[NAGDU] southwest new guide lines:

[Sherry Gomes]

My friend is flying to visit me today from Washington State to Denver. He
called me from the gate a while ago. When he checked in, the person at the
counter asked if he dog is an emotional support dog. The dog was in harness,
with a pretty big sign saying Guide Dogs for the Blind. LOL. My friend just
laughed and said, no, this is a real service dog, a guide dog, and that's
all there was to it. 

Sherry
Sherry.gomes at outlook.com


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Janell via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2018 11:24 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: nellie at culodge.com
Subject: [NAGDU] southwest new guide lines:

FYI:

 

Southwest Airlines is changing its policies beginning September 17, 2018  to
limit service animals to be dogs, cats, and miniature horses, and to
classify psychiatric service animals as service animals. Confusingly,
American classifies psychiatric service animals as emotional support
animals. All the more need for the DOT regulations. 

 

Southwest (this link will select the Trained Service Animal tab by default;
select the Emotional Support Animal tab to see that policy):
https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/unique-travel-needs/customer
s-with-disabilities-pol.html#unique_travel_needs_allergies_disabilities_pol_
tab_list_tab_10

American (this page covers both service and emotional support animals):
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/service-animals.jsp




Caribbean Cruise Ships August 14, 2018

(6:15 p.m.  EDT) --

Royal Caribbean has updated its policy on emotional support animals.

Emotional support animals -- defined as those whose sole function is to
provide comfort or emotional support -- are no longer allowed onboard its
ships; emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals under the
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

 

Service animals, which support people with both physical and mental
disabilities, are still covered under Royal Caribbean's policy; they are
permitted in all public areas, including dining venues, as long as they are
on a leash or harness.  Disabilities that might require service animals
include blindness, deafness and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 

"We are changing our policy, but the policy is being changed to better
differentiate between emotional support animals and service animals because
they are two very different things," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told
Cruise Critic.

 

"Service animals that are formally trained and certified to perform a
function are still welcome onboard with the proper paperwork and
certifications.

 

"We just want to be able to give all our guests great vacations, and the
reality is some emotional support animals aren't properly trained."

 

Royal Caribbean added that its director of accessibility and disability, as
well as its travel agent partners with disabilities, were heavily involved
with the process of determining how its policy should change.

 

On Cruise Critic's Royal Caribbean forum, members expressed their feelings
on the news.

 

Cruise Critic member Don'tNeedAName said, "This is good, but as some above
have alluded to, this is a very tough policy to enforce.  There is no ADA
certificate for a service dog --merely a definition. .  

Nonetheless, there

will always be rule-breakers, but that doesn't mean the rules shouldn't be
in place.  If nothing else, hopefully the fact that Royal now has this rule
on the books it at least makes one or two people rethink their actions."

 

Cruise Critic member cruzer_3 added: "Never bothered me seeing dogs on the
ship.  This new change doesn't bother me either.  To each their own.  I've
always made the best out of all my vacations and will continue to do so."

 

Cruisers who require service animals should notify Royal Caribbean's access
department at the time of booking.

 

 

Janell and Rosy 

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