[Colorado-talk] FW: [nagdu] VA Announces New Rules concerning Service animals in VA Facilities

Wed Aug 19 23:22:10 UTC 2015

Warmly,
Melissa R Green and Pj
"True friends are the ones who
never leave your heart, even
if they leave your life for a
while."

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu
[mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.o
rg] On Behalf Of Marion
Gwizdala via nagdu
Sent: Wednesday, August 19,
2015 12:31 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the
National Association of Guide
Dog Users'; 'Florida
Association of Guide Dog
Users'; New Jersey Association
of Guide Dog Users; 'New York
Association of Guide Dog
Users'; oagdu at nfbnet.org;
nagdu-leaders at nfbnet.org
Cc: Marion Gwizdala
Subject: [nagdu] VA Announces
New Rules concerning Service
animals in VA Facilities

Dear All,

                Over the past
few years, the National
Association of Guide Dog Users
has received calls from
veterans who use service
animals alleging the VA has
discriminated against them
because of their choice to use
a service dog. NAGDU has
brought this concern to the
Office of Veterans'
Affairs. We are pleased to
announce that the Veterans
Administration has recently
promulgated new rules
governing the use of service
animals in VA facilities. The
news release from the Office
of Intergovernmental Affairs
follows my signature.

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala, President

National Association of Guide
Dog Users Inc.

National Federation of the
Blind

(813) 626-2789

(888) 624-3841 (Hotline)

President at nagdu.org

http://www.nagdu.org

High expectations create
unlimited potential for the
blind!

VA Announces New Rules
Regarding Service Animals in
VA Facilities

WASHINGTON - Today the
Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) announced that it has
revised its regulation
regarding the presence of
animals on VA property.
The updated regulation will
ensure VA practices remain
consistent with applicable
federal law. It will also
assist individuals entering VA
facilities in developing a
clear and consistent
understanding of the criteria
governing facility access for
service animals.

"As I have traveled to VA
facilities throughout the
country, I have heard from
many Veterans about what a
vital role their service
animals play in their lives,"
said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Robert A. McDonald.
"The revised regulation will
ensure Veterans and employees
have clear guidance regarding
the presence of service
animals in our facilities. VA
remains committed to ensuring
America's Veterans have access
to the health care benefits
for which they are eligible."

 Under the revised regulation,
only dogs that are
individually trained to
perform work or tasks on
behalf of an individual with a
disability will be considered
service animals.  Other
animals will not be permitted
in VA facilities, unless
expressly allowed as an
exception under the regulation
for activities such as
animal-assisted therapy or for
other reasons such as law
enforcement purposes. The
regulation further confirms
that service animals may
access VA property subject to
the same terms that govern the
admission of the public to VA
property, and  may be
restricted from certain areas
on VA properties to ensure
that patient care, patient
safety, and infection control
standards are not compromised.

 In accordance with required
practices, the revised
regulation was published in
the Federal Register in
November 2014, to obtain
feedback from Veterans,
advocacy organizations and
other stakeholders. 

 Over the next thirty days, VA
will provide training to
frontline employees and ensure
policies at all facilities are
consistent with the new
regulation.

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