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Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate. <br>
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Dear Members & Supporters,<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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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.<br>
<br>
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,<br>
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If you are traveling with a trained service animal, in some cases you may
be asked to show:<br>
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<br>
2. While not required, customers are
encouraged to upload this documentation to
<a href="https://www.delta.com/mytrips/"><b>My Trips</a></b> through the
Accessibility Service Request Form<br>
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You can view the source file by following the link below<br>
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<a href="Delta%20Airlines%20Service%20Animal%20Policy%20Evolves-.htm">
Delta's Service Animal Policy</a><br>
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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.<br>
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Fraternally yours,<br>
Marion Gwizdala, President<br>
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(813) 626-2789<br>
President@NAGDU.ORG<br>
<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Marion Gwizdala, President<br>
National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(813) 626-2789<br>
President@NAGDU.ORG<br>
<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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