<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>September 7, 2023<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'>Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'>The results of the first ever survey of service animal handlers’ experiences accessing health care are in! We want to thank each of the 198 service animal handlers who shared their experiences in an effort to assess the pervasiveness of the problems we face accessing health care. Our hope is that we will now be able to solicit the support we need to make a significant impact on the issue soon!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The National Council on Disability (NCD) is creating a national curriculum focusing upon cultural competency concerning disability in the health care industry. Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) is on the forefront of advocacy efforts around service animals in health care settings. As the result of our expertise, we were asked to provide input to NCD concerning the experiences of service animal handlers as it pertains to accessing health care. Health care is one of the industries in which service animal handlers face significant access problems and calls to the ASAP hotline (855-ASAP211 OR 855-272-7211) seem to support this belief. Unable to find the data we needed elsewhere, Advocates for Service Animal Partners created and disseminated its own survey of service animal handlers’ experiences accessing health care. For those of us who use service dogs, the results are not surprising. It is our hope that those with the resources to make a difference on this issue will be shocked by the results and choose to support our initiatives concerning equal access to health care services. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Advocates for Service Animal Partners created a short Six question survey, along with a few demographic questions, and asked service animal handlers to share their experiences accessing health care. Here is a brief synopsis of the raw data we collected. An academic researcher has volunteered to analyze our data and give us a clearer picture of the results.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The survey was conducted using a Google forms document. Invitations were circulated throughout our network and recipients were invited to forward the invitation on. During the period of July 5 – August 7 we received a total of 198 unique respondents. Of these respondents, 73.7% had experienced a health care access issue due to the presence of their service dog. Our survey also revealed two interesting data points we are investigating. Of the survey responses, we found an interesting relationship between the amount of time a respondent has used a service animal and the likelihood they would experience an access issue. There are statistical formulae to evaluate relationships of Correlations that our researcher will use to analyze that relationship. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Our survey also revealed other valuable data we can use to target our advocacy efforts. Among those who experienced discrimination in a health care setting, 50% of those incidents occurred at a private health care practice. Hospitals, other than emergency rooms accounted for 33.8% of incidents, and 21.7% occurred in an emergency department. 69% of survey respondents reported facing discrimination as a patient while 26.8 were as a visitor <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> How these instances of discrimination were handled also provided some interesting results. Of the survey participants who faced discrimination in a health care setting, 29.8 took no action. Among those who took some sort of action, 31.8 filed a complaint with the health care facility, 12% filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice, while 9% filed a complaint with a state agency. None of our respondents filed a complaint with law enforcement but 15% shared their discrimination experiences on social media. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We also asked respondents to offer open comments. Here is a small sample of those comments:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>When I had my Multiple Sleep Latency Test at the hospital sleep lab, they said I couldn't bring my service dog because they'd have to ask everyone on the floor if it was okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“There are a few situations where I am terrified to go somewhere for fear of an access challenge. Top on my list is a doctor's office. I make sure never to go to new doctor appointments alone, to have someone with me who can help me advocate should they deny me access. It makes it difficult for me to access care because sometimes I can't even make an appointment I'm so worried about an access challenge!</span>“<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> “<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I was separated from my service dog. She had to stay with a staff member outside the exam room. I was sent a bill with a charge for watching my service dog.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> “<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I have had my service dog taken away from me by security when I went to the ER for a broken arm. Security wouldn't give her back until I showed them an ID or "papers" for her. Fortunately I had made my SD an "ID" on my computer with contact info for just in case she was lost (it was in her vest pocket) so in desperation I showed the ID. I did complain to management about it afterwards and try to educate.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> “<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>access delayed is access denied. the administrative compliant process (DOJ/state level disability or human rights agencies) rarely take on a service dog case - ADA has no teeth and we are left to fend for ourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> “I have never once had an ambulance take my service dog with me without a MAJOR fight, delaying care for me. (Even when I'm very clearly capable of controlling him despite my medical issue, and he's in no way interfering with them treating me).”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> These are just a few of the many comments we have received, most of which follow a similar strain. We did find that there were some who did not fully understand their responsibilities as a service animal handler, such as concern they could not be accompanied by a their service dog during an imaging procedure and another that the staff required they be responsible for relieving their dog themselves. . <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>The raw data we gathered seems to support the need for better education in the health care industry and such education is a primary focus of Advocates for Service Animal Partners. In addition to working with NCD on their health care initiative, ASAP is also working with a major medical university to develop and create a national continuing education program for the health care industry. Creating these beneficial partnerships has been the mission of ASAP since its inception. It is exciting to witness our efforts making a difference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>If you received this message as a forward and would like to receive information directly from Advocates for Service Animal Partners, please consider completing a contact form on our website<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><a href="https://ServiceAnimals.info">https://ServiceAnimals.info</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>and click on “Become a Partner”. While On our site, please consider supporting our work by making a recurring or one-time donation. You can make a tax-deductible contribution by going to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>ServiceAnimals.info/SupportUs.html<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Thank you for your interest and support of our mission!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>With warm regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Marion Gwizdala<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>President/CEO<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Marion Gwizdala, President/CEO<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>(He/His/Him)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Advocates for Service Animal Partners Inc. (ASAP)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Office: 386-ASAP411 (386-272-7411)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Hotline: 855-ASAP211 (855-272-7211)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:Advocacy411@gmail.com">Advocacy411@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>ServiceAnimals.info<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Facebook.com/asap411/<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>“Forward together!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>