[NAGDU] Delta Airlines Service animal Policy Evolves

NAGDU President blind411 at verizon.net
Thu Mar 1 13:03:59 UTC 2018


Jenine,

	I agree with your assessment. I am staying in our own lane, advocating for guide dog users. I realize there are more than just guide dogs in the world of service animals; however, one of the unique aspects of guide dog handling is that the credible assurance that a guide dog is a trained service animal lies in the fact that such assurance is made more credible by the objective observable evidence of the dog actually doing work or performing tasks. This may also be true with some other service dogs, such as those observed pulling a wheelchair. Many other service dogs may be more static, such as those which alert the deaf or retrieve dropped items, until the handler has a need. Since entities cannot ask for a demonstration, it might be something those handlers might consider on their own if questioned. I am sure there are those who would disagree and I would not blame them for doing so, as this is not my area of expertise nor my constituency.

Fraternally yours,
Marion

Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
(813) 626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG


The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, March 1, 2018 6:44 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Jenine Stanley
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Delta Airlines Service animal Policy Evolves

Marion, 

The ACAA states that airlines *may* separate trained service animals into two categories, service animals and psychiatric service animals. It does not force airlines to do so. In fact, it’s difficult to find an actual definition for *psychiatric* service animal from within the ACAA itself. The actual definition is in the glossary and preamble. 

United had it right with its policy. 

Some Delta officials we’ve talked with don’t see the difference either but their guidance pages certainly do. 

Why does this matter to guide dog handlers? Divide and conquer. Suppose an airline said that if you had an ID from an IGDF/ADI accredited school, you need only show said ID to any airline official asking and you were good to go. Think it can’t happen? It’s already been proposed, by both handler advocates and some training organizations. 

Just sayin’. In the words of Mad eye Moody from Harry Potter, Constant vigilance. 
> On Mar 1, 2018, at 5:24 AM, NAGDU President via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Jenine,
> 
> 	The only answer I have is that the ACAA has two categories: 1) 
> Emotional support and psychiatric service animals and 2) trained 
> service animals. I believe they are attempting to follow the law as 
> closely and conservatively as possible
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
> 
> Marion Gwizdala, President
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU) National 
> Federation of the Blind
> (813) 626-2789
> President at NAGDU.ORG <mailto:President at NAGDU.ORG>
> 
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> <mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>] On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley via 
> NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 8:25 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Jenine Stanley
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Delta Airlines Service animal Policy Evolves
> 
> Hi Marion,
> 
> Good work. 
> 
> did Delta give any indication as to why they continue to single out those with Psychiatric Service Animals in their policies? 
> 
> United chose not to do this and will only impose new requirements for proof of vaccination on those with emotional Support Animals. 
> 
> Delta’s policy, and the company-wide understanding of that policy, are confusing on the topic. Officials have told us at GDF/AVD that if someone simply tells the staff the tasks the dog performs, then it is a trained service animal and that person would not be subjected to the further requirements stated for PSA handlers. Not sure how their staff on the ground is going to interpret this though. 
> 
> I also understand that “In some cases” someone may be asked to produce the proof of vaccination documentation. What cases would those be exactly? As I understand the policy, it would only be invoked if there was an incident of aggression or other conflict with passengers or staff. Would there be other cases in which it might be invoked though? 
> 
> Thanks again for your hard work on this one. 
> 
> Jenine
> 
>> On Feb 28, 2018, at 8:00 PM, NAGDU President via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Dear Members & Supporters,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>               On January 19, 2018, Delta Airlines circulated a news 
>> release announcing their new policy concerning the carriage of 
>> emotional support and psychiatric service animals, as well as trained 
>> service animals, in the aircraft cabin. This new policy, scheduled to 
>> take effect on March 1, 2018, was in response to a growing safety 
>> concern over emotional support and psychiatric service animals (ESAs) 
>> and negatively impacted those of us who use guide and other trained 
>> service dogs. This policy required those intending to travel with 
>> their trained guide or other service animals to notify the company at 
>> least 48 hours in advance of their travel, submit documentation of 
>> the dog's immunization record, and required those accompanied by 
>> service animals to check in at the customer service counter rather 
>> than curbside, online, or through a self-service kiosk. The National 
>> Federation of the Blind and its special interest division, the 
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users, expressed our concern over 
>> this policy, believing it was incongruent with the Air Carrier Access 
>> Act (ACAA). We requested a face-to-face meeting with Delta Airlines and met with them on February 2 at their headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>               During this meeting, Anil Lewis, Executive Director of 
>> the Jernigan Institute, and I began a productive dialogue with upper 
>> level management of Delta, including the chair of their advisory 
>> board on disability. As a result of this meeting and through scores 
>> of email messages, Delta Airlines and the National Federation of the 
>> Blind circulated a joint news release announcing an enhanced service 
>> animal policy that seemed congruent with the ACAA. However, Delta's 
>> website concerning this policy did not seem to reflect our mutual 
>> understanding contained in the press release. We continued our 
>> dialogue with Delta to create an official policy statement that more 
>> closely aligns with our interpretation of the ACAA while ensuring the safety of all of Delta's passengers.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>               I am pleased to announce that the National Federation 
>> of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users have 
>> worked collaboratively with Delta Airlines to create a policy that 
>> protects the civil rights of the blind and other disabled individuals 
>> who use guide or service animals while ensuring the safety of all 
>> Delta passengers. This current policy states,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> If you are traveling with a trained service animal, in some cases you 
>> may be asked to show:
>> 
>> 1.      The animal's Veterinary Health Form and/or an immunization record or
>> other proof that the animal's vaccinations are current within one 
>> year of the travel date
>> 
>> 2.      While not required, customers are encouraged to upload this
>> documentation to  <https://www.delta.com/mytrips/> My Trips through 
>> the Accessibility Service Request Form
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> You can view the source file by following the link below
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Delta's Service Animal Policy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>               Delta assures us valid tags issued by your local animal 
>> services department will suffice as "other proof that the animal's 
>> vaccinations are current". The National Federation of the Blind and 
>> the National Association of Guide Dog Users will be hosting officials 
>> from Delta Airlines at our Jernigan Institute in the near future to 
>> discuss the specific procedures to implement this policy. As these 
>> procedures are created, we will circulate them widely so that all 
>> Delta Patrons who use service animals will understand their rights 
>> and responsibilities under this policy. We are also aware that other 
>> airlines are watching this policy evolve and we are working 
>> proactively with other airlines to help them create and implement 
>> sound effective policies. We will keep our membership and the flying public abreast of our advocacy efforts on this issue.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Fraternally yours,
>> 
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>> 
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
>> 
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> 
>> (813) 626-2789
>> 
>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
>> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind 
>> people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is 
>> not what holds you back.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>> 
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
>> 
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> 
>> (813) 626-2789
>> 
>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
>> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind 
>> people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is 
>> not what holds you back.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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