A referral to an O&M therapist will also help if he hasn’t already.

I don’t mean any disrespect, but as others have said, I don’t think you understand the gravity of what you’re saying

I’m speaking as someone who has been a guide dog handler for just over a decade. Getting a guide is an entire lifestyle change. When someone is newly becoming blind is not always the best time to get a guide, as there are many, many other skills to learn and transitions to navigate.

I second the recommendations to learn white cane skills and consider a pet for companionship first

I don’t have a guide dog, though I’ve looked in to getting one in future. Guide dog schools generally require good orientation & mobility (white cane) skills before they’ll consider someone for a guide dog. The reason is that there’s a lot more to getting around as a blind person than just telling your dog where to go, and they also want to make sure the handler has enough work for the dog. If someone doesn’t go out at all because they don’t know how to navigate safely without a dog, they probably won’t go out enough with the dog for the dog to get exercise and keep in practice.

The first step, therefore, is to get training with an orientation and mobility specialist. Exactly how to do that varies by region. After that, the process of applying, being assessed, and then being matched to a dog takes at least several months (wait times vary by school), and has become longer since COVID.

Unfortunately, while your friend might be a good candidate for a guide dog in future, it’s not something that can just happen in a few weeks.

You are a good friend!

Please PM me. I have a lovely blind friend with Leber’s who can talk to you about this.

he needs to be able to get around without the guide dog before he can get one. I would recommend he get a pet if that is what he wants. Obviously, it wouldn't work if he doesn't want one, but a guide dog is hard to get and expensive, and there are plenty of marvelous pets out there that need a home.

It took two years for me to get my guide dog. It’s a long and intense process because they want to make sure you are capable of getting around with normal o&m skills. It’s a good recommendation but not something to be taken lightly. Guide dogs are a lot of work and trust.

Help your friend. Start applying for a guide dog NOW (at least fill out an initial application online and talk on the phone with staff members who can answer any questions you may have – you can always withdraw the application if you change your mind later) and get Orientation and Mobility training in the meantime. I've been informed there are wait times of 12 to 18 months to be given a class date after you are accepted into a school, and that's AFTER completing the application process itself which includes checking personal references, a medical report from your primary care physician and ophthalmologist, a phone interview, and then an in-person home interview and a Juno walk with an instructor.

Do some research! Do you have a preference for a specific dog breed or color or gender? Poodles for people with allergies, a high energy german shepherd, a golden retriever, or a typical labrador retriever? Are you willing to fly out of state to attend class? Would you prefer 2 week or 3 week long training? Do you have a preference on dog training methodology and the type of positive reinforcement used – food rewards, clicker training, or verbal praise and correction only? Do you have any other special needs such as using a wheelchair, muscle weakness, hearing issues, balance issues, sensory processing disorders, cognitive or neurological disorders, or any other physical or emotional concerns (PTSD, panic attacks, etc) that could impact your work with a guide dog? If you enjoy exercise, would you prefer a running guide?

What services are provided to graduates of the school? If your dog has problems with guide work, can a trainer come out and assist you quickly? Do you want or need funds for veterinary assistance? Do you have a preference on contact with puppy raisers and ownership of the dog after graduation?

If you use Facebook, there is a group for guide dog handlers here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/guidedoghandlersnetwork/?ref=share I am in the middle of applying for my very first guide dog and it's been really helpful in reading about the differences between all of the guide dog schools in the US and what to expect during the application process.

I am unable to imagine how tough the experience of vision loss over time must be because I was born visually impaired since birth – I am currently completely blind in my left eye and have 20/200 vision in my right eye – so I have grown up my entire life accustomed to receiving services for the blind and visually impaired, mainly through special education services provided by my school district.

There is a Facebook group for blind and visually impaired people which might be helpful: https://www.facebook.com/groups/259008737631118/?ref=share

What state are you in?

A guide dog is a huge lifestyle commitment and as somebody who had a service dog for other disabilities then trained my current dog for guide work as I was losing vision they would be really limiting themselves by not focusing on O&M first. My situation still means that getting a referral for an instructor is pretty close to if not actually impossible, with my current dog retiring and my next one only being 9 weeks old I am a long way from having that independence again if my older dog decides to fully retire sooner rather than later. Now my situation is far from the norm but it does put me in the unique situation to recognize the why it is important for blind individuals to have a solid background in O&M.

Finding cane mobility courses would be faster and actually help with the application process for a guide dog as the dogs need sick days sometimes too. Look for Orientation and Mobility classes near your friend so they can teach him how to adapt to his new circumstances.

Which country/organisation are you dealing with?