Client Services
“Guide Dogs Queensland offers services that empower clients to interpret, navigate and overcome the barriers of vision impairment. Through collaborative arrangements and partnerships, GDQ gives clients access to related services such as community access and independent living skills. Guide Dogs Queensland also challenges society’s assumptions, attitudes and actions towards people living with vision impairment."
- GDQ Rehabilitation Services Manager - Bashir Ebrahim
Introduction:
Guide Dogs Queensland’s Rehabilitation Services Department is the gateway to our service provision. It is here that blind and vision impaired people, of all ages and from across the state, make first contact with our team of Orientation and Mobility Instructors by way of self referral or through health professionals, community agencies, family members and friends.
People come to us with lost or fading vision having explored and exhausted treatment options. In the absence of a cure, they seek to be educated about ways to maximize their mobility. They seek to be equipped with information, services and aids which enable them to overcome their disability and engage with the community. Ultimately, they seek empowerment to live full and independent lives.
The First Step
In contacting GDQ, blind and vision impaired Queenslanders take the first step beyond loneliness and isolation and begin a personal journey toward independence, freedom and mobility.
Our team of qualified instructors assesses each person for orientation and mobility training in the Long Cane, Support Cane and Electronic Travel Aids (such as the UltraCane and Miniguide) while those interested in using a Guide Dog are referred to Guide Dog Services where they assessed for suitability.
Services are delivered both in the community and through residential programs during which clients learn new skills and live on site in our Client Residence.
Our Programs and Training
Classes consist of no more than five clients who are shown examples of the latest adaptive and information technology and learn about electronic travel aids, Guide Dogs and how to access services within the community and support groups.
Our instructors also deliver services in the community by working with clients at home.
Additional services include low vision clinics, counselling services for clients and families, special education programs for children including special education camps and a young people’s program for 18 to 25 year olds.
GDQ also continues to develop relationships with related Queensland agencies to deliver a better range and quality of services to clients, especially those in regional areas.
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Services
People with vision impairment can have their life choices enhanced through access to appropriate resources.
Orientation and Mobility Services are designed to increase a person’s independence in mobility, and promote their social, emotional and physical well being.
Any person experiencing difficulty moving through their environment (due to their vision impairment) may be assessed and receive services according to their needs.
GDQ gives Queenslanders with vision impairment the choice of a service which is most likely to meet their needs. All our services including Guide Dogs are delivered free of charge.
Rehabilitation Services incorporate some or all of the following services:
- Orientation and Mobility
- Guide Dog Mobility
- Occupational Therapy
- Social Work
- Rehabilitation Counseling / Psychology
- Health Maintenance and Education
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
Training can take place on site at GDQ’s Headquarters at Bald Hills, in the community and in the home. Programs include:
- Orientation Programs
- Low Vision Clinics
- Long Cane, Support Cane or Identification Cane Programs
- Sighted Guide Programs
- Electronic Mobility Travel Aid Programs such as the:
- Mowat Sensor
- Sonic Pathfinder
- Mini-guide
- UltraCane
- Sherpa-I
- GPS Systems
- BrailleNote / VoiceNote GPS systems
- Victor Trekker GPS
Education and Referral
- GDQ conducts education programs about vision impairment for medical and paramedical professionals.
- Education programs for vision impairment program staff, carers and HAAC workers.
- Public and community education programs about vision impairment.
- School teachers - especially special education.
- GDQ provides information about vision impairment; services to people with a vision impairment; public access and safety relevant to vision disability and referrals to appropriate organisations.
-For more information, contact:
Rehabilitation Services Manager: Bashir Ebrahim
Phone: (07) 3500 9010
Fax: (07) 3500 7500
Email: bashir@guidedogsqld.com.au
Phone Numbers - Freecall 1800 810 122 - Guide Dog Shop 1800 007 460
Guide Dogs Queensland is a proud member of the International Guide Dog Federation. In addition, our organisation is a Quality Endorsed Company.
All Client Services provided through Guide Dogs Queensland comply with the '9' Queensland Standards for Disability Services (1997).