[NFBMO] FW: News from the National Office: National Federation of the Blind Statement on Delta's New Service Animal Policy

Thu Jan 25 02:35:13 UTC 2018

You can read below the message I sent to my chapter with regards to this issue.

From: Daniel Garcia [mailto:dangarcia3 at hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2018 8:32 PM
To: Kansas City Chapter
Subject: News from the National Office: National Federation of the Blind Statement on Delta's New Service Animal Policy

Dear Kansas City Chapter Members and friends:

It seems that the more things change, the more they remain the same. In the 1970's and 1980's the NFb waged a battle in the not so friendly skies to try to get the airlines to change their policies with regard to blind passengers. Many people thought those days were over in the same way they thought fighting against NAC was also a thing of the past. But this is not the case. The organized blind must be eternally vigilant if we are to preserve the long fought freedoms that we have won. Otherwise, all the fine work that dozens of Federationists past and present have done will be in vain. While many blind people might believe that the NFB is no longer necessary, recent development show us otherwise.

Regards

Daniel Garcia, President, Kansas City Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
dangarcia3 at hotmail.com
(816) 621-0902
www.nfb.org
www.mfbmo.org
Live the life you want.

From: NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 5:31 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Statement on Delta's New Service Animal Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Federation of the Blind Statement on Delta?s New Service Animal Policy

Baltimore, Maryland: (January 23, 2018): The National Federation of the Blind stated the following with regard to the new service and support animal policy announced by Delta Air Lines on January 19:

We are deeply concerned that Delta Air Lines has taken this action without consulting the National Federation of the Blind, our division the National Association of Guide Dog Users, or any other democratically elected representative of blind Americans. Blind people have safely and successfully used guide dogs for decades, but this policy fails to make a clear or practical distinction among guide dogs, other ?service and support animals? (as Delta puts it), and pets. Onerous restrictions on guide dog handlers do not resolve anything and violate the principle of equal access for passengers with disabilities. Furthermore, we believe that elements of Delta?s policy, as currently articulated, violate the Air Carrier Access Act.

We are particularly troubled by the requirement that guide dog users submit paperwork to Delta forty-eight hours before flying. Travelers without guide dogs are not required to plan their travel forty-eight hours in advance. Furthermore, guide dog users will no longer be able to fly Delta in family, medical, or other emergencies. We believe that this forty-eight hour requirement is both unnecessary and unlawful.

We are asking for an urgent meeting with Delta and stand ready to work with it and other airlines to craft fair and reasonable policies to address the concerns of air carriers, their personnel, and their passengers, without imposing undue, unsupported, and unlawful hardships on guide dog users.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at www.nfb.org<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10066&qid=2124537>.

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>

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National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | (410) 659-9314
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