Taking the Lead | Leader Dog is Special

What is Taking the Lead ?

Leader Dogs for the Blind empowers people who are blind or visually impaired with the tools for safe and independent daily travel. Our goal is to educate, advocate, and share real life experiences of those with blindness. Come learn, laugh, and grow with us.

Christina: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Taking the Lead podcast where we empower people to be unstoppable. I'm Christina Hepner with my co-host, Leslie Hoskins and Timothy Kyo. So we have a debate to
Leslie: settle. There's no debate here. There is a debate. Yeah. It's
Christina: very clear because No, it is very clear on my end, but okay. Anyways,
Leslie: if everyone can you tell what happened?
Christina: Yeah. You the real story. Tell the backstory. No, you don't have the real story anyways. Yeah. Okay. Timothy. Remember last year the frozen Paul, 5K was the The first year for it? Yeah, the one that Tommy won, he did not win. Thank you, Timothy. He did not win the last year. I stayed at the finish line and I was looking for him, but then I also was helping because we had a canine ambassador out there taking pictures and I was just trying to help him be a good team member.
Sure. Sure. Mm-Hmm.
Leslie: And this year, so what happened was the real, real story. Yeah. This Johnny came, came into the pancake breakfast
Christina: first and jumped in front of me and ran. So Leslie would see him first. [00:01:00] I beat him though, and I took a video. No, no, no. That clearly shows him crossing the finish line after me, and I'm already behind the finish line.
We, did
Timothy: she not just say she, he ran
Leslie: to you first. Exactly. I was like, no. He jumped in front of me. She said that. I stated the role now after he passed you on the track? No, because
Christina: we didn't go in there first. We went, so we have great, um, sponsors for this TAVR PET sponsored it this year and then, um, we did it in downtown Rochester, Michigan.
And so Rochester Mills. Beer company, um, is also a sponsor. So some people were there and some people were at the Rochester Firehouse where there was a pancake breakfast. I thought Leslie was gonna be in Rochester Mills. So Johnny and I both went there first after I, he, after I finished first, he was a few minutes after me, and then.
We went to the firehouse and we walked in at the same time and all of a sudden I look over and he is like speeding up. 'cause he knows, he's like, oh, if [00:02:00] Leslie sees me first, and he's taller than me, so he blocked me. She's gonna
Leslie: lie. So for any of our long time listeners, last year when we had the race, this was the whole debate of who won the race between Johnny and Christina.
I saw Johnny first. Therefore Johnny won the race, and that's really the end. The finish line was who, whoever I saw first basically won the race. So then this year I was giving, obviously Christina a hard time again saying that Johnny was gonna most likely win, and he did because. The finish line? No. Was whoever I saw first.
No. And Johnny is who I saw first. You know what? And so she's trying everybody to show me a video of Johnny finishing the race. And yet there's no proof of her ever crossing the line. I can show you the timestamps. It doesn't matter. Yeah, but you know how to edit things. Exactly. Good point Timothy, she's in, you know how to edit.
She's like in on emo. She knows how to change things. Probably. Yeah. No. Oh my gosh. No. There's a whole conspiracy theory. You know what?
Christina: I want people to email us at taking the [00:03:00] [e-mail]
Leslie: and have my back. No, tell us who you think you won.
Timothy: Leslie, did you not tell her first one to me? Is the winner, Johnny?
I
Christina: mean, we've been on this debate, this was about a month ago now, or almost two months now. Yeah, it's
Leslie: been a long debate and so please let us
Christina: know your thoughts. We haven't talked about it on the podcast yet.
Leslie: Yeah, it still feels fresh in the mind. Didn't you get Johnny on here and get his perspective?
That's a great idea, Timothy.
Christina: No, no, please.
Leslie: Yeah, we got all the questions to today. Nobody needs to listen to him. The ultimate goal is that Frozen P was a fantastic event. Yes. We had such a great time, honestly, for weather. We got so lucky. It was cold. Yes, it was cold, but the sun was shining and it didn't snow.
We had such a great turnout. It was so fantastic. And like Christina was saying, people were going for the pancake breakfast or going for their first. Uh, their free beer through Rochester Mills. It was just really fun. Everybody was in high spirits.
Christina: Yes. And it's always great to like see everyone in one place.
Timothy: Yeah. It sounds like it was a great day. I saw the pictures of it on Facebook. It looked a little cold, but, uh, I would've [00:04:00] been there if I could, but a cold beer after a run like that is that, is that really?
Leslie: I don't
know.
Christina: So there was a lot of people in that line. I didn't have one, but I had to have hot coffee afterwards.
I know. That's how I was. Well you could get coffee at the pancake. Breakfast, yeah. Um, but it was beverage, so I don't know what else they were serving at Rochester Mills. 'cause obviously there's kids that ran. It was really cool to just see so many people.
Timothy: And I've eaten there at that restaurant. It's a pretty good day.
I good. Yeah, it's so if you're
Leslie: in that area, you go there. It's, yeah. Awesome. We have a fantastic time, so let us know your thoughts, but I mean, obviously, uh, Timothy and I know what really happened, so Yeah, we do alright. But today, you guys such a great day. We have some fantastic guests. We have more than one.
That's right. So we first have a client. Who has recently been to Leader Dog Campus, getting his very first Skydog. But excitingly enough too. We also have a team member who happened to have been his very first contact with Leader Dog, but then was also a very consistent part of his journey. So it's a fun story to share.
Christina: [00:05:00] Yes. Casana Woods is a New York native whose vision loss was Sudden he was featured on a popular blog called Humans of New York, sharing his story. That's when our colleague, Danielle Thea, bold reached out to him and ended up assisting him through the application process and working with him as his guide dog mobility instructor, Kayson
Timothy: and Danielle, welcome to the podcast, Kayson.
Let's talk about your story. What was your life like before the setting loss
Kassan: of your eyesight? Well, hey everyone. Hey. What's up? How's everyone doing? Good. I'm happy to be here today. Us Thanks for having me. Yes. And before my blindness, my life, I, I was a bartender for a few, few years. Bartender, very energetic person.
I kind of, you know, protect the older brother. I'm the oldest of, of seven. Oh my God. Wow. Actually, you can stay, you can stay of 12. You at that In my father's also. So, yeah, but I'm the oldest, you know, so a lot of responsibility growing up then. [00:06:00] Life has changed Extremely. Yeah. Life is a big change. It's a big change.
But yes, grew up with a lot of responsibility, being the oldest and trying to be a role model the best I can. You know, still got into trouble and things like that, but you know, I'm only human. Only human. Yes. But yeah, now we are here. Yes. What a journey.
Christina: So, you know. Kani, you've told your story. I don't know if anyone knows about it, but it's a blog called Humans of New York.
It's gotten a lot of viewers. It's a Facebook thing, but it's also a blog and it tells people's unique stories. And I also remember seeing your story and reading about your story. If you mind telling us a little bit about your story that you shared on there and why you decided to share it on Humans of New York.
Kassan: Yeah. So yeah, it's actually been four years now. Four years this month. May four years since the tragedy. Oh, you know, the attack I, I was attacked on a New York City subway in Brooklyn, I believe, [00:07:00] January 15th, 2020, just before the pandemic. So my life changed drastically just like everyone else's. Everyone life changed kind of drastically, but it was just so crazy to wrap your mind around it.
It was crazy. And I told my story to humans in New York. First of all, I, I never heard of the blog, actually. I never heard of it. It was a friend of mine that told me about it, and I went through this tragic event and I never told my story at all. It was just some being from where I'm from. You know, you go through things but you don't really talk about things that much.
So I kind of had held in this entire time during like the pandemic and everything, you know, just going through my day to day and my big ups and downs and telling my story was just like therapy for me that I didn't know I needed and everything just came out and just rushed out. And it was actually because of my now ex-fiance who actually knew about the blog and.[00:08:00]
Kind of convinced me to, um, you know, to tell my story. It actually was like a, a kind of like a Oman kind of thing. She asked me, do I know the blog and she should write to them, and I'm like, no, I'm not that type of person. I'm good. Then I said, what time it it, and it was happened to be eight 19, which is my birthday, and I just took it as a sign and said, you know what?
I'm gonna do something different. It's a sign, I'm gonna do it. And I told
Leslie: my story. That's incredible. And so what was the feedback and support that you got from sharing that story?
Kassan: The feedback was overwhelming and amazing. I'm from New York, I'm from Brooklyn, so a lot of times it's like a lot of spiciness, a lot of rough, like everyone's kind of rough, rough around the edges.
So sometimes you get that that love. It is like you're not expecting it at all. It's real overwhelming and there's something real special about that 'cause there's nothing in my mind that that could even fathom. Like what was just about to [00:09:00] happen with me, what happened to me. I was attacked on the subway station and I, and the attack, I was stabbed into my eye in which severe my active nerve.
So I was stabbed in my left eye and severe at my VE nerve, and now I can't see outta both eyes, so I was blind immediately that day.
Timothy: That is a really, really bad story there. Cassan. I'm sorry that that happened to you and, uh, I mean, you're, you weren't aware that was gonna happen. You didn't wake up that day and all of a sudden this happens to you.
Yeah. So, Danielle, how did you find out about Cassons story and what made you wanna reach out to him and give him some guidance and direction?
Danielle: So I had been following the Humans of New York blog for a couple years at that point. The stories that the creator Brandon shares is, is just amazing. And at that time I had probably been at Leader Dog in my position in client services for about a month.
And kind of hearing from our clients the struggle of trying to find resources [00:10:00] and support. Especially in the beginning, you know, services, orientation and mobility, kind of a basic need. And the accessibility for our clients. I mean, everybody has a right to be able to travel safely and so. Kind of struggling to find resources, you know, through their community or through the state.
Sometimes people don't qualify. The states don't have enough funding. So at Leader Dog, being able to offer free training flights, room and board to our clients, I thought that everybody deserves to know about this. So at the end, it was a series of posts. At the end of the series, they left an email for Kass On's friend and was like, if you have any resources available to Kasan to kind of help him through this.
I was like, Hey, you know what? They might never see this. I'm sure there's gonna be a huge outpouring of support, which is amazing. But, um, I was like, you know what? Just toss leader dog out there just in case. Um, yeah, I just, just knowing the struggle that people have trying to find help and support, [00:11:00] I just thought that was something that we would be able to help him out with.
Christina: That's amazing. Danielle and Kasan, when you, you know, received Danielle's message about Leader Dog, you know, what made you reach back out to want to get services at Leader Dog?
Kassan: Yeah, and the very beginning it was so many emails like. For some reason, leader Dog, the email from Danielle just locked in and I don't remember opening the email, but I seen it.
I know I've seen it and I'm saying like I had could use my eyes to see it, but you get what I'm saying? Like I know this email. And that probably was like two years prior and I seen this email kind of stayed in my head. It's scary how it stayed in my head. 'cause you know, you have to go through all the mobility training and you don't just go straight out and get like a guide dog, anything like that.
So it was a lot of steps I had to do. And doing all of these steps in with my, um, my OMM trainer, Lin Courtney, she actually recommended. Lead a dog and when she recommended, I'm just like, I [00:12:00] know that name. She named a couple other schools, also other programs, but I'm like, I know this name. For some reason I know it.
I'm like, I'm going into my emails. 'cause you know, after a lot of training I could use my own email. Now I could get inside. 'cause when the story came out, you know, I couldn't do any of that. None of that. So now that I got, got a chance to like, take control of it, I went inside the email and I seen it and I opened it up and I'm like, I'm gonna contact, and this is like a year after she reached out.
But it stayed on my mind and it took, took up to like two years for it to happen fully. But it was something about that email that I remembered, like I could tell you, like I seen the email with my eyes. It feels like. It just stayed with me.
Leslie: That's incredible. So not only were you on this journey, but Danielle herself was on a little bit of a different journey with Leader Dog.
So Danielle, do you mind telling about your career with Leader Dog? I know you've also had a volunteer pass, but just sharing what happened to you in those couple years.
Danielle: I. Yeah, absolutely. So like I said, by the time I read Kason story, I'd been at Leader Dog for [00:13:00] about a month. I and my family have been involved for a couple years before that.
In total, we've raised nine puppies, we've got nine, we have number nine at home right now. I. I'm just gonna say I did that first. I started it and my family followed in my footsteps. Um, so we love that. But yeah, I started in client services, having a puppy raising pass. I always wanted to be involved in our training department.
So in December of 2022, I interviewed for our apprentice program, and I have been very lucky and blessed and I got that position. I've been in this position since about February of 23. And just kind of learning and being involved in the organization in a bunch of different aspects has really made me appreciate the programs and services that we offer and the resources that we're able to provide to clients throughout the world.
I. So
Leslie: what was that like for you on your end, Danielle, when you heard about SSON applying or reaching out to Leader Dot, like knowing that you had, [00:14:00] you know, started that
Danielle: journey? It was wild because like SSON had mentioned it had been a while, so I was like, yeah, you know, I'm, I'm probably never gonna, you know, hear from it.
And then he responded and I was like, oh my God. Well perfect. Let me, I sent all the application materials, I'm like, please let me know if you have any questions. And then it was a little bit again before I heard from him. And throughout that time I was like, you know what? He's probably, you know, there's lots of services out there.
Like maybe he went with another school, whatever, didn't hear from him. And then we got all the application materials, the application, the medical, you've been busy for the video, like all of it all at once. And that was right before, I think I was leaving client services to start in the training department.
And it just so happened my very first string, my very first time, you know, working with clients, I had two amazing clients, two amazing dogs that I got to work with in class. But it just so happened that I had thought that we had [00:15:00] just such a great match for Kasson, for his first guide dog, and it was just insane the way that it worked out.
It was like kismet, almost like it. It was wild. Yeah. So
Christina: what was that like when you guys first. Met in person. You know, Kasan, Danielle, you guys can both answer this. Danielle, we'll start with you and then Kasan, you can give your reaction after.
Danielle: Yeah, it felt really strange because especially like working in client services and being in that position to be his contact throughout his application journey.
We met and it almost felt like we had known each other. I mean, it was almost a two year journey at that point. It felt like we had already known each other and been connected for so long, and then to meet in person, it was kind of a strange feeling to finally put an actual person with this voice that you hear over the phone.
It was, it was crazy.
Christina: Caan, what was that like for you?
Kassan: Yeah, it was a real full circle moment. Like everything about this whole [00:16:00] journey with Danielle just felt so unreal. It is so amazing though. It's like you can't write this. Yeah. From first time when I met Danielle, it felt like I knew her for years and when I was leaving Leader Dorm, when I left from out there, I wanted to take her with me.
That's the best way to describe it. Like I just wanted to like come, just come. Yeah. It is amazing. It was, man, I can't even put it into words. It feels so, so real.
Well,
Timothy: Cason, I'm reading in your bio that when you went to Leader Dog, that was your first time ever flying with your blindness. What was that like for you?
Because we've got a lot of clients that have never flown before until they go to Leader Dog. So what was it like
Kassan: for you? I. Yeah, that was the moment of truth for me. I was real excited, a little nervous, but not scared. It was like a calming feeling, like, you know what? I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do, I never got on a plane before, but you know what?
I picked the perfect time. I can do it blindfolded. So that's, especially to tell somebody. The first time I went on a plane, I, I couldn't even see it. I was blindfolded. So I was kind of happy about that. Like, you know what, I'm gonna look at [00:17:00] this as a, a journey for me. And you know, what's on the other side?
Something, I don't know what it is, but it's something great. And I'm happy I did it. And I came back with Odyssey, my guide dog, and I got a chance to meet Danielle and my leader, dog family.
Leslie: How is it going? You actually did kind of get to take Danielle home with you in the sense that Danielle came and provided some in-home follow-up support with another one of our fantastic G Dmmi.
Jessica Mm-Hmm. So you kind of got the best of both worlds, so you got to come on campus, of course, and have that support and then some follow up in your home area. What was that like having Danielle and Jessica there in New York assisting you and your new guide dog?
Kassan: Leader. Oh, lead the dog is spoiling me so much like the bar set so high, I got a chance to get on a flight to go out there, go to they town and they hood.
Then they got the chance to come over here in my area, in my hood and just felt so good to have that support, like starting this whole process. I didn't think it was gonna be that personal and that [00:18:00] like, all right, we are coming with you and feels great to have like a, a real team behind you. It's special.
We, the dog is special. Because that feeling to have like that training out there is great. But to have the training in in like in New York here with these sidewalk be block these sounds and still have that support, like not to lose that support is still there with you. It's a great feeling. I'm happy I did it.
Christina: I love that. So Danielle, what was that that like for you to go to New York and work with Kason and Odyssey out
Danielle: there? Oh man, it was so cool. I feel I say this a million times a day, a million times a week. I just feel so lucky that. I was able to have the privilege to kind of follow up in their home area.
It's really special to see a client and the dog really just starting to work together in that third week of class. And then to kind of go home. I think it was about a month after class ended to go home and see the progress that the team made on their own was amazing. You know, it's never gonna [00:19:00] be perfect, but to kind of see how they worked it out and they're starting to find their groove together as as a team was, was really special.
Leslie: So Kasan, what is next? You've got your guide dog with you. You guys are taking the town by storm. What? What's next for Kassan
Kassan: Next? In my world, you know what's so amazing about this whole thing? I went from in the beginning just think like, oh, you can't do this, you can't do that. Or how can you do that?
How can you do this? And now it's like, I feel like I can do anything. So it's like a little, uh, like a pause, like a step back now. 'cause it's like I feel like my world opened up so much that. I need to slow down a little bit to really now get a, a real look at what I really want to do. 'cause now with Odyssey, I wanna do everything.
I wanna go ahead. Let me just go in this store just 'cause I just wanna see what's in there or I wanna learn this or let me learn accounting, let me learn the computer. It's like the world just feels like amazing right now. It's like [00:20:00] there was so much options, just so happy. Like, yes, I can, I can do it. I can do it.
But one thing I really know I want to do is I, I wanna, I want to help out to get a chance to speak or to even tell my story more, or just to help other people out or direct them to services where, where they can get the help that I had, like I got, 'cause I didn't know it was like this deep of services that, that's out here and available for people like me or people who's not fully blind or anything that can use these services also.
Well, it's just a lot I want to do.
Christina: That's amazing, Kay. And we are sure. You're going to do some amazing things. What advice would you give to anyone who is just going through that journey, who may just find out they're legally blind and don't know where to go or don't know what to do? What advice would you give them?
Kassan: I said I would give them is slow down. That is my advice. Just slow down. 'cause when this first [00:21:00] happened and I wanted, I was in denial a little bit, but also I wanted to just move fast. Like I wasn't taking my time. I wasn't, you know, you don't wanna be honest, you just wanna move fast. Like, no, I can still do it.
I can still do it. I don't need no help. I, you just want to go, go, go, go. And sometimes you have to just calm down. Don't get angry. You can get frustrated, but just take your time and don't worry about the results right away. What's happening right in front of you is happening right now, but six months from now it's gonna be different.
A year from now it's gonna be different. Six months after that, it's gonna be different and you're gonna turn back and like, wow, I do that. And you someplace that you thought you'd never be. So that's my advice.
Leslie: I think that is fantastic, and thank you so much for sharing your story with us and for all the hard work that you've put into this too, and for wanting to share your experience.
The number one thing that we always tell people, our clients, especially when they ask like, what can I do, is. Be a leader, dog ambassador. Share your [00:22:00] story with other people, share your experience. Tell people about Leader Dogs for the Blind. So many times when we're out talking, there's always somebody that could benefit from our services.
So you being out there and being a spokesperson is greatly appreciated. Word of mouth is our one number one referral for clients and so we greatly appreciate that. And again, thank you for sharing your story and being with us here today. We certainly appreciate
Kassan: it. Um, thank you for having me. Thank you. I appreciate this.
This is amazing. And also shout out to Jessica. Yes. But you didn't say nothing to Jessica. I'm so sorry. Yeah, shout out to Jessica.
Leslie: Absolutely. Jessica's fantastic. I know we've talked about Jessica on the podcast before too, 'cause she is out there, uh, in, you know, she's in the field doing deliveries and application videos and so many things and we are so appreciative of her as well.
And thank you Danielle, for one, just being the initial contact and taking that risk and reaching out and sharing what Leader Dog has to offer. We probably all wouldn't be having this podcast together if it wasn't for that. So thank you and good [00:23:00] luck as you continue on as a guide dog Mobility instructor apprentice.
It's fantastic and you're already exceeding.
Danielle: Thank you so much. I just feel, again, very lucky to be in this position and with such an amazing organization that really. Puts clients first, so very thankful. Absolutely.
Leslie: And thank you so much to our listeners for listening to the Taking the Lead podcast. I'm Leslie Hoskins with host Christina Hoeppner and Timothy Kyo.
We hope you enjoyed hearing Kason story and the role Danielle played. Please join us next time as we continue to dive into the world of blindness.
Christina: And if you'd like to learn more about applying to our free services at Leader Dog, you can head to leader dog.org or call us at [phone]. And don't forget, you can reach us at taking the [e-mail] with any questions or ideas.
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