A Partnership Built on Trust: How Guide Dogs Empower Independence

For people who are blind or visually impaired, independence often hinges on access to training, tools and resources that make everyday mobility possible. Guide dogs are one of the most powerful of those tools. 
 
For Sandy, independence has always been about trust—trust in herself, and trust in the four-legged partners who guide her every step. 

When Sandy Wilkinson, Envision Contact Center Representative, took both her first retired guide dog, Beasley, and her then-new guide dog, Rex, on a walk together, something special happened. “By the end of the walk, she was like, ‘Yeah, looks like Mama’s got some new eyes now,’” Wilkinson recalled with a smile. “And then she was fine after that.” 

Moments like this reflect the heart of rehabilitation—relationships built on trust, consistency, and mutual understanding. For Kellie Gerdts, Envision Customer Service Representative, the dream started early. “I always knew I wanted a guide dog,” said Gerdts. “At eight years old, I thought, ‘Hey, dogs are cool.’ But when I saw how much smoother the travel looked, how they avoided obstacles instead of finding them like a cane does.” 

For Kellie and Sandy, guide dogs are not just helpers—they are teammates in independence. Trained to navigate complex environments and adapt to their handler’s pace, these dogs expand what’s possible. “You’re a team,” Gerdts explained. “I’m the navigator, and their job is to get me there safely.” Wilkinson added that with Darwin by her side, even everyday activities feel more accessible. “He targets things like the elevator or my desk. I just say, ‘Find it,’ and he does. It gives me more freedom to stay active in the community.” 

Both Gerdts and Wilkinson have been paired with multiple guide dogs over the years, and they’ve learned that every dog brings its own personality. Some are hard-headed and confident, while others, like Darwin and Gerdts’s newest partner, Tangier, are more sensitive. Regardless of temperament, the human-dog relationship is always central.  

Building that trust takes time. Before being accepted into a guide dog program, handlers must demonstrate strong independent mobility skills. The training process itself is rigorous and immersive, with residential programs that last anywhere from two to four weeks. Each handler is matched with a dog based on lifestyle, walking speed, home environment and personality. Across the U.S., waitlists for guide dogs can stretch months or even years, and many who would benefit never gain access. Even once training ends, the work continues. “You get home, and everything’s new for the dog,”Gerdts said. “Now it’s your turn to shine. You know your environment, but you’ve got to help your dog learn it.”  

That kind of partnership requires consistency, patience and care. Guide dogs are not the right fit for everyone, and both Gerdts and Wilkinson are quick to point out that the decision takes commitment. “It’s like having a toddler,” Wilkinson said. “You’ve got to groom them, feed them, care for them. It’s not just a cute puppy. It’s a working dog, and it’s a big responsibility.” 

At Envision, rehabilitation is about more than programs, it’s about creating space for people to grow. That’s why Envision employees who train with a new guide dog receive two weeks of paid time off. “That took away so much stress,” Gerdts said. “I didn’t have to use my vacation or worry about coverage. It gave me space to focus.” 

Through stories like Sandy’s and Kellie’s, rehabilitation isn’t defined by vision loss, it’s defined by resilience, partnership and freedom. Independence isn’t given, it’s built, one trusting step at a time. Through the partnerships formed in rehabilitation, guide dogs open doors to safety, confidence, and community. That is the heart of Envision’s mission: empowering people to move forward with freedom.