[nagdu] Blanket Prosciption Against Advance Notice

[David]

  Marion said, "As we have said so many times before, never, never,
  never give advance notice that you have a guide dog. This only creates
  problems, since the guide dog is irrelevant."

  Dear Marion, I realize that as a new NAGDU member and newly minted
  guide dog handler, I may have less of a basis for an opinion on your
  statement, above, than you or others.

  As with most blanket proscriptions, however, I feel that there are
  nuanced and important exceptions that should be noted or discussed. I
  generally agree with your proscription as it applies to hostelries,
  restaurants and most forms of transportation. I understand that a
  simple rule can help corral the tendencies of many us toward
  over-disclosure, but my experience so far has been different -- at
  least with respect to travel on one airline. Before I retired 9 years
  ago while I was cane traveling for years. I often traveled as much as
  80,000 miles by air. I am very familiar with many airports, with the
  demeanor of airline personnel, and many of the peculiar exigencies of
  travel while visually impaired.

  My experience while flying with my 70 lb pup, Claire Rose, on Delta
  Airlines has been extremely positive, however. Flight attendants have
  been solicitous and have even offered to relocate an Emotional Support
  Animal that was creating a disturbance. Because I must use connecting
  flights to many locations from the Tampa airport, it is often quite
  difficult to create connections with sufficient time between flights
  in Atlanta to go outside security and return so that I have enough
  time to relieve Claire Rose. Calling the regular reservation number at
  Delta is vexatious at best and operators are often not helpful. The
  connection with a representative can take a very long time and
  disconnects are not uncommon.


  Delta, however, has a disability line that is answered quickly. The
  reps with whom I have talked are knowledgeable about seating space and
  ask about seating preferences. During my last reservation the rep
  moved passengers with existing reserved seats so that Claire Rose
  could be accommodated in a seat with a larger floor area. Connection
  times that would have taken me hours to try to figure out online were
  resolved during my 15 minute call and I was asked whether they could
  provide me with assistance to exit and return from the relieving area
  outside the commercial car pickup area at the end of the airport.
  Since I was based in Atlanta for 16 years and know the airport well,
  this wasn't necessary.

  Nearly all of us have experienced ignorance, discrimination, and
  prejudice, but I think there are times when we need to temper
  stridency with respect for others. When a company shows itself to be
  responsive and is demonstrably accommodating my needs, I am more than
  willing to give them advance notice, so that they do not have to
  scramble to accommodate me at the last minute with harried gate
  personnel handling overbooked flights, weather delays and
  'temporarily' disabled passengers.


-- David and Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL