Harnessing Your Potential: Introduction to Guide Dog Travel

Join the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) for a virtual event that explores the role of guide dogs in enhancing independence and mobility for people with vision loss.

Date: Friday, April 25, 2025

Time: 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Location: Virtually via Zoom

Event Description:

MCB's Orientation and Mobility Department will provide an overview of the services we offer to support people with a guide dogs.

Jane Flower, MSG, Youth and Outreach Specialist, and Megan Dameron, GDMI, Senior Admissions Coordinator at Guide Dogs for the Blind, will walk us through the process of acquiring a guide dog, including the requirements and steps involved.

We will also hear from two guide dog users, Lisa Judelson and Lina Coral, who will share how their guide dogs have positively impacted their lives.

A representative from the Massachusetts Office on Disability will discuss the legal rights of people with guide dogs.

There will be an opportunity for questions, allowing attendees to engage further with the topics discussed.

About the Presenters:

• Ally Bull, Director of Orientation and Mobility at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), has a strong background in supporting individuals with vision loss. Ally holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UMass Lowell and a Master of Education from UMass Boston, where she earned dual certifications as a Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) and as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). Prior to joining MCB, Ally worked as a TVI and COMS in Lawrence Public Schools and served as the Youth Program Coordinator for the Lowell Association for the Blind. 
• Jane Flower, Youth Outreach Specialist at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), has been with the organization for more than 12 years. Prior to joining GDB in 2013, she spent 12 years working with older adults and youth who are blind or have low vision. In her current role, Jane is dedicated to helping youth and their families prepare for a future partnership with a guide dog. She plans and facilitates both on-campus and virtual programming, as well as two week-long summer residential programs for teenagers and young adults interested in the guide dog lifestyle. Alongside her third guide dog, Pilaf, Jane travels across the United States and Canada, attending conferences to share the mission and vision of GDB with prospective guide dog users, their families, and professionals in the field of low vision. Jane feels fortunate to work for the organization that has provided her with three life-changing guide dogs, having received her first guide dog in 1995. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with a team of passionate and devoted colleagues.
• Megan Dameron, Senior Outreach and Admissions Specialist at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), has been with the organization for more than 20 years. In her first decade at GDB, she worked as a guide dog mobility instructor in the training department. Megan then transitioned into the admissions department, where she now serves in her current role. Megan supports clients applying for guide dogs, K9 Buddy Dogs, the Orientation & Mobility Immersion Program, Camp GDB, and Careers and Canine Connections. She also collaborates with the Outreach Department to assist with Guide Dog Experience Days, Camp GDB, and Careers and Canine Connections.
• Susanne Agerbak, Disability Rights Information Specialist at the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD), has been with the agency for over 5 years. In her role, Susanne provides online guidance, training, and phone consultations about disability rights. MOD assists individuals across Massachusetts in understanding their rights and responsibilities under disability rights laws, how those laws apply to specific situations, and the practical steps they can take to address a disability rights issue. Susanne and her team frequently engage with people whose service dogs have been denied access, as well as with towns, landlords, and business owners facing challenges related to poorly behaved service animals. She believes that a clear understanding of legal rights and responsibilities empowers service dog users to confidently prevent or manage potential difficulties.

Who Should Attend:

This event is open to anyone interested in learning more about guide dogs, including people with vision loss, family members, caregivers, service providers, and the public.

How to Attend:

The event will be held virtually via Zoom. A link will automatically be emailed upon registration.

A recording of the webinar will be uploaded to our YouTube channel shortly after the event.

Attendees can earn 1.5 continuing education hours from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) by attending the entire live webinar. Partial attendance will not qualify for credit.

Alternative Ways to Participate:

• Attend a Watch Party at Lowell Association for the Blind, 169 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852
• Listen Live on Lowell Association for the Blind Radio

Contact Us:

For any questions, please contact MCB Orientation and Mobility Director, Allyson Bull, at Allyson.Bull@mass.gov or by phone at 857-488-7381. 

CART will be provided. Captions can be viewed on StreamText in addition to Zoom. ASL has been requested.

The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing accessible events. To request a reasonable modification to participate in this event, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations Coordinator Shauntay King at 617-894-4352 or Shauntay.M.King@mass.gov. Requests made after April 11, 2025 will be considered but may not be possible to fill.