[]
Catching Sight
  • Published: 21 July 2026
  • ISBN: 9780807022542
  • Imprint: Beacon Press
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 264
  • RRP: $65.00
Categories:

Catching Sight

How a Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself

Formats & editions
Paperback
16 June 2026
Hardback
21 July 2026
EBook
16 June 2026
Buy from…
Amazon Booktopia Dymocks QBD Readings Your Bookstore Abbeys Boomerang Find local retailers Find local retailers Collins Gleebooks Harry Hartog Kinokuniya Robinsons The Nile Mighty Ape

LARGE PRINT EDITION

An in-depth account of training and working with a guide dog--and the radically honest story of a visually impaired woman facing her own internalized ableism

For years, renowned ethics scholar Deni Elliott lived with her own moral dilemma: though severely visually impaired since birth, she spent decades attempting to "pass" as sighted, often finding ingenious but problematic workarounds in the process. Everything changed in her 40s when an ophthalmologist diagnosed her as legally blind and she could no longer hide her impairment. To maintain her independence, she would need to use a guide dog and openly present as disabled – a label she had rejected for decades.

As Deni begins work with Graham Buck at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, she takes us into the fascinating world of guide dogs: their elite breeding, their training that starts at birth, their exceptional focus, their ability to act as decisionmakers when need be, and more.

Enter Alberta, a two-year-old yellow Labrador retriever. As Deni and Alberta begin their work together, Deni realizes that having a guide dog—far from being a mark of shame and dependence—in fact means that she is joining a uniquely empowered community of canines, trainers, and owners. What began as a practical solution soon became something far deeper - a powerful relationship that challenged Deni’s internalized ableism and reshaped her understanding of herself and the world.

With warmth, insight, and surprising humor, Catching Sight tells the story of one woman’s journey to embrace her full identity, and the guide dog who helped make it possible.
  • Published: 21 July 2026
  • ISBN: 9780807022542
  • Imprint: Beacon Press
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 264
  • RRP: $65.00
Categories:

Praise for Catching Sight

“As Elliott explores her special relationships with these dogs and their exceptional breeding and training, readers will fall in love with this heartwarming story of human-animal connection and resilience.”', Shelf Awareness

'Catching Sight is a story of science, compassion, self-exploration, and faith, and of the transformative power of how canine intelligence and loyalty help bring self-acceptance and dignity to a woman struggling to live her full life with limited vision, along with a skilled and compassionate trainer, who brings together both canine and human perspectives in an unparalleled bonding of confident teamwork. Captivating and informative, moving and heartfelt, a must-read for anyone wanting to experience amazing connections of trust and reliance.', Wendy S. David, PhD, Board of Directors, Guiding Eyes for the Blind

'Catching Sight takes you into the incredible world of guide dogs to show why these close partnerships matter—not just for mobility but for dignity and belonging. Deni Elliott’s powerful story will stay with you long after you finish reading.', Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals

'"Readers should prepare to smile, feel gratitude for sight, and learn a lot."', Booklist

'Catching Sight is filled with insights into disability and identity, human-animal bond interactions, and the services that both dogs and guide dog organizations provide for so many.', Susan Krieger, author of Come, Let Me Guide You

'This book will open your mind and your heart.', Steve Weinberg, author of Taking on the Trust

'Prepare to be inspired by an incredible partnership. When an expert trainer takes a chance on a woman ready to listen and be guided, a dog does far more than restore independence. Alberta helps Deni accept her blindness and step into a more authentic life. An uplifting demonstration of how astonishingly intelligent guide dogs are and the life changing bond they create.', Brian Hare, author of Puppy Kindergarten