Guiding Paws Featured in KSN “Here For You” Spotlight
Andrew Crane moves through life with a little help. “I was born without a right eye,” he said. In 2009, a special four-legged friend filled that void. “It made a big, huge difference in my life because I had a buddy that went to work with me. Got me around point A to point B,” Andrew said. Through Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York, Andrew received “Orzo.” “We saw such an increase in independence with him,” said John Crane, Andrew’s dad. Andrew’s purpose became more clear. “I really wanted to give back what Guiding Eyes gave me, and they gave me my life back,” Andrew said. Through the years, he’s had two guide dogs. He launched Guiding Paws ICT to mentor and guide the blind community to resources. “I really wanted to help out blind individuals gain the independence that I have,” Andrew explained. The nonprofit also aims to shed light on what it’s like to have low to no vision. “The more they understand about how those folks function, the more compassion they have,” John said.
The organization gives everyone in its contact a new perspective. Guiding Paws ICT plans to launch a new program called “Into the Light” by next year. Its purpose is to help people experience what it’s like to have low vision.