[nagdu] TSA Inquiry

[Marion Gwizdala]

Dear All,
    On behalf of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, I wrote to the Transportation Secuirty Administration. Pasted below is the text of the message.


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
813-626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG
HTTP://NAGDU.ORG