[Nfbf-l] Tell them it is a Service Dog!

Mon Nov 29 18:38:44 UTC 2010

Dear Sherrill,

I totally agree with you.  This is the proceedure that I use now with my dog 
if and when I fly the next time.  "It will be Jack's first time flying."
I am just trying to find out exactly why my dog can not go through the 
scanners and little children can.
I am going to try to take a trip over to the West Paalm Beach Airport and 
see the scanners for myself and see just what they do.
I may volunteer to be a tester or training subject, just to really see what 
the issues are.
I want to see if there is some physical reason that Jack and or I can not go 
through the scanner, instead of having to go through the pat down each time.
I just want to push on the envelope a little.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherrill O'Brien" <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 1:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Tell them it is a Service Dog!

> Hi David,
>
> To answer your question about the full body scanners, currently, they are
> too small to accommodate a person and dog together.  Neither can they
> accommodate a person in a wheelchair.  As it stands, we can go through the
> regular metal detector.  You aren't subject to a pat down unless 1.  you 
> are
> one of the unfortunates randomly selected for a pat down, or 2.  if you 
> set
> off the metal detector as you pass through.  It isn't a bad idea to carry
> your school's Id card, but as you stated so well, it isn't obligatory to
> show it.  Many of us have adopted the technique of putting our dogs at a 
> sit
> stay at the point where you walk through.  We then drop the leash, 
> reminding
> the dog again to stay, and walk through.  I usually take the screener's 
> hand
> so I don't inadvertently run into the side of the detector.  This takes 
> just
> a couple seconds of course.  Then we call the dog through, and give lots 
> of
> praise.  The dog's gear usually sets off the alarm, so they only have to
> inspect and pat down the dogs.  Most of them love this, and think it's 
> some
> sort of fun game.  By dropping the leash, there is no mistaking which one 
> of
> you set off the alarm, so this way you avoid the new more invasive pat 
> down.
> I don't make a big issue about this with the screeners.  I just tell them
> I'm going through first, and don't ever ask whether I can drop the leash.
> If you act confidently in this process, it sure helps.  In defense of the
> screeners, of course some blind people are not at all independent.  So the
> poor screener never knows what they're dealing with.  I also try to be
> friendly, as rudeness is never good.  But assertiveness is.  Confidence 
> and
> knowing exactly how you plan to walk through with your dog will usually
> result in a successful security experience.  I was going to call it good,
> but that's going too far (smile.)
>
> Give that lovely big boy Jack a pat for me.
>
> Sherrill and Fallon
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
> Behalf Of David Evans
> Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 11:30 AM
> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List; Sherri; sheila
> Cc: Ralph Ingram; FRG-BVA at yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Tell them it is a Service Dog!
>
>
> Dear Kirk,
>
> I believe that you are wrong in this one area of your presentation.
> You do not, under the ADA have to carry or show anything to anyone, that
> says that your dog is a service dog.
> Some animals are privately trained or trained by their owner/user and
> therefore can not be certified by a recognized agency.
> These dogs are an acception and not the rule as most do come from agencies
> such as "Seeing Eye", Southeast Guide Dog, or many of the other guide dog
> schools.
> These dogs all have a tattoo in their ear, an imbedded RF chip in their 
> neck
> and a special id disk on their collar.
> By law, the only questions they can as of you are, "Is this a service
> animal", and "What service does it perform for you."
> If they ask more than this it is a ADA violation.
> They must accept your word for it or violate the law.
> The animal does not have to perform for them or do anything else.
> Even being an employee of the TSA does not protect them from a civil 
> lawsuit
> if they go too far.
> Under the latest ruling from the DOJ, only dogs and Mini horses are
> considered to be true service animals.  Emotional support animals are not
> considered service animals but are pets.  They do not have the protection 
> of
> the ADA.  They must be confined to a pet carrier if small enough or to the
> baggage storage area if too large.
>
> I am currently investigating why the TSA policy is that we, and our dogs,
> can not be screened by walking through the full body scanners, like 
> everyone
> else and must and can only be cleared by the use of a pat down.
> I just want them to explain to me why my dog can not go through the 
> scanner
> and I can, or the lady with small children can and my dog can't.
> They just need to give me some reasons I can accept.
> Otherwise , it just gives them another way to discriminate and set us 
> aside
> as profoundly different than everyone else.
> If they don't have to touch me or my dog, so much the better.
>
> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kirk" <kvharmon54 at gmail.com>
> To: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>; "sheila" <sayoung125 at att.net>
> Cc: <FRG-BVA at yahoogroups.com>; "Ralph Ingram" <ralphingram99 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2010 5:56 PM
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] Tell them it is a Service Dog!
>
>
>> Hi my friends, I thought this was worth passing along to our friends that
>> travel and have service Dogs!
>> What To Expect If You Are Blind Or Visually Impaired And Use A Service 
>> Dog
>> If you are blind or visually impaired and use a service dog, both you and
>> your dog will have to go through screening.
>> What Choices, If Any, Do You Have in the Screening Process?
>> You will not be eligible for screening using Advanced Imaging Technology
>> (AIT).
>> You can choose to undergo Walk Through Metal Detector (WTMD) screening, 
>> or
>> request a pat-down. A pat-down may be conducted in a private screening
>> area
>> by an officer of the same gender.
>> IF YOU AND YOUR DOG GO THROUGH THE WTMD TOGETHER AND ALARM, BOTH OF YOU
>> WILL
>> HAVE TO UNDERGO ADDITIONAL SCREENING.
>> 1. To resolve the passenger alarm, the Transportation Security Officer
>> (TSO)
>> will conduct a pat-down to verify that no prohibited items are present.
>> 2. Since your dog's harness most likely contains metal, the TSO will need
>> to
>> physically inspect your dog and its belongings (collar, harness, leash,
>> backpack, vest, etc.) in order to resolve the alarm. Although the dog's
>> harness will not be removed, it and other items that s/he may be carrying
>> such as a backpack are subject to screening.
>>
>> IF YOU AND YOUR DOG WALK THOUGH THE WTMD INDIVIDUALLY AND ONE OR BOTH OF
>> YOU
>> ALARM Additional screening will be conducted as described above on 
>> whoever
>> causes the alarm.
>>
>> WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FACILITATE THE SCREENING PROCESS
>>
>> 1. Inform the Security Officer that the animal accompanying you is a
>> service
>> animal and not a pet, and carry appropriate identification to verify this
>> fact.
>>
>> 2. Inform the Security Officer how you and your dog will walk through the
>> WTMD (walking together or with the service dog walking in front or behind
>> you).
>>
>> 3. Keep control of your service animal while the TSO conducts the
>> screening.
>>
>> WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU EXPECT
>>
>> The TSO should:
>>
>> * Offer to assist you in placing your accessible property on the x-ray
>> belt.
>> * Provide you with verbal instructions regarding the screening process.
>> * Allow you to stay with your dog throughout the entire screening 
>> process.
>> * Allow you to go to the front of the screening line if you choose to do
>> so.
>> * Allow you to go to the front of the line to be re-screened when you 
>> have
>> to leave the checkpoint to take your animal to a service animal relief
>> area.
>>
>> WHAT ARE SOME OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
>>
>> If you leave the sterile area to relieve your dog, you will have to
>> undergo
>> the entire screening process again. When you return to the security
>> checkpoint, however, you are entitled to move to the front of the
>> screening
>> line to expedite the process.
>>
>> Medication for service animals is permitted through security checkpoints
>> once it has undergone x-ray or visual inspection screening. All liquids,
>> gels, or aerosols will have to undergo Liquid Container Screening.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> gdui-announce mailing list
>> gdui-announce at acb.org
>> http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/gdui-announce
>>
>>
>>
>> __._,_.___
>> Kirk Harmon
>> President & CEO
>> Florida Disabled Citizens
>> for Progress
>> P.O.Box 61794
>> Jacksonville, FL 32236
>> PH(904) 783-9896
>> Cell: (407) 473-2176
>> DAV/BVA
>> Life Member
>>
>> " TURNING HOPE INTO REALITY"
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