,? column appe>$ 9 ! ,may #bjja issue ( ,dog ,_w4  ,h} "n is pron|nc$ l ,eye%a4


,aye%a
,0,toni & ,$ ,eames

,s"eal mon?s ago we "picipat$ 9 a fund rais+ walk = br1/ c.er survivors4  ,z "o ( ~? honor$1 ,toni 0 giv5 royal tr1t;t--  pres5t$ )a special t-%irt & cap1 tr1t$ 6br1kfa/ & ) h} si/} survivors ac"kl$ge 0! assem#d cr{d ( walk}s4  ,z %e & o!r survivors held h&s & li/5$ 6! ~ws ( an impas.n$ s;g writt5 = !m1 ,toni's ?"|s turn$ 6a less recogniz$ gr|p ( survivors-- wom5 ) 4abilities :o em}g$ victori|s af ov}com+ 9cr$i# ob/acles4  ,aye%a ,v}non immly came 6m9d z "o ( ,toni's true h}oes4

	,aye%a f/ came 6|r att5;n five ye>s ago :5 %e 0 f1tur$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,k9gdom's ,guide ,dogs =! ,bl ,associ,n 7,,gdba7 newslr1 ,=w>d4  ,9trigu$ 0? brief a3.t ( h} life1 we immly 3tact$ h} &a lively correspond;e 5su$4  ,9 ,june #bjjj ,aye%a visit$ u 9 ,cali=nia1 h} f/ trip 6! ,unit$ ,/ates1 on h} way 6,*icago1  ": %e 0 pres5t+ a pap} at ! ,society = ,4abil;y ,/udies annual 3f};e4  ,:at a l;g way %e _h -e1 bo? 9 4t.e & 9 a*ieve;ts6

	,born 9 a village 9 ,9dia 9 #aife1 ,aye%a 0 nurtur$ 0a l>ge & 9dulg5t ,muslim family4  ,at ! age ( f|r %e 3tract$ m5+itis1 & m$ic9e us$ 6tr1t ! 41se result$ 9 bl;s4  ,h} "f divorc$ h} "m1 &1 foll{+ local tradi;n1 reta9$ cu/ody (! *n4 ,h{"e1 af obta9+ employ;t |tside ( ,9dia1 ,aye%a's re>+ 0 turn$ ov} 6h} "f's "f4

	,=! next decade1 ,aye%a l$ an isolat$ & lonely exi/;e1 n p}mitt$ 6g 6s*ool )! o!r *n4 ,z %e told u1 8,mo/ ( my life 0 sp5t 9side my h1d4  ,i daydr1m$ & imag9$ a v di6}5t life4  ,my only div}.n 0 :5 "o (! wom5 (! h|sehold w5t 6visit nei<bors & ,i cd li/5 6! /ories told 0!m4  ,! o!r girls 9 ! h|se & 9 ! village 7 tau<t dome/ic *ores1 l cook+ & sew+1 b ! only task ,i 0 all{$ 6d 0 wa%+ d{n ! |tside v}&a 0?r{+ wat} on x & sweep+ x (f )a wick} broom40

	,al? h} gr&"f 3t9u$ a lov+ rel,n%ip ) ,aye%a1 h} /ep-gr&"m 0 tot,y non-a3ept+ & kept 2moan+ ! fact %e 0 bl & wd 2 unm>riagea#4 ,s9ce m>riage 0 3sid}$ ! only a3epta# life/yle *oice (a prop}ly re>$ ,muslim girl1 9 h} /ep-"m's view1 ,aye%a 0 use.s4  ,all ? *ang$ dra/ic,y :5 h} "f return$ 6! village & ann|nc$ he 0 migrat+ 6,5gl& & 0 tak+ ,aye%a ) hm4

	 ,9 #aigi at ! age ( #ad1 ,aye%a >riv$ 9 ,5gl& ) h} "f1 /ep-"m & si/}4  ,briti% au?orities 7 appall$ on le>n+ ? "y immigrant _h rcvd no =mal $uc,n4  ,!y 7 ab 65roll h} 9 a s*ool =! bl :5 x 0 4cov}$ %e _h tub}culosis4  ,9/1d ( go+ 6s*ool1 b$ re/ at home & drug !rapies 7 prescrib$4  ,aye%a's $uc,n 2gan 9 e>ne/ :5 an it9}ant t1*} 2gan s*ool+ h} at home4  ,9 a4i;n 6le>n+ ,5gli% & o!r academic subjects1 ,aye%a set | 63qu} ,brl 9 ord} 6become a truly lit}ate bl p}son4 ,h} flu5cy 9 ,brl is n{ mat*$ 0h} ma/}y ( ,briti% ,5gli%4  ,9 _m ways %e rem9ds u ( ,liza ,doolittle1 ! h}o9e (! musical1 ,my ,fair ,lady4  ,h{"e1 unlike ,liza1 mo/ ( ,aye%a's trans=m,n is bas$ on h} 9n} drive r ?an ! impact (a s+le t1*}4

	,progress+ "? s*ool at ! spe$ (a ,greyh.d1 %e obta9$ h} college degree n9e ye>s af f/ 2+ 9troduc$ 6! alphabet6  ,? brilliant woman :o wd h langui%$ back 9 h} native c.try1 w5t on 6-plete a ,ph4,d4 & is n{ employ$ z a univ}s;y lectur}4

	,x 0 dur+ h} graduate "w t ,aye%a f/ 3templat$ "pn}+ )a guide dog4  ,husb& ,ralph1 a dog lov}1 urg$ h} 6take ? /ep4  ,ralph 0 -mut+ 6,london & away mo/ (! week1 s ! idea t a dog wd provide secur;y & -panion%ip 0 5tic+4  ,al? a -pet5t cane us}1 ,aye%a 2gan ?9k+ ab a guide dog z a bett} aid 9 gett+ >.d4

	,2f mak+ any -mit;ts1 ,aye%a travel$ 6,london 63sult a hi<ly respect$ ,imam1 a ,muslim prie/1 ab ? issue4  ,he assur$ h} no ": 9 ! ,koran1 ! ,muslim holy book1 0 "! a prohibi;n ab us+ a guide dog4  ,9 fact1 he su7e/$ t guide dogs1 :o h a purpose 9 life1 %d 2 respect$ & a3ept$ 0all ,muslims4  ,ac 6! ,imam1 ! 2lief t dogs >e ritu,y uncl1n1 is bas$ on ,9dian ,muslim culture & n "p (! religion4

	,hav+ cle>$ ! religi|s hurdle1 ,aye%a 3tact$ ,,gdba & 4cuss$ h} dilemma4  ,a guide dog seem$ a bett} m1ns ( mobil;y1 b %e fe>$ dogs z a result ( an 9cid5t 9 ,9dia :5 %e 0 bitt5 & _h 6g "? a s}ies ( anti-rabies %ots4  ,despite ! ,imam's 9t}pret,n1 %e knew h} ,muslim family wd h di6iculty a3ept+ h} deci.n4   ,h{"e1 %e 0 alr e/rang$ f ! family 0n hav+ an >rang$ m>riage & *oos+ h} {n non-,9dian sp|se4

	,2f -mitt+ 6! f|r-week tra9+ c|rse1 ,aye%a att5d$ an assess;t week5d 6evaluate h} abil;y 6"w e6ectively )a guide dog4  ,a -pet5t cane us} & fa/ walk}1 %e 0 tot,y 5raptur$ 0! a4i;nal spe$ ) : %e cd move )a dog4  8,x 0 l fly+60

	,bas$ on ? exp}i;e1 ,aye%a 5t}$ a tra9+ class s"eal mon?s lat} & 0 mat*$ )a dog "nd ,we/a1 a "y & /r;g m9d$ ,gold5 ,retriev}4  ,despite le>n+ 6fe$ & groom ,we/a1 %e woke ea* ni<t 9 fe> t ,we/a mi<t attack h}4  ,/ /ru7l+ ) l;g held 2liefs t dogs 7 ritu,y defil+1   ! revel,n came 6h} "o morn+ t dogs 7 ,god's cr1tures p}mitt+ ,aye%a 6op5 h} he>t 6h} new guide4

	,we/a took advantage ( ,aye%a's timid;y & h} guide "w det}iorat$4  ,id5tify+ ) ,we/a's /r;g w & 9dep5d;e1 ,aye%a 0 4tress$ :5 ! tra9+ /aff su7e/$ %e 2 mat*$ ) ano!r can9e "pn}4

	,:5 ?ree-ye>-old yell{ ,labrador ,l9dy 0 br"| in1 ,aye%a's he>t w5t | 6h}4  ,? dog 0 ov}wei<t1 subdu$ & snu6l$ z if cry+1 draw+ | ,aye%a's mat}nal 9/9cts4  ,l9dy _h be5 reject$ 0h} previ|s "pn}1 l ,aye%a _h be5 = m* ( h} life 9 ,9dia1 &! p>allel 2t !m l1d 6an 9/ant bond+4

	,s5sitive 6,aye%a's ne$s1 ,l9dy "w$ flaw.sly f ! v f/ walk tgr4  ,al? woman & dog func;n$ z a smoo? t1m1 ,aye%a 9iti,y ?"| (! ,labrador exclusively z a mobil;y tool4  ,x took s"eal ye>s 2f %e 0 a# 6?9k ( ,l9dy z a valu$ memb} ( h} family4

	,on return+ 6"w af -ple;n ( tra9+ at ,,gdba1 a :ole new set ( pro#ms await$ ,aye%a4  ,employ$ z an advocate = ,asians 4crim9at$ ag/ 9 h|s+ & employ;t1 %e felt ev5 m ( an |tsid} f h} e?nic -mun;y4  ,) ,l9dy ly+ "u h} desk1 _m cli5ts1 ) _! cultural anti-dog bias1 7 uncom=ta#4  ,m 4turb+ 0 ! reac;n ( "ms w>n+ _! *n 6get away f ! dog1 z ! t1m walk$ "? ,asian nei<borhoods on ! way 6& f "w4

	,5c.t}+ a b>rage ( a3ess d5ials 9 recre,n & 5t}ta9;t 2c ( "pn}%ip )a guide dog1 turn$ ,aye%a 96an advocate4  ,h} academic "w 9 sociology focus$ on ! societal pro#ms ( wom5 ) 4abilities1 "picul>ly e?nic m9or;y wom51 b n{ %e 0 mov+ t{>d a new level ( p}sonal activism & 9volve;t bas$ on life exp}i;e4

	,:5 a hotel 9 ,sc>bor|< refus$ 6a3ept h} res}v,n on le>n+ %e _h a guide dog1 ,aye%a w5t 6! newspap}s & publiciz$ ? act ( 4crim9,n4 ,9 ano!r 9cid5t 9 h} home t{n ( ,pet}bor|<1 ,aye%a & ,l9dy 7 turn$ away 0a ,muslim re/aurant {n}4   ,support$ 0a 4abil;y "rs gr|p1 ,direct ,ac;n ,net"w 7,,dan71 ,aye%a & #ce o!r 4a#d p ga!r$ =a prote/ |tside ! re/aurant4  ,:ile s"eal prote/ors h& cu6$ !mvs 6! front doors1 ! re/ ate a picnic d9n} & help$ block ! 5tr.e4  ,mo/ patrons1 >riv+ =a ,satur"d ni<t m1l1 left af see+ ! ,,dan activi/s4  ,patronage 0 s l{1 ! re/aurant clos$ s"eal h|rs e>li} ?an usual4

	,hav+ a*iev$ su3ess 9 $uc,n1 employ;t & advocacy1 ,aye%a 0 fac$ )a he>t wr5*+ deci.n4  ,af sev5 ye>s ( su3ess;l "pn}%ip1 ,l9dy 0 sl{+ d{n & %{+ signs ( >?ritis4  ,9 #aiig ,aye%a made ! deci.n 6retire ,l9dy & retra9$ )a su3essor dog1 ,gold5 ,retriev} ,giles4  ,9 _m ways1 ,giles rem9d$ ,aye%a ( ,we/a1 b 0n{ %e _h ma/}$ "s (! skills ne$$ 63v}t a "y /r;g-will$ dog 96an e6ective & ob$i5t guide dog4

	,bo? ,toni & ,que5 ,elizabe? agree ,aye%a ov}came 9cr$i# o4s 6become ! 9dep5d5t well-$ucat$1 >ticulate 4abil;y & e?nic spokesp}son %e is td4  ,on ,decemb} #e1 #bjjj1 ,aye%a1 ) #adj o!r |t/&+ ,britons 7 ac"kl$g$ 0! que5 at ,buck+ham ,palace4  ,? #ce-ye>-old immigrant f a =m} ,briti% colony 0 2/{$ )! honorific ,,mbe1 ,memb} (! ,briti% ,empire6

	,toni & ,$ ,eames c 2 3tact$ at #ccgf ,nor? ,wi%on1 ,fresno1 ,,ca #icgjd-dhcb2 ,tel4 #eei - #bbd-jedd2 e-mail e1mes@csufresno4$u4<x-fl{$