Apply for a Guide Dog
About our Admissions Process
Southeastern Guide Dogs is committed to providing you with exceptional customer service as you navigate our application process. The information below will provide you with a clear understanding our application process and provide you with a checklist of the items that we will need to expedite your acceptance into our program.
1. Eligibility
Any legally blind individual desiring independent travel through use of a dog guide must be:
• In good health and physically able to walk several miles each day
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Must have completed an Orientation and Mobility travel assessment
• Must have no felony convictions against them
2. Application
This application includes:
• Application for a Guide Dog
• Primary Care Physician's name and Contact Information (required)
• Blind Services or Commission Counselor name and contact information (if applicable)
• Mobility and Orientation Instructor name and contact information (if applicable)
• Employer's name and contact information (if applicable)
• 3 Personal References (required)
• Release of Indemnification Form
• Consent Form
Additional materials which may be required at a later time are:
•Official psychiatric or behavioral referral
•Official social work referral
A Southeastern Guide Dogs' Representative will contact you if these documents are needed to process your application.
In addition to the completion of the online applications, all applicants will be required to:
• Undergo a pre-admission phone interview with Southeastern Guide Dogs' Admission Manager
• Successfully complete a criminal background check (applicants who have been convicted of a felony will not qualify for our services)
• Undergo a pre-admission home evaluation to be conducted by a Southeastern Guide Dogs staff member
3. Acceptance
Upon receipt of the fully completed application and the in-home interview, this information will then be evaluated by a three-person Admission Committee comprised of the our Admissions Manager, our Director of Training and one additional training department member. Once the committee has formally accepted the applicant to the program, the applicant will be contacted by the admissions manager to discuss potential class opportunities.
Please note that the application process can take up to 2 months and there is a small wait list. In the meantime, if you experience a change in any contact information, please advise the school as soon as possible so that we may keep your information current. You may make changes to your contact information either by email to Rita.Princivalli@guidedogs.org or by calling (800) 944-3647 extension 117.
4. Training Time
First-time applicants are scheduled for a twenty-six (26) day training course at our Palmetto, Florida facility.
Students who have experience with guide dog handling will be scheduled for a minimum of eighteen days of training provided that the student has at least five years handling experience.
We do not offer home placement services to first-time students.
Our classes begin on Mondays. Students reside in comfortable, newly renovated, single-occupancy rooms. Class sizes vary from eight to ten students per class with three trainer/instructor(s) managing class.
5. Costs
Southeastern Guide Dogs provides its dogs and training to students free of charge. The school will provide the dog, equipment, training, housing and meals during your stay.
Once graduated from Southeastern Guide Dogs, the maintenance of your guide dog and all associated medical expenses become your responsibility. We estimate this cost to be between $900 - $1,200 annually.
6. Transportation
The applicant, once accepted, is responsible for travel costs to and from the school.
Apply Today!
To fill out your application online, click here. (Please note the application will take about 1 hour to complete. You may save your application at anytime and return to it at later by clicking the "Save and continue survey later" button at the top of each page.)
To download an application that you can print, fill out and submit through the mail, click here for a PDF or here for a Word document.
