Podcasts about fidelco

Gerald LearyBlind since birth, Gerry, a Boulder CO resident, has never let his visual challenge prevent him from attaining his goals. He partnered with his first Fidelco guide dog, “Devyn” in 2018 and previously worked with Labrador guide dogs.Gerry had a huge interest in cars growing up, and his dad, an auto mechanic, taught him while working on cars in their home garage. Gerry used his highly developed sense of hearing to determine when a car's noises indicated a mechanical problem and then made the needed repairs. Despite the challenge of becoming a car mechanic, Gerry worked in that field for 40 years.After his many years as a mechanic, Gerry decided to follow a different path-- become a master coffee roaster. His interest in coffee began after visiting a San Francisco café in 1994. When he couldn't secure an apprenticeship in the coffee business locally due to his vision loss, he travelled to San Francisco and trained at the West Coast Specialty Coffee Company. After returning home, Gerry began roasting with a tiny roaster in a shed in his back yard. Despite the inherent challenge of not being able to see the coffee beans he selected and the roasting process, he worked diligently, creating a log of each roasting trial and used the sound and smell of the roasting beans to perfect his craft.Initially selling quarter pound bags of his coffee to friends, Gerry founded his specialty coffee roasting facility, “The Unseen Bean”, in 2003 and then opened two coffee shops. He later partnered with two Italian coffee lovers to open a new coffee roasting facility which sells (including online) over 20 varieties of coffee and coffee-related products (mugs and chocolate coffee bars) to retail and wholesale customers. According to The Unseen Bean's website, Gerry is believed to be the only blind coffee roaster in the world!

Nick and Matt Martinez are brothers who share the same disease that affects their sight and they are both clients of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. Hear their journey from childhood to guide dogs and brotherly shenanigan's!

Quinn Howard and “Yuri”Quinn Howard has been partnered with his first Fidelco guide dog, “Yuri,” since early 2022. Quinn says, “Being part of my community is important. When Yuri and I are out together, people include me in the conversation.”It was community that led Quinn to Fidelco and sparked his interest in applying for a guide dog. At gatherings of the National Federation of the Blind, Quinn met Fidelco clients Jessica Beecham and James Brown and noticed their interactions with their guide dogs. As a lifelong white cane user, Quinn's interest grew as he imagined the sense of independence and connection with others a guide dog could bring to his life.Quinn says before he received his guide dog, Yuri, “People avoided me when I was using my cane because they wanted to be careful and stay out of my way. These experiences pushed me toward my decision to apply for a Fidelco guide dog.” Quinn and Yuri now confidently walk and travel to meet with friends and family and for Quinn's job in a busy metropolitan area.After graduating from college, Quinn was hired as a Vocational Counselor with the TennesseeDepartment of Human Services. He was promoted to his current position of Field Supervisor andis responsible for hiring and training counselors to connect people with vision loss with services that help them live with greater independence. Yuri accompanies Quinn on the 90-minute commute by busto Quinn's Nashville office. The team also frequently travels throughout Middle Tennessee for Quinn's job. Quinn shares, “Yuri helps me to go directly where I need to be.”

Maggie Austen is a two time Fidelco Guide Dog client and her room mate Elizabeth is a puppy raiser! Maggie is a strong, lovely young woman and at 32, lives in Boston and recently graduated from law school. The cause of her blindness is an underdeveloped optic nerve, which she goes into detail about in our conversation. “Gus” is Maggie's second guide dog, who is pictured with her below. "Bella” who will turn 11 in April, was her guide dog from 2014 – 2022 and she now lives with Maggie as a retired guide. Maggie received “Gus” around the same time she graduated from law school last November. Maggie has also had the good fortune of wrking with Fidelco trainer Ali Parkes for both placements.

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation events, volunteering, puppy raisers needed, Giving Tuesday and the Trans Siberian Orchestra

September 23, 20215:30 - 7:30 PMAKC Museum of the Dog101 Park Ave, New York, NYJoin us for Art of the Dog! Fidelco Guide Dog Foundations inaugural art auction on September 23, 2021 at 5:30pm at the AKC Museum of the Dog for an evening of dogs, art, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.Bid on paintings made by Fidelco German Shepherd guide dogs-in-training in the silent and live auctions.Can't make it to New York City? You can still participate in the auction. Art of the Dog will be live-streamed for you to participate online.

Keith G., a retired Milford, CT resident and first-time Fidelco client, has been described by a long-time friend as an “intellectually and physically active” person. Married to Kelley and father of an adult daughter, he has a variety of interests: books on tape, cribbage, tandem cycling, walking, working on perfecting his golf game, and attending local hockey games.While born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disorder, Keith's visual impairment did not deter him from being physically active--he played competitive hockey and tennis at his Massachusetts high school and was a hockey team captain in his senior year. A college graduate, Keith enjoyed a long career in the technology industry where he also had the opportunity to extensively travel abroad.Though Keith learned about Fidelco years ago through a presentation made at his daughter's elementary school, he was a white cane traveler for many years, walking only in limited areas where he felt comfortable. He knew the benefits of guide dog partnership through his brother who had several guide dogs from another guide dog organization. When he chose to move on from white cane travel at the urging of his daughter, Keith applied to Fidelco because he wanted a German Shepherd guide dog partner and to be trained in his home community.Since partnering with Becca in early 2018, Keith has become an independent traveler who relishes his ability to go wherever he wants without having to rely on others. He says that he now moves more quickly with Becca by his side and has a welcomed sense of responsibility, resulting from his need to care for Becca. With renewed confidence, Keith has taken his interest in golf to a new level—he recently joined the U.S. Blind Golf Association with the goal of entering a blind golf tournament. Becca is apparently an enthusiastic supporter of his efforts, intently watching him as he practices his golf swing!“We are so grateful to Fidelco for giving me my independence back and gifting me with a miracle on four paws, my best buddy, Becca,” says Keith.

Fidelco's mission continues while we follow protocols to keep both humans and dogs safe. New puppies are being born and raised. Dogs-in-training are learning valuable skills in home environments. Together, we will meet the needs of our remarkable clients for years to come.

A Fidelco Guide Dogs client since 2001 and now partnered with her fourth Fidelco guide dog, “Grayson,” Lynn was nearly 40 years old when she lost her vision. While busy raising her family and then helping to care for her grandchildren, Lynn temporarily put her goals of obtaining a college degree and returning to work on hold. Listen to the podcast for more!

Robert partnered with his first Fidelco guide dog, “Zoe”, in 2017. He and his wife, Susan, an interior designer, live in New Jersey. The Heidenbergs have two adult daughters—Jessica, an orthopedic surgeon, and Jenna, a real estate broker. Robert has an undergraduate and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced law in New York City prior to becoming involved in real estate ventures.Robert founded Heidenberg Properties Group in 2013 where he is President and CEO. The company develops, owns, and manages shopping centers, malls, and retail properties in several states and has also undertaken redevelopment projects throughout the country. In 1985, Robert was co-founder of an earlier real estate company that acquired and developed shopping centers across the United States.In addition to his business interests, Robert is actively involved in philanthropy. He is first vice president of his local synagogue, a board member of VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in New York City (a rehabilitation and social services organization), the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Fidelco Guide Dogs. Susan and Robert have endowed a fellowship to support a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design and established the Robert and Susan Heidenberg Investigative Research Fund for Ocular Gene Therapy to support research leading to clinical trials in retinal gene therapy.Robert also has several hobbies which include swimming, listening to audiobooks, travel (locally and world-wide), and golf.When describing his partnership with Zoe, Robert says, “Zoe is a gift. I never really knew or appreciated, when I started on this journey…that my life and perspective would change so profoundly. Zoe has given me independence. She has empowered me to do things on my own that I long-ago gave up…. I feel like she and I are one.”www.Fidelco.org

Fidelco Guide Dog Ambassador and Puppy Raiser Marion YinglingMarion shares her journey from puppy raiser to Ambassador with her Fidelco Dog Tink!

Fidelco Guide Dogs: A Clients Perspective with Bill DeMaio, Superintendent for Newington Parks and Rec. Hosted by Renee DiNino, Director of Community Affairs for iHeartMedia Connecticut.Bill shares his journey from the age of 30 when he was first diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, his first guide dog Isaac to present day and current guide dog Lyric.Retinitis pigmentosa(RP) is a group of rare, genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina — which is the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. Common symptoms include difficulty seeing at night and a loss of side (peripheral) vision.

Fidelco Guide Dog Client & Board Member Karen Petrou Share's Her StoryFidelco's mission continues while we follow protocols to keep both humans and dogs safe. New puppies are being born and raised. Dogs-in-training are learning valuable skills in home environments. Together, we will meet the needs of our remarkable clients for years to come.

A Fidelco Client True Story: Kirsten and Carley the Guide DogAs a lawyer working for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Fidelcoclient Kirsten B. and her team are working tirelessly to coordinate the nationalresponse to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her guide dog, “Carley,” has been by Kirsten’sside since 2015. Together, they travel across the country, attend meetings in federalbuildings and the White House, visit the Rockies and hike the mountains of Virginia.

Fidelco Guide Foundation updates us on what's going on at their Pup House, Virtual Events including the Dog Days of Summer Camp for children and how you can continue to support their mission with a matched donation through July 5, 2020! Renee DiNino chats with Karen Tripp, CEO & Board Member and Richard Pummell, Vice President

How Fidelco is helping you get through Covid -19 with PUPPIES. While we are practicing social distancing the pup house is overflowing with puppies! Fidelco serves the blind and our first responders. They are sharing beautiful pictures of pups to help reduce stress!

Laura DeMaio Roy has been training pet and service dogs for 10 years with a specialization in guide dog training and instruction. She has run successful dog training businesses in Connecticut and Colorado and currently owns DoggyU LLC where she runs a popular YouTube channel and helps owners train their own service dogs. Her YouTube channel, DoggyU, brings practical, positive reinforcement-based step-by-step training instruction to those who may not otherwise have access to it. Her channel also covers product reviews, dog lifestyle videos, service dog training, and dog and van travel videos. Laura has performed with her dogs all over the country, spoken at national and state conferences, and her dogs have appeared in print media ads. Laura is a certified guide dog instructor and placement specialist for Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation where she trains and places German Shepherd Guide Dogs with clients throughout the US and Canada. She holds a BA in Business and Entrepreneurship and a Masters degree in Public Administration with a certification in Public and Non-Profit Management from the University of Connecticut.Outside of her career, Laura enjoys traveling in her van with her two dogs, Jake and CoolWhip, visiting national parks, hiking solo or with her husband, playing disc, training tricks, herding, bikejoring and jogging with her dogs, and generally exploring everything the US has to offer. She has officially visited all 50 states! Fun Facts about Laura:- she placed her first guide dog she ever trained with her father (his first guide dog)- she gave up a corporate internship to shovel poop at White Oak Conservation Center where she worked with hoof stock (zebra, bongo, giraffe etc.), cheetahs and more- she didn’t own a dog until she was hired at Fidelco at age 22 - She loves to take extended trips living in her van up to 2 months at a time exploring the US with one or both dogsSubscribe to Laura's YouTube Channel for the latest dog training tips, enrichment and travel advice.Follow Laura and DoggyU on FacebookVisit Laura's website for more.Learn more about Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation 

Fidelco Guide Dogs

Fidelco Guide Dogs Holiday Store!

Fidelco Guide Dog: Ride for Independence

Our friends from Fidelco have great tips on how to keep your pets cool!

22 Fidelco Puppies Need Puppy Raisers

Fidelco Guide Dog: Guide Dog Etiquette

Fidelco Fire Work Safety

This Episode was recorded in May. Where we talk all about guide dogs! For Part 1 of this episode, Angie and Kimberly sit down with Kristin Miller from Texas, who went through Fidelco and trained in her home with her guide dog. Other topics of discussion include the history of guide dogs, service dogs and the ADA, the difference between a service animal, an emotional support animal, and a therapy dog. We also cover what makes someone eligible for a guide dog and we throw in a few facts about guide dogs through out this segment. Links: The Americans with Disabilities Act and SERvice Animals: https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm Guide Dog schools mentioned in part 1 of this episode: Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc. https://www.fidelco.org The Seeing Eye https://www.seeingeye.org Guide Dogs for the Blind https://www.guidedogs.com Mira Canada https://www.mira.ca/en/ Mira USA http://www.mirausa.org

Birdies for Charity: Fidelco Guide Dog Apprentice Trainer Dakota

Birdies for Charity: Fidelco Guide Dogs

Fidelco Guide Dogs on Leash Safety

Fidelco Guide Dogs on Nail Trimming for Pets!

This hour, guest host Ray Hardman takes you to Fidelco -- the guide dog school in Bloomfield, Connecticut where we meet some guide dogs in training. And we talk with guide dog users about the impact these animals have on their lives. We also speak with author and poet Stephen Kuusisto, who’s written a memoir about his first guide dog, Corky. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring Cleaning Pet Tips with Fidelco

Fidelco Guide Dogs: Open House Info and Spring Grooming Tips

Here's whats happening at Fidelco Guide Dogs!

Here's whats happening at Fidelco Guide Dogs!

Fidelco Guide Dogs: Pet Tips for Spring Allergies

Did you know someone becomes blind or visually impaired every 7 minutes?! Maria speaks with President & CEO Eliot Russman and veteran/employee Don Overton about raising and training service dogs to help the visually impaired. You can help raise their puppies, volunteer, or donate at Fidelco.org