A Man and His Dog Receive Recognition for a Legacy of Advocacy

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield CT 06002ision article by Risa Nicolosi, Fidelco Fall Newsletter October 2025

Five years since it was first published, Fidelco client Jim Hoxie’s book, Grandpa’s White Cane, has been reprinted and continues to inspire readers. Jim, a retired forester, is now matched with Fidelco guide dog, “Dax,” but learning to use a white cane when he first became blind thirteen years ago was pivotal for him.

As a veteran, Jim was eligible to attend the Hines Blind Rehabilitation Center in Chicago and recalls, “I needed more than just somebody handing me a white cane…with training, the confidence and independence of using the white cane was really awesome.”

The white cane remains a vital tool even for guide dog users, and white cane proficiency is a prerequisite for receiving a Fidelco guide dog. Clients must first demonstrate the ability to travel independently with a cane as cane travel provides the safety, awareness, and confidence that eventually allow guide dog partnerships to thrive.

When Jim returned to his hometown of Spearfish, South Dakota, he quickly realized how many people didn’t know what the white cane was used for or what it signified.

“My wife, Linda, and I live in a very small community of maybe 12,000 people. And, literally, I think I’ve not ever seen another person with a white cane. Having the public recognize what the cane is and what it’s for is so important.”

Jim saw an opportunity to raise awareness in his community, and doing that in a school setting seemed like a great place to start. In 2017, along with retired teacher Joanna Jones, Jim began visiting classrooms to teach children about blindness, resilience, and mobility. Jim crafted small wooden practice canes so students could walk alongside him, asking candid questions like, “How do you pick up your clothes?” and “How do you watch TV?” One third grader, preparing to lose his own eyesight, asked Jim to be his mentor. “It was quite a moment for me,” Jim said

These classroom experiences inspired Jim and Joanna to write Grandpa’s White Cane. The first printing of this book was sponsored by the Spearfish SD Lion’s Club and distributed to Creekside Elementary third grade teachers and students. It captures the lessons shared in classrooms, with accurate illustrations and practical guidance to help both children and adults understand the importance of the cane.

Jim’s work has earned him numerous accolades. He received two awards in October 2025, including the State of South Dakota’s Outstanding Individual with a Disability (Governor’s Award) and the Champion for Independent Living Services Award. Guide dog Dax has received his own recognition with the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) recently requesting he be featured in their 2026 calendar. Dax was featured weakly as the October Ambassadog for the weekly BVA Happenings in the BVA newsletter. Dax is now part of Jim’s mission to raise awareness as his partner in the classrooms he visits and in life.

What began as his own challenge with blindness has evolved into a legacy of advocacy that continues to touch many lives.