[il-talk] The Seeing Eye responds to Delta's new service animal policy

Thu Jan 25 03:41:07 UTC 2018

The NFB's approach today is highly reasonable. the seeing eye wants
the federal government to declare the policy disability discrimination
and levy fines against the airline as punishment. The NFB is
delivering the leadership the blind and disability communities need so
a policy can be developed that is meaningful for all involved.

Kelly

On 1/24/18, Harris Singer via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi everyone, here's a link to the original NY Times article which came
> outlast week.
>
> Delta Air Lines Tightens Rules for Service and Support Animals - The
> New York Times
> https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/business/delta-airlines-service-animals.html#story-continues-2
>
> The article makes Delta's move sound reasonable, but I like the Seeing
> Eye and other organizations scratching the surface to realize the
> policy's true implications on those of us who use guide dogs, which
> are truly certified service animals.
>
>
> On 1/24/18, Patti Chang via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Mind you NFB did respond today. We are asking for meaningful dialogue on
>> these issues. This was done without any consultation of the blind. If my
>> dad
>> dies, this would mean I had to leave my guide dog in order to travel on an
>> emergency basis. This cannot be the only option.
>>
>>
>>
>> Patti Chang Esq.
>> Treasurer
>> National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
>> (773) 307-6440
>> www.nfbofillinois.org
>>
>> Find us on twitter: “NFBI”
>> Search for “National Federation of the Blind of Illinois” on facebook.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kelly
>> Pierce
>> via IL-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2018 2:47 PM
>> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Kelly Pierce <kellytalk at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [il-talk] The Seeing Eye responds to Delta's new service
>> animal
>> policy
>>
>> What is an airline to do when someone comes to the airport with a restless
>> 200 pound Great Dane and decides to call it a service animal for a mental
>> health condition? Advocates say that neither disability documentation nor
>> training certificates can be required. Many people are bringing what I
>> understand to be house pets aboard planes as service animals.
>>
>> On 1/23/18, Robert Hansen via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>  I might even call the guide dog group And see if I can make a radio
>>> segment out of this. This is interesting and this just came out I
>>> think last week.
>>>
>>> Sincerely
>>> Robert A. Hansen
>>> hansen.robert70 at gmail.com
>>> Robert A. Hansen https://www.securitylife.com/gpm?agnt=010N4261 Get
>>> started on your dental insurance quote today! For assistance, please
>>> contact your GPM H&L agent or call the Ameritas Sales Connect Team at
>>> 800.371.1133.
>>> Illinois residents only
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 23, 2018 1:47 PM, "Patti Chang via IL-Talk"
>>> <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I suggest you reach out to our division for guide dog users. It is
>>>> called NAGDU and Marion Gwizdala is president. NAGDU is the best
>>>> source for guide dog info.
>>>> I copied Marion here for your convenience. I have not yet seen
>>>> anything on this but I am not a dog handler.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Patti Chang Esq.
>>>> Treasurer
>>>> National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
>>>> (773) 307-6440
>>>> www.nfbofillinois.org
>>>>
>>>> Find us on twitter: "NFBI"
>>>> Search for "National Federation of the Blind of Illinois" on facebook.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Harris
>>>> Singer via IL-Talk
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 8:05 AM
>>>> To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: Harris Singer <harris.singer at gmail.com>
>>>> Subject: [il-talk] The Seeing Eye responds to Delta's new service
>>>> animal policy
>>>>
>>>> Good morning everyone,
>>>> I have a guide dog from the Seeing Eye and received the below message
>>>> from them regarding Delta Airlines new policy on service animals. The
>>>> Seeing Eye makes excellent points about the discrimination which will
>>>> come with this policy and the concern of it becoming an industry
>>>> standard. Please read below. Has the NFB taken a position on Delta's
>>>> service animal policy?
>>>> There
>>>> are links below which can bring you to file comment with the
>>>> government against Delta's new policy.
>>>>
>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>> From: "advocacy at seeingeye.org" <advocacy at seeingeye.org>
>>>> Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2018 05:01:52 -0600
>>>> Subject: The Seeing Eye responds to Delta's new service animal policy
>>>> To: Harris Singer <harris.singer at gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>> The Seeing Eye
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 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:
>>>>
>>>> 1.  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.
>>>> 2.  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.
>>>> 3.  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:
>>>>
>>>> http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=MZ_YNFTGMlXh3qohbgNVrg
>>>>
>>>> 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:
>>>>
>>>> http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=IVB3eVCKIBe5AsvEBFIk-A
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>> Ginger Bennett Kutsch
>>>> Advocacy Specialist
>>>> The Seeing Eye, Inc.
>>>> Morristown, New Jersey
>>>> (973) 539-4425
>>>> www.seeingeye.org
>>>> http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=U8Uwhg9t9twJpQzrsgjWAg
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The Seeing Eye
>>>> 10 Washington Valley Road
>>>> Morristown, NJ 07960
>>>> ph (973) 539-4425
>>>> e info at seeingeye.org
>>>>
>>>> unsubscribe:
>>>> http://seeing.convio.net/site/CO?i=ZGgijsTF9PRQCJIILjwCUAUGQYAonf
>>>> 40&cid=1061
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>
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>
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