[Flagdu] Fwd: The Seeing Eye responds to Delta's new service animal policy

Tue Jan 30 19:04:59 UTC 2018

Hi Carlos and all,

Thanks much, Carlos, for passing this important information along. Yes, Seeing Eye indeed stepped up immediately to oppose Delta's poorly thought out plan to keep its passengers safe. Admittedly, I am a bit biased as a Seeing Eye grad, but those early pioneers, including Morris Frank, fought hard for the right of blind people to be accompanied by their guide dogs on airplanes, and without having to give notice to the airlines.

More training programs, Guide Dog Foundation and Guide Dogs for the Blind, have also come forward with statements in which they are also wishing to work with Delta to undo this policy. 
A united stance on this issue is absolutely the only way we will nip this bad idea in the bud, and yet hopefully also find ways to curb this  trend of humans behaving badly. Because even though the dogs are misbehaving on planes, it's the selfish humans who are really doing so, as we all know!

we wish our NAGDU president success as he travels to Atlanta to meet with Delta officials on Friday. I know he has the backing of both consumers and guide dog training programs alike. That's a blessing and so very refreshing!

Very warm regards in this chilly (for Florida) weather,
Sherrill

-----Original Message-----
From: FLAGDU [mailto:flagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carlos Montas via FLAGDU
Sent: January 28, 2018 6:37 PM
To: flagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Carlos Montas
Subject: [Flagdu] Fwd: The Seeing Eye responds to Delta's new service animal policy

Good afternoon I wanted to send the following from the Seeing Eye. In responce to the Delta airlines service animal policy. 

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "advocacy at seeingeye.org" <advocacy at seeingeye.org>
> Date: January 23, 2018 at 5:01:49 AM CST
> To: "Carlos Montas" <carlos.montas at gmail.com>
> Subject: The Seeing Eye responds to Delta's new service animal policy
> Reply-To: "advocacy at seeingeye.org" <advocacy at seeingeye.org>
> 
> 
> 	
>  
> Dear fellow Seeing Eye graduate,
> 
> Many of you have contacted The Seeing Eye with concerns about Delta's new service animal policy. The new requirements, effective March 1, call for disabled passengers to take several steps before they will be allowed to fly with a service animal. These steps include uploading proof of rabies and distemper vaccinations to the Delta web site on an annual basis, and requiring passengers to report to the check-in counter for verification each time they go to the airport.
> 
> The Seeing Eye recognizes that all airlines must establish practical and reasonable policies as part of ongoing efforts to keep passengers safe. However, we believe that Delta’s new service animal policy compromises the rights of guide dog handler’s to fly free from discrimination.
> 
> In response to Delta’s new policy, and the likelihood that if left unchallenged, other airlines will quickly adopt similar requirements, The Seeing Eye has submitted the below complaint to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division at the U.S. Department of Transportation:
> 
>  
> 
> Passengers with guide dogs should be able to complete check-in online, at a kiosk or curbside, just like anyone else. Instead, Delta's new policy requires these passengers to "Visit the airport check-in counter", where the disabled passenger’s "request will be verified at the airport by a Delta Representative." This is an undue burden and a serious inconvenience for blind passengers -- especially when traveling with family, friends or business colleagues who prefer to check-in curbside or who have already secured advance boarding passes. This practice violates the disabled passenger’s right to choose what check-in process works best for his/her individual circumstances, and will likely force passengers to depend on Delta representatives or others for additional assistance that they might not otherwise require. Moreover, segregating blind passengers from their traveling companions or other non-disabled passengers simply to enforce compliance with a vaccination requirement that is already mandated by most state laws is degrading and cause for considerable humiliation, embarrassment, and loss of dignity.
> The 48-hour advance notice seems to preclude last minute or emergency travel if the trip is the passenger’s first flight of the renewal year.
> The policy fails to address what will happen when other airlines need to reschedule disabled passengers onto Delta flights if those passengers do not have the required documentation for their service animals.
> Graduates who are concerned about this new policy are encouraged to submit their own comments describing any negative impact on air travel on Delta by completing the complaint form at:
> 
> https://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm.cfm
> 
> If your only means of contacting the Division is by phone, you may leave a message at (202) 366-2220.  
> 
> To read more about Delta’s new service animal policy, visit:
> 
> https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/special-travel-needs/service-animals.html
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
>  
> 
> Ginger Bennett Kutsch
> Advocacy Specialist
> The Seeing Eye, Inc.
> Morristown, New Jersey
> (973) 539-4425
> www.seeingeye.org
> 
> 
> contact
> 
> The Seeing Eye
> P.O. Box 375
> Morristown, NJ 07960-0375
> 
> (973) 539-4425
> info at seeingeye.org
> 
> unsubscribe	social
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   
> nonprofit software
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