臺灣導盲犬使用者之經驗與問題研究

The Research on the Experiences and Problems of the Guide Dog Users in Taiwan

林萃蘋

指導教授 ： 張千惠

國立臺灣師範大學/教育學院/特殊教育學系在職進修碩士班/碩士(2005年)

摘要

本研究旨在探討臺灣導盲犬使用者之經驗與問題，採用質性研究，對九位導盲犬使用者進行深度訪談，研究結果如下：
一、視障者申請導盲犬之動機多為輔助行動，資訊來源主要是專責單位的宣導和其他導盲犬使用者的鼓勵。申請者的必備條件包括身心成熟、具備良好定向行動能力、對導盲犬有發自內心的喜愛、正確態度與統馭能力、周遭人士的支持、有使用導盲犬的需求與心理準備。申請導盲犬的評估流程包括訪談與環境評估及定向行動能力的評估二部份，申請者等候的時間從半年至五年不等。視障者與導盲犬接受共同訓練之前必須先經指導員的專業配對，訓練方式有到國外導盲犬學校受訓和在國內受訓二種。在共同訓練期間，視障者與導盲犬之間因缺乏默契，訓練之艱辛程度往往超乎想像。因應之道便是遵從指導員的指導、盡量學習、堅持管教原則，並隨著時間與經驗的累積逐步建立默契。
二、導盲犬使用者必須投入時間、心力和部份經濟支出於導盲犬的日常照顧工作，每日所耗費的時間平均為一至一個半小時，經濟支出每月最多不會超過一千五百元。使用導盲犬所遇之問題包括社會拒絕、民眾隨意干擾導盲犬、流浪犬和地面垃圾干擾導盲犬、掉毛和體味影響環境衛生、某些情況不便與導盲犬同行及從事按摩業者較不適合等。導盲犬使用者家人對導盲犬的態度多從一開始的不了解逐漸轉為完全接納。一般民眾的態度則表現出較大的差異，有支持與肯定者，也有排斥和拒絕者。政府當局雖已訂定保障導盲犬行路權的法令，但法令宣導與執行不夠積極。未使用導盲犬之視障者對導盲犬則多持以比較消極的態度。
三、使用導盲犬可提升視障者行動的速度、廣度和安全性，亦可幫助視障者記憶路線、減輕注意環境的心理壓力、尋找目標物及尋求協助。導盲犬可帶給視障者正向的心理回饋，成為視障者心靈的陪伴，提升其自尊與自信，但也會伴隨要努力滿足社會期望、過度受人注意及社會拒絕的心理負擔。同時，導盲犬還可促進視障者的社會互動，協助其打開與人溝通的話題，拓展人際關係，但亦會伴隨遇到對狗印象不佳的人、不斷滿足民眾的好奇心及旁人的嫉妒等困擾。在就業方面，導盲犬可幫助視障者在職場上順利安全地行動，進而增進就業機會。
最後，本研究根據研究結果，分別對政府相關部門、導盲犬專責單位、導盲犬使用者、有意願申請導盲犬之視障者、一般民眾及後續研究提出具體建議。

關鍵字

導盲犬

並列摘要

The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences and problems of guide dog users in Taiwan. The qualitative research methods were employed, and the data was gathered by in-depth interviews with nine guide dog users. The findings were as follows:

I. The guide dog users' motives for applying for a guide dog were to enhance mobility. The sources of the related information came from the advertisements of the guide-dog training institutions and the encouragements of other guide dog users. The requirements for the applicants included physical and mental maturity, good orientation and mobility skills, genuine love toward a guide dog, positive attitudes, the ability to master a dog, social supports, the need for using a guide dog and other psychological adjustments. The evaluation process consisted of two parts: the interview accompanied by the environmental evaluation, and the evaluation of orientation and mobility skills. The time the applicants spent waiting to obtain the guide dog ranged between half a year and five years. The applicants had to be matched with a suitable guide dog by the instructor before the joint training program started. There were two ways of training: attending the guide dog school overseas, and receiving training in the home environment. Because a lack of rapport was found in the early person-dog training process, the difficulty they encountered was usually much more than they had anticipated. The coping strategies were to follow the instructor, learn to analyze the behavior of the guide dog, persevere in what should be done, and achieve a better understanding when experiences and contacts increased.

II. Guide dog users had to spend time, energy, and some money on daily care for their dogs. The time they spent daily ranged between 1 and 1.5 hours. The monthly expenditure never exceeded NT$1500. Guide dog users might encounter some problems. First, guide dogs might be excluded in some public places. Second, some sighted people and stray dogs might disturb guide dogs while they were working. In addition, guide dogs were likely to cause hygienic problems, and could not be along with their users in some situations. Those who earned a living by giving massages had some difficulty using guide dogs. Guide dog users' family at first had little knowledge of guide dogs, but they gradually became extremely positive with the increasing of understanding. The attitudes of the general public presented greater discrepancies. Some appreciated and identified with guide dogs while others were disgusted with them. Although the government passed the laws to guarantee the right of guide dogs' access to public places, the enforcement of the laws needed to be improved. The visually impaired people who did not use a guide dog usually took a more negative attitude.

III. Guide dogs allowed their users to travel safely at a faster pace, and to extend the range of mobility. They also assisted their users in memorizing the routes, alleviating the pressure of attending to the surroundings, locating the objects for orientation, and seeking public assistance. Additionally, guide dogs provided their users with positive psychological feedbacks, companionship and higher self-esteem and confidence. However, guide dog users might be under the pressure of meeting with the public's expectations, overly arousing the public's attention, and undergoing social rejection. Guide dogs allowed for greater social interaction, offered a starting point for conversation, and served to improve personal relationships. But guide dog users often encountered those who had a bad impression on dogs, and coped with others' curiosity and jealousy. Guide dogs also assisted their users in solving the mobility problem at work and broadening the scope for employment opportunity.
Suggestions of this research were made for the government, the guide-dog training institutions, guide dog users, the visually impaired people who intended to apply for a guide dog, the general public, and future studies.

並列關鍵字

Guide Dog

參考文獻

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