[Flagdu] Flagdu Digest, Vol 56, Issue 1

[Tracie Inman]

Sheryl:  This is GREAT news. I'm so glad they agreed to listen to our needs.  I know this may seem unreasonable to them, but I think given time constraints between flights(many travelers may have very little time in between flights.  Us blind folks take a little longer to get from gate to gate due to the need to wait for assistance and/or the  need to find the next gate.) there needs to be a relief area in each terminal in larger airports.  In airports such as Atlanta where passengers have the option of traveling to the next terminal underground via the subway the relief area could be placed in the underground area in a central location as well as the end of each terminal.  
   In smaller airports (such as Jacksonville)  one relief area on each end of the airport should be adequate.  
  As for design, there is no reason why they can't be landscaped with potted plants or box gardens and such around the relief area to make it not stand out so much (and afford the dogs some privacy).  The safest thing to use in the relief area is probably gravel.  It is easy to feel the location of the service animals deposits quickly in sand/gravel and it can be easily replaced in the relief area and stored in a nearby area for replenishment by janitorial staff.  Gravel used to be used in cigarette containers in public buildings for smokers.  It is probably much easier to store than woodchips or sand.  Leader Dogs trains all their dogs on gravel (the relief area outside each residential  room is gravel).  
  Good luck in D.C.  Please let us know how it goes.   - Tracie
 

"Making Your Travel Dreams Come True No Matter What the Obstacles"

Tracie Inman, Independent Contractor
http://www.Inmantravel.com
904-372-0644
reservations at inmantravel.com

Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose Travel
CST - #1018299-10










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Today's Topics:

   1. Requesting your input for Service Animal Relief Areas in
      Airports (Merry Schoch)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:16:50 -0500
From: "Merry Schoch" <merrys at verizon.net>
To: "Florida Association of Guide Dog Users" <flagdu at nfbnet.org>,
    <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Flagdu] Requesting your input for Service Animal Relief
    Areas in    Airports
Message-ID: <003001cf2dd1$0d639ac0$282ad040$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="US-ASCII"

Dear All,

                During the Annual Meeting of the Florida Association of
Guide dog Users (FLAGDU), we discussed the Federal Aviation Administration's
desire to receive input from service animal consumers on Service animal
Relief Areas (SARA)in airports. As a representative of the Florida
Association of Guide dog Users, I will be traveling to Washington, D.C. with
NAGDU's president, Marion Gwizdala, to offer consultation to the FAA on this
important issue. In order to best represent your ideas and needs, I would
like to have your input concerning the elements you believe should be
incorporated in such a relief area. Keep in mind that this forum is an
opportunity to offer suggestions on the ground floor before they are
designed and implemented, so it is better to put such things in place in
this stage than to make changes after the fact.



                We would like to hear from you about any and every detail of
this project from where the SARA should be located, what materials should be
used, and any other consideration you believe would make it most usable to
guide dog users. This is your opportunity to make a difference and all
suggestions will be presented to the FAA and its engineers. Please send all
comments, suggestions, and input to me no later than Thursday, February 27
at 4:00 p.m. You may email me at



MerryS @verizon.net



With warm regards,

Marry Schoch



Vice President

Florida Association of Guide Dog Users

National Federation of the Blind of Florida 







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End of Flagdu Digest, Vol 56, Issue 1
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