Notre Dame students go to the dogs

Upper division group gets lessons in leadership from Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Twenty-four students from Notre Dame's upper division received a lesson in leadership today courtesy of the Leader Dogs for the Blind during a visit to the nonprofit's headquarters in Rochester Hills.

Notre Dame assistant athletic director Maureen Radulski, who accompanied the students to Leader Dogs today, said that the kids were excited about the visit where they also learned a great deal from a program called “Harness the Power of Leadership.” The interactive workshop, sponsored by Leader Dogs, teaches those in the sighted community how to use the same skills used by blind people and their guide dogs to communicate more effectively and to lead more successful personal and professional lives.

"As someone with a passion for teaching young people to be leaders, I thought this was a unique opportunity for our students to learn a different approach to learning leadership," Radulski added.

Michael Dzialo, a Notre Dame alum ('84) and current parent of two NDPMA students, helped set up the workshop for Notre Dame after exploring the same workshop for employees of his own company, Managed Assets Portfolios, LLC, based in Rochester.

“I saw this as an excellent opportunity for Notre Dame students to learn and practice some real-life leadership skills they can apply in both their academic and professional endeavors," said Dzialo, who founded MAP in 2000. 

The one-day workshop, which was taught by a person who is blind along with his own leader dog, demonstrated to the students foundational principles in leadership, management, communication and team-building. The tools presented are based on training techniques Leader Dogs for the Blind, named a “Best In America” Charity by the Independent Charities of America (ICA), has been using for more than 80 years as part of their mission to empower people who are blind or visually impaired to lead independent lives.

Andy Guest, Notre Dame's head of school, helped facilitate today's session due to his acquaintance with Dzialo as a parent and fellow NDHS alum. (Guest graduated from NDHS in 1984, Dzialo in 1982.)

“I am excited for our students to gain these communication and team-building skills from such a unique perspective, but also for their empathy for the blind," Guest said. "It is good for students to experience life from the viewpoint of those who don’t have the good fortune of visual sight.”

According to Leader Dog, the communication procedures that Leader Dog-trained people and their dogs use to successfully cross busy intersections, find restaurants and navigate bustling airports are the same techniques used by efficient and prosperous people as they communicate with their team members and other colleagues. 

"Notre Dame students went on two blindfolded walks with Leader Dogs this morning and engaged in other interactive activities," Dzialo said. "They also were taught the interpersonal skills they most likely will need to successfully lead others as they enter college and then into professional careers."


Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.

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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.



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