Ken and Paul

Meet Graduate Ken

Graduate Team: Ken and Paul
About the Team: Paul: male yellow Lab; Ken’s 2^nd Guiding Eyes guide dog
Location: Binghamton, New York
Training: November 2024 On Campus

Ken was born in Binghamton, New York, and raised in Tampa, Florida. He returned to Binghamton in 1984 and has since helped countless visually impaired individuals in his extended community. Diagnosed with juvenile macular degeneration, he was deemed legally blind at the age of eight. Currently, he has limited central vision and distorted peripheral vision. Despite his vision loss, he has achieved significant educational and professional success. Ken began his education at SUNY Broome Community College, where he pursued an associate degree. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from New York’s Empire State College. Additionally, he received a certificate in business management from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, where the program’s curriculum was specifically developed for blind/visually impaired leaders. Ken is now the President and CEO of the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment of Binghamton (AVRE), a private, not-for-profit. He has worked with the agency for thirty-four years. AVRE’s mission includes an array of opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, providing a vast range of services, from orientation & mobility training, vision rehab therapy to job skill training and employment opportunities. AVRE’s employees create an array of products sold to federal, state and commercial customers, with the proceeds going back to the agency to fund and support its client-centered services. Ken proudly conveys that the agency serves upwards of 300 individuals each year in 9 counties in the Southern Tier region of New York. Ken has been married to Amy for thirty-five years, and they have two grown children, a son and a daughter, with on granddaughter. His retired guide dog from Guiding Eyes, Winnie, and adopted released guide dog Cashew, are part of the family. Ken’s hobbies include boating, fishing, and jogging.

How would you describe your guide dog? “Simply, ‘Paulie Perfect’. He is calm and collected, but when working he is focused and driven.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “I knew Tom Panek, now the President and CEO of Guiding Eyes, and had been aware that they had started a Running Guide Dog Program. Selecting Guiding Eyes was, without question, the natural choice, as I knew about them for years.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I have gained a remarkable level of independence and freedom, which early on I never expected. With my first Guiding Eyes guide dog, Winnie, I was able to travel for both work and pleasure all over the country.”

Were there any training highlights? “My twelve days of training with just five classmates enabled me to focus and develop an initial and trusting bond with Paul. I learned something every day. Michelle, our instructor, was terrific. Chef Rob and his staff were amazing and so accommodating to each student’s food preferences. Since my first visit to the campus for my prior guide dog, there were many renovations made, making day-to-day living more accessible, right down to the color of paint and floor tiles used. For example, dark flooring on the bathroom floors to contrast with the white bathroom fixtures, makes them more easily accessible. They also did an outstanding job installing adjustable lighting to accommodate the visual acuity needs of the students.”

Meet Guide Dog Paul

DOB:  7/19/2022
Litter ID: 7PP22
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Zelda
Stud: Gerald
Littermates: Patch, Peace, Pluto, Parfait, Priscilla, Potter, Paddington
Region:  Richmond
Regional Puppy Instructor: Madeline Bruggeman
Puppy Raiser:  David & Julie Albany
Facebook: Richmond Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

The number one question Puppy Raisers get is “How can you give them up?” My answer is always the same . . . .it never gets any easier, but seeing the difference a guide dog can make in the life of a blind or visually impaired person makes it all worth it! This day. This Graduation Day where Paul will begin the next chapter of his life with a new person, partners in new adventures big and small, this is what makes being a Puppy Raiser such an incredibly rewarding experience. In our homes for a year, in our hearts forever!  Julie & David Albany

Photos of the Team…