relegates those who cannot see to the safety of their homes.

As my eyesight failed, I decided to take charge and ask Fidelco to help me recover my freedom and independence. They responded with “Fia,” my wonderful Fidelco guide dog and to use In-community Placement process to train him to work with Fia in my neighborhood. She proved to be the correct "technology" I needed to help me get out of my house, down his street and back into the world.

Fia and I have taken day trips to New York City by ourselves and with my wife and daughters. But I was still looking for an opportunity to travel on my own and bring my whole experience full circle. My chance came in the form of a conference on hereditary retinal diseases to be held in Virginia last summer.

I took a deep breath and signed up for the conference. That’s a big deal by the way, because not only are you going out on your own, you’re packing for two. How much dog food should I take; how many poop scoopers? I’m the kind of guy who makes lists and these are the things you think of when you travel with a guide dog.

We left Connecticut on a Thursday and took Amtrak’s high-speed train to Washington, D.C. We then traveled by cab to my hotel in northern Virginia. When I got to the hotel, there were about 30 or 40 other guide dogs there and a bunch of people with visual disabilities.  But the hotel was prepared for us and everything was great.

The first time Fia and I went to my room, I remembered my Fidelco training and found landmarks that I  would need to help me return to my room later on.  What I didn't realize that there was a bank of elevators with door on both sides of the hallway. The second time we got off the elevator, I told her, “Fia right” but she wouldn’t go. I didn't realize that we had gotten off on the other side; however, Fia knew that my room was the other way. I tried to coax her to go right and then I remembered Fidelco’s primary instruction: Trust the dog. So, I simply told Fia to “find home” and she took me right to our room. She was simply amazing.

The rest of the conference went smoothly. I spent three days learning a great deal and being with friends I had not seen in several years. And at the end of the conference, I came away with greater knowledge and more confidence about myself and my guide dog.

I learned that my guide dog is prepared and ready to put on her harness and work anytime and anywhere. I know that whether it’s on a train or in a cab or in a hotel, that Fia and I can count on the training we received from Fidelco. And most importantly, I learned that I can travel again; anytime, anywhere. I have no limits, I have no boundaries.

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