Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc.

The Guiding Eyes for the Blind is an international, non-profit, service organization and residential training facility dedicated to providing visually impaired individuals with a sense of independence and security through the assistance of professionally trained guide dogs. Guiding Eyes applicants must be legally blind and at least 16 years of age. There is no maximum age limit, although applicants must be physically and psychologically able to handle and care for a dog. Each month, students from all over the world who are blind or visually impaired come to Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s training center in Yorktown Heights, New York, for an intensive 26-day course to learn to work with, and care for, a guide dog. Guiding Eyes also provides follow-up services to ensure that graduates and dogs are doing well. The approximate $40,000 cost of the residential training program and follow-up services is paid for through private donations from individuals, corporations, philanthropies and bequests.