[nagdu] ACB Condemns Discrimination by Airlines against People WhoUse Guide Dogs

[Nicole Torcolini]

It's not just whether or not there are laws. These laws have to be enforced,
and there needs to be action when they are not followed. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger Kutsch
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 12:21 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] ACB Condemns Discrimination by Airlines against People
WhoUse Guide Dogs

ACB Condemns Discrimination by Airlines against People Who Use Guide Dogs

Source: http://acb.org/node/1663

 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Eric Bridges

Director of External Affairs and Policy

American Council of the Blind

Phone: (202) 467-5081

E-mail: ebridges at acb.org

  

ACB Condemns Discrimination by Airlines Against People Who Use Guide Dogs,
Urges Better Training of Personnel Who Interact with Passengers With
Disabilities

  

 Arlington, VA, December 30, 2013 - Albert Rizzi, a guide dog user, was
ejected from a U.S. Airways flight on November 13, 2013 because he was not
able to put his guide dog far enough under the seat of the person sitting
next to him, which did not please the flight attendant. Mr. Rizzi had been
assigned a seat at the rear of the small plane, in the center of the bench
seat, with no passenger seat in front of him since that was the aisle
itself.

  

 The American Council of the Blind (ACB) issued the following statement:

  

 The Air Carrier Access Act grants people who use guide dogs, and other
trained service dogs, the right to full access to air travel, accompanied in
the cabin by their dog.  It is the responsibility of each airline that does
business in the United States to insure that personnel both understand and
respect the rights of passengers who use guide dogs. ACB calls on U.S.
Airways, and all other airlines to guarantee that appropriate policies
regarding the access rights of people with disabilities travelling with
guide dogs are put in place immediately, and that airline personnel who
interact with passengers before, during, and after travel, receive
appropriate training regarding the treatment of guide dogs and their
handlers during all phases of travel.

  

 ACB President, Kim Charlson, notes that "Given the number of years that our
access laws have been in place, there is no excuse for airline personnel to
engage in practices that demean or discriminate against passengers who
travel with guide dogs.  Such conduct is unacceptable, and we call on all
airlines to take the necessary steps to insure that incidents such as Mr.
Rizzi experienced do not happen to others." 

  

Charlson further stated that "ACB is standing firm and showing its
solidarity with Mr. Rizzi in his efforts to address this particular
situation. We take this issue very seriously, and airlines should do
likewise.  Nothing less is acceptable."

 

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavecable.co
m