Lorraine Barclay is used to the attention Dottie attracts.
When students at South Butler Intermediate Elementary School whistled to the 3-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, Barclay told the excited fourth-graders: "She's a work dog now, not a pet."
Barclay, 53, is blind because of macular degeneration. She and Dottie visited the Jefferson Township school Monday in conjunction with Disability Awareness Month.
Since 1990, Barclay has visited 144 schools to educate students on her disability and to demonstrate how her guide dog serves as her eyes. She also volunteers her time helping with vision screenings for preschoolers and kindergartners.
The East Butler resident explained to the attentive students how Dottie helps her function in everyday life and makes it possible for her to work as a receptionist at the Butler County Association for the Blind.
Born with normal vision, Barclay gradually started losing her eyesight when she was 8. By the time she entered the ninth grade, she could read only large-print books and magazines. Several years later, when she was married, she could see only large objects. Eventually, she lost her center vision and began running into poles, chairs and other stationary objects. Barclay still could see with her peripheral vision, but by 1990, that also faded.
Barclay said she decided to get a guide dog because she wanted to remain self-sufficient and independent. Today, Barclay can see shapes but cannot discern whether they are people, animals or objects.
She told students gathered around her in the school library that when people have a disability, they should adopt a "can-do" attitude, accept limitations, work with what they have and "do the best you can."
"I go out and educate the kids on what's available for visually impaired people, how they can hold jobs and be functioning members of society," Barclay said.
Lying with her head resting on her paws, Dottie was a little camera shy at first. But when Dottie felt Barclay's tug on her harness, she was ready to go to work and demonstrate to the students how she responds to different commands.
Breanne Stuebgen, 10, said she thought it was "really neat" how Dottie guided Barclay to the school library door without bumping into anything.
"It's cool how she follows commands when her leash is pulled," Breanne said. "I'd have her (Dottie) take me to the mall to shop at American Eagle (Outfitters)."
Barclay explained that Dottie has been trained to ignore other animals and loud noises. Her guide dog also was taught how to safely guide someone across the street and to go up and down stairs.
Although obeying Barclay's commands most of the time, Dottie will use "intelligent disobedience" if she should sense danger. Dottie will bump into Barclay's body to deter her owner from walking too close to the road or some other danger, Barclay said.
Dottie adheres to a strict eating and bathroom schedule, but like other dogs, enjoys munching on special treats — especially carrots and ice cubes, Barclay said.
Referring to Dottie as a "little person," Barclay explained that when Dottie wears the harness, she is a guide dog; when the harness is not on her, Dottie is off duty.
"You have to trust your dog 110 percent to not expose you to danger," Barclay said.
Angeline Hanson, 10, said she is impressed with Dottie.
"My dog can't do what Dottie can, especially the somersaults," said Angeline, referring to the acrobatics that Dottie does each morning to awaken Barclay.
Barclay recalled how 40 years ago, before technological and medical advances, being visually impaired was more difficult. She remembers how she stayed home more often and just "listened to the TV." Today, though, more visually impaired and blind people "live fairly normal lives."
Barclay said that today she has a "pretty busy" lifestyle that includes reading her daily mail and the newspaper.
At Pittsburgh Vision Services, Barclay has learned to use a computer that talks. The computer has a voice sensor on it that reads aloud whatever she types. A scanner connected to the computer is voice-activated and scans words on the pages of numerous documents, such as newspapers, so that Barclay can "hear" the text.
Barclay explained that in her job as a receptionist for the Butler County Association for the Blind, she performs the "basic duties" that other receptionists do, such as answering the phones, typing and handling paperwork.
When she is not working or giving presentations at schools, Barclay said, she enjoys "reading" books on tape, especially mysteries.
