[Flagdu] Response from TSA

Thu Aug 12 17:37:58 UTC 2010

Ralph,

Please read this post with care before thinking that responsible guide dog
users want to be exempted from going through security.  That's not what this
is about.  We all have the right to professional and consistent treatment
each time we go through security, whether we're in Chicago, New York or a
small airport.  When I go through security, I put my dog at a sit, walk
through first, holding the leash, and, generally, I don't set off the metal
detector myself.  Then I call the dog through.  She sets off the metal
detector with her gear, and so a pat down, or wanding of the dog is in
order.  No one here is suggesting this shouldn't be done, and the TSA letter
mentions that this is regularly done when the dog sets off the metal
detector.  What we're asking for is consistency.  In other words, it is not
permissible to remove the dog's harness.  But the pat down of the dog, even
with the harness on, will uncover anything of a suspicious nature.  I hope
this helps you to understand that we're not against having to take the time
for the wanding of our dogs.  We just want to know what to expect when it
happens.

Sherrill

-----Original Message-----
From: flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of ralph narducci
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 12:56 PM
To: Merry Schoch; Florida Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] Response from TSA

ok and when those that do mean to harm us realize that service animals are
removed from COMPLETE securiety checks do use a service animal fake or real
to
harm others. what then? so much going on in the world and all you can do is
b---- about "i sould be exempy" please.

________________________________
From: Merry Schoch <merrys at verizon.net>
To: Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>; Florida Association of Guide Dog
Users <flagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thu, August 12, 2010 8:13:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Flagdu] Response from TSA

Since Marion's message came through with attachments and no message in the
boddy
of the e-mail, I have copied and pasted it below:
Dear All,
  As you know, I wrote to the transportation Security Administration (TSA)
concerning the sometimes arbitrary, inconsistent manner in which those of us
who
use service dogs are screened at airport security. The text of my message to
them and their reply to me are pasted below.

fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users
National Federation of the Blind
813-626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG
HTTP://NAGDU.ORG

July 20, 2010
My name is Marion Gwizdala. I am the President of the National Association
of
Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a division of the National Federation of the Blind.
The National Association of Guide Dog Users hosts an email list designed for
subscribers to exchange information concerning the use of service animals
and network with other blind people who use guide dogs.
Recently, there has been a discussion on our list concerning the arbitrary
manner in which personnel with the Transportation Security Administration
deals
with service animals at security check points in airports. This discussion
has
led to a variety of anecdotes concerning this issue from one person who
asserts that TSA personnel completely destroyed the guide dog's gear to
another
who asserts that a security officer performed a cavity search on her dog.
I am writing to ask if specific protocol/policies exist for how service
animals
are cleared through airport security. If such protocol exists, I would like
to have a copy to share with my constituents. If no such protocol exists, I
would like to offer the input and resources of the National Association of
Guide Dog Users and the National Federation of the Blind in the development
and
dissemination of such policies.
Please respond to me either via email or telephone. My contact information
is
below my signature.
Respectfully yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users
National Federation of the Blind
813-626-2789
Blind411 at Verizon.net
Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users
National Federation of the Blind

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Office of Disability Policy and Outreach
701 South 12th Street

W3-306N
Arlington, VA 20598

August 4, 2010

Via E- Mail

Ms. Marian Gwizdala

blind411 at verizon.net

Complaint Number: ODPO-CON-10-37

Dear Ms. Gwizdala:

Thank you for contacting the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA)
Office of Disability Policy and Outreach (ODPO) regarding TSA's screening
procedures for service animals.  You state that as President of the National
Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU) you have received many
comments/complaints from members of your organization regarding their
feelings
that TSA Officers (TSOs) screen their service animals in an arbitrary
manner.
You inquire whether TSA has established applicable protocols, and cite
several
anecdotes where TSA personnel appear to have acted inappropriately.

Please know that TSA takes concerns such as these very seriously.  One of
our
key objectives is to ensure that all passengers consistently receive
professional and courteous processing at the checkpoint, while maintaining
our
high level of security.  We train the TSOs to conduct screenings with
professionalism and to treat all passengers with dignity and respect.  We
regret
that you and your members feel we did not meet these standards.

In March 2002, to further these objectives, TSA established a program for
screening of persons with disabilities and their associated equipment,
mobility
aids, and devices.  Our program covers all categories of disabilities
(mobility,
hearing, visual, and hidden).  As part of that program, we established a
coalition of over 70 disability-related groups and organizations to help us
understand the concerns of persons with disabilities and medical
conditions. 
There are a number of organizations in the coalition, such as the Guide Dogs
for
the Blind, for whom the screening of service animals is an important issue.

TSA has also worked diligently to train our TSOs on how to carefully and
gently
screen persons with disabilities and persons with medical conditions and
their
related equipment.  TSA does have established standard operating procedures
for
the screening of people who are blind or visually impaired and use a service
dog.  While these individuals will not be eligible for screening using
Advanced
Imaging Technology (AIT), they can undergo Walk Through Metal Detector
(WTMD)
screening, or in the alternative a pat-down. A pat-down may be conducted in
a
private screening area by an officer of the same gender.

If the individual and their dog go through the WTMD together and alarm, both
of
them will have to undergo additional screening.

1.      To resolve the passenger alarm, the Transportation Security Officer
(TSO) will first use a hand held metal detector (HHMD).  Every time the HHMD
alarms, the (TSO) will pat-down the area to verify that no prohibited items
are
present.

2.      Since the dog's harness most likely contains metal, the TSO will
need to
physically inspect the dog and its belongings (collar, harness, leash,
backpack,
vest, etc.) in order to resolve the alarm.  Although the dog's harness will
not
be removed, other items that s/he may be carrying such as a backpack are
subject
to screening.

If the person and their dog walk though the WTMD individually and one or
both of
them alarm, additional screening will be conducted as described above on
whoever
causes the alarm.  TSOs have also been trained to ask permission before
touching
the animal, and request the passenger's help in controlling the animal
during
the pat-down and hand-held metal detector screening. Any carry-on items not
being carried by the service animal will be x-rayed or physically inspected
and
returned to the passenger once they are cleared.

I am very much interested in hearing more about the problems encountered by
your
members, and would really appreciate hearing from you/them as soon as
something
they think is wrong occurs.  Receiving this type of information fairly
contemporaneously with the events in question allows for a better
investigation
of the complaint, and allows us to better target any remedial training
needed by
our officers.  In addition, I frequently am able to resolve the matter even
before the person takes their return flight home.

If you are interested in becoming a member of TSA's Disability Coalition
described above, please contact me.  Teleconferences are convened quarterly
and
the Coalition meets in person once a year.  The Coalition provides a forum
for
member organizations to bring their constituent's concerns to policy makers
within TSA. I hope you will give serious consideration to joining, and look
forward to working more closely with you and your organization in the future
to
address their concerns related to the screening of their guide dogs and
service
animals.

Thank you for bringing these matters to our attention.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Basha, J.D.

Director

Office of Disability Policy and Outreach

Office of the Special Counselor

----- Original Message ----- From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU List" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "FLAGDU List" <FLAGDU at NFBNET.ORG>;
"nyagdu"
<nyagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:05 AM
Subject: [Flagdu] Response from TSA

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