Graduate Spotlight: Karen and Flint

It’s an incredible experience. Sensing their intelligence and feeling how they care for you is impossible to understand unless you’ve experienced it yourself.”

Karen Dewing, about working with guide dog, Flint

At Guiding Eyes, we firmly believe in the transformative power of guide dogs. For individuals who are blind or adjusting to a life with vision loss, a Guiding Eyes dog can help them navigate the world with greater ease and independence. However, the benefits extend beyond just the blind individual. The positive impact on their families can be significant, as well.

“It was moving. I just knew that Karen’s life was going to get better.”  ~Matthew Dewing, Karen’s husband

Meet Karen and Matthew Dewing. They reside in a scenic region of western Connecticut, where they have created an active and meaningful life for themselves and their teenage daughter. However, Karen’s diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder, eventually led to her complete blindness. Her family gradually took on increased responsibility for ensuring her safety, but when they came to realize a guide dog might greatly enhance her quality of life, they turned to Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

“The first time I walked with Flint, the instructor was describing the obstacles that Flint was guiding me around,
and I hadn’t even realized that he was doing it!”  ~Karen Dewing with guide dog Flint

Since their training at the Yorktown campus in February 2019, Karen’s journey with Flint has allowed her to continue her important work as a school administrator, stay active through her love of running, and be a more confident and independent wife, mother, and member of the community. With this renewed sense of freedom, Karen is no longer as reliant on others.

Guiding Eyes changes lives by connecting amazing people with extraordinary dogs. Not only do our guide dogs provide a sense of safety and security to their handlers, but they also give their families peace of mind, knowing that their loved one is able to navigate the world more independently. We are honored to have played a part in this life-changing experience for Karen and her family. We share their story in the video below.

For the Audio Described version of this video, please click on the following link.