Fourth Month Home
Boy this month had a ruff start. This month started off with a series of medical appointments, which Eve did amazing navigating me to, but through this process I learned yet again what limited knowledge medical providers have as it relates to service animals. For example, when checking in to one of my appointments I pointed down to Eve to explain that I could not see the check in form, in which this receptionist asked for my paperwork for her. I then proceeded to explain that there are only two questions that can be asked of me as it relates to Eve. These two questions are:
Is this a service animal required for a disability?
What service does this animal provide?
From there this person was grateful that I helped educate her on service animal etiquette. On our way home from this appointment I learned the hard way why service animals should not sit on the bench seat closest to the door of the paratransit vehicles that my county uses, as dogs' nails can get caught in the ramp, as did Eve’s. Thankfully she is ok, but I never want to hear the sound that came out of her, therefore if I can help it we will not be sitting in that seat.
To end this week Eve had a playdate with @kristentheguidingeye, as I was going to a sporting event that I did not feel comfortable taking Eve to. Unfortunately, @shelbi_nichole forgot to get pictures for me to add in here.
The second week of this month Eve got to experience her first speaking engagement for The Diabetes Link at the Beach. Our main role in this panel discussion was to share how Eve’s job is different from medical alert dogs. During this conversation I learned that these dogs use Charlee Bears for positive behavior and correctly alerting to blood sugar readings. This was really interesting to me as I also use Charlee Bears for positive behavior and marking common places. I also learned that due to the pandemic programs that provide medical alert dogs have somewhere around a two year waitlist for applicants similar to guide dog schools.
Lindsay and Eve posing together after speaking to The Diabetes Link at the Beach club.
n addition to speaking to The Diabetes Link at the Beach, on Thursday of this week Eve and I participated in CSULB’s Tech Day. Our main role in this was to share what the students with disabilities office offers their students. One thing that I did to entice students to come over to our table was to offer to braille their names. I have worked this particular event in the past, but we did not have as many people come over to us as we did this year. On occasion people would see Eve poke her head out from under the table and they would ask to pet her, which I respectfully declined.
Eve hanging out with Elbee at Tech Day.
The third week of this month was pretty uneventful with Eve and I going to work and coming home to go to class. Although we had a typical work week this week, this weekend Eve got to go to her first Volleyball game at California State Los Angeles (CSULA) against San Bernardino (CSUSB). Unfortunately, CSULA lost to CSUSB. Our main purpose for going was to hang out with some of my classmates from SFSU, as they live near campus and one of them has a daughter on the CSULA volleyball team.
Eve taking a nap at the CSULA vs CSUSB Volleyball game.
The fourth week of this month was a little different for Eve and I as I worked from home as part of Thanksgiving week. It was nice to relax and catch up on things that I had not had a chance to get to while working in the office and completing courses. It was also nice to have a great meal on Thanksgiving with my immediate family.
