Visual Guide Dog Gives
MISD Student More Freedom
MISD | When Mady
Walker was in the eighth
grade, she began losing
her vision. Doctors
diagnosed her with optic
neuritis, an inflammation
of the optic nerve that
causes blurred or dimmed
vision.
“With my vision, I can’t
see any of my peripheral
vision, which means I can’t
see anything to the sides
of me. It’s black,” Walker
explained.
Despite her visual
impairment, Walker
was determined to stay
active as a student. She
transitioned to Legacy
High School and joined
the band and student
council, eventually
becoming the student
body president in her
senior year.
With special
accommodations and
her cane, she is able to
keep up with her peers.
However, Walker wanted
to gain even more
freedom in her final year
of high school by applying
for a guide dog.
The 18-year-old went
to a Leader Dogs for the
Blind camp in the summer
for training. Within five
months, she received her
new companion.
“She went to go
get the guide dog in
December, which was
phenomenal that it
happened that fast,”
said Shay Utley, certified
orientation and mobility
specialist. “She’s the first
student that I know of in
Mansfield ISD that has
ever had a guide dog.”
The guide dog’s
name is Keeper. He’s
a 20-month-old black
Labrador. Walker said she
is already able to do more
in the short amount of
time that she has had him.
“I travel a lot faster. For
the most part, he is able to
take me places and make
me more independent as
a person,” said Walker.
She said staff
members and classmates
have been helpful to
her and are getting
used to having a canine
walking through the
hallways.
“They’ve been super
accepting. They love to
learn more about him,”
she said. “Both students
and teachers and
administration alike have
been very welcoming and
helpful with this process.”
Walker said although
her journey has not
been easy, she has finally
learned that she can do
just as much as someone
who has perfect vision.
The senior added that
caring for Keeper can be
tedious, but she and her
dog have been inseparable
since they first met.
Maddie (left) believes that she can still do
just as much as someone with perfect vision.
I travel a lot
faster. For
the most
part, he is
able to take
me places
and make
me more in-
dependent
as a person.
~ Mady
Walker
——————
Ruff.
~ Keeper
www.mansfieldisd.org | 29