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<DIV>just saw this message.</DIV>
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<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial'; COLOR: #000000">Best,<BR>Melissa
R. Green And Pj<BR>"Listen to God with a broken heart. He is not only the doctor
who mends it, but also the father who wipes away the tears."<BR></DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">NAGDU President via
NFBNet-Members-List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 23, 2018 7:09 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</A>
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<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Nfbnet-members-list] Delta Airlines Revises Service Animal
Policy</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'><BR>Dear
All,<BR> <BR>
I am sending this message to keep everyone abreast of the work the National
Federation of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users is doing
to ensure our rights as guide dog users are protected. On February 2, Anil Lewis
and I met with officials from Delta Airlines at their Atlanta headquarters to
discuss their policy. The below release is the result of this
meeting.<BR> <BR>Fraternally yours,<BR>Marion Gwizdala,
President<BR>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<BR>National
Federation of the Blind<BR>(813)
626-2789<BR>President@NAGDU.ORG<BR> <BR> <BR>The National Federation
of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or
your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create
barriers between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you
want! Blindness is not what holds you back.<BR> <BR><BR>
<H1><B>Delta service and support animal policy effective March 1, enhancements
added</B></H1>By Staff Writer • posted Feb. 22, 2018 1:00 pm <BR> <BR><A
href="http://news.delta.com/delta-service-and-support-animal-policy-effective-march-1-enhancements-added"
eudora="autourl">http://news.delta.com/delta-service-and-support-animal-policy-effective-march-1-enhancements-added<BR></A> <BR>Updated
on Feb. 22, 2018 <BR> <BR>In January, Delta announced <A
href="http://news.delta.com/delta-introduces-enhanced-requirements-customers-traveling-service-or-support-animals-effective">policy
changes for those traveling with service and support animals</A> to support the
airline's top priority of safety, after an 84 percent increase in reported
service and support animal incidents since 2016. Based on conversations with key
stakeholders in the disability community, the airline is further enhancing its
policy effective March 1.<BR>"We are implementing these changes for the safety
of all customers, employees and trained service and support animals flying
Delta, while supporting the rights of customers with legitimate needs, such as
veterans with disabilities," said John Laughter, Delta's Senior Vice President
Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance. "While we will require that all
animals not confined to kennels in the cabin have up-to-date vaccinations, we
enhanced our policy to make online submission optional for those individuals who
are blind or have reduced vision or other disabilities and have trained service
animals."<BR>In developing the updated requirements, Delta solicited the
feedback and input of its 15-member <A
href="https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/special-travel-needs/disabilities/advisory-board-on-disability.html"><B>Advisory
Board on Disability</A></B>, a group of advocates established more than a decade
ago and made up of Delta frequent flyers with a range of disabilities. Following
the announcement, Delta and its Advisory Board on Disability continued
conversations with a diverse mix of advocacy groups that represent people who
rely on trained service animals, such as the National Federation of the
Blind.<BR>"We are pleased that Delta has responded in a timely way to the
concerns we raised about their policy for guide dogs and other service animals,
including making enhancements," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. "We also note Delta's expressed commitment to listening
to its passengers. In light of that commitment, we look forward to sharing our
expertise with Delta so that it can provide equal service to blind passengers in
all of its operations."<BR><B>A closer look at service and support animal
policies <BR></B>Since Delta's announcement, other airlines have implemented
changes and media outlets continue to highlight the lack of regulation and the
increased availability of fraudulent certification.
<UL>
<LI><A
href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2018/01/22/delta-is-tightening-restrictions-on-service-animals-its-about-time/?utm_term=.5b6fdbb66e59">Washington
Post</A>: "It's been abetted by loopholes in well-meaning legislation…that
were intended to make sure that people who have disabilities and their trained
service animals would be able to get around without hassles. But many pet
owners, not to mention a bunch of online registration companies, have taken
advantage of the law."
<LI><A
href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-delta-support-animals-airlines-20180119-story.html">Chicago
Tribune</A>: "This policy (in the U.S.) has spawned a host of websites
offering quick, easy certification. One offers 24-hour service, including a
five-minute questionnaire and chat with a licensed therapist. Says the site,
'Getting an ESA Qualification Has Never Been Easier'… The dual policy is an
invitation to people willing to scam the system without regard for their cabin
mates." </LI></UL>Outside of the aviation industry, a dramatic increase in
fraudulent service animals has led <A
href="https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-assistance-animal-laws">18
states to introduce laws</A> that make it a crime to fraudulently represent a
service animal.<BR><B>Delta's updated policy effective March 1 <BR></B>Any
customer traveling with a service or support animal on or after March 1 will
need to meet the new requirements as outlined below:<BR><B>Traveling with a
trained service animal</B>
<UL>
<LI>In some cases, customers with a trained service animal may be asked to
show the animal's Veterinary Health Form and/or an immunization record or
other proof that the animal's vaccinations are up to date. Customers are
encouraged, but not required, to submit this form to Delta's Service Animal
Support Desk via Delta.com before traveling.
<LI>These customers can check-in via Delta.com, the Fly Delta mobile app,
airport kiosks or with an airport agent. </LI></UL><B>Traveling with an
emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal</B>
<UL>
<LI>Customers traveling with an emotional support animal or psychiatric
service animal will be required to submit a signed Veterinary Health Form
and/or an immunization record (current within one year of the travel date), an
Emotional Support/Psychiatric Service Animal Request form that requires a
letter prepared and signed by a doctor or licensed mental health professional,
and a signed Confirmation of Animal Training form. These forms are required
and must be submitted to Delta's Service Animal Support Desk via Delta.com at
least 48 hours before travel.
<LI>These customers <B>must </B>use the full-service check-in process with an
airport agent. </LI></UL>Delta established the Service Animal Support Desk to
improve the travel experience for customers traveling with service and support
animals. This desk will verify that the above documentation is received and
confirm the customer's reservation to travel with an emotional support or
psychiatric service animal before arrival at the airport. If a form is not
completed, a representative will communicate with the customer via e-mail to
request the missing or incomplete items.<BR>Delta carries more than 250,000
service and support animals annually, an increase of nearly 150 percent since
2015. The airline does not accept exotic or unusual service or support animals.
Additional information on types of accepted animals and other questions related
to traveling with service and suppo<BR> <BR>
<P>
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