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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></b></p><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'>National Federation of the Blind Applauds United Airlines for Prudent Service Animal Policy<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b>Major air carrier’s policy on trained service animals remains unchanged<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>Baltimore, Maryland (February 6, 2018): The National Federation of the Blind, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of blind people, commends United Airlines for announcing that there will be no changes to its policies regarding travelers with dog guides and other service animals, as opposed to animals that may fit other categories.<br><br>“Blind people have worked for decades to make sure that dog guides are trained and managed in a manner that supports the equal treatment of blind people in public places,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “Every day, dog guides facilitate smooth and independent travel by the thousands of blind people who choose to use them, including my own wife. Unnecessary and burdensome notice and documentation requirements would have limited the independence of these travelers. We therefore thank United for continuing to recognize the qualifications of trained dog guides in its recently announced policy revisions, and we call on all other air carriers to adopt this same approach. We also urge United and the rest of the airline industry to engage with us to ensure that all aspects of the air travel experience, including in-flight entertainment and the use of mobile applications and websites, are accessible to blind people.”<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b>###<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>About the National Federation of the Blind <br><br>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 <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10201&qid=2129297">www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br>CONTACT:<br><br>Chris Danielsen<br><br>Director of Public Relations<br><br>National Federation of the Blind<br><br>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></b></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br> <br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10202&qid=2129297"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" alt="Facebook Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10203&qid=2129297"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" alt="Twitter Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10204&qid=2129297"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png" alt="Instagram Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10205&qid=2129297"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png" alt="YouTube Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1029" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" alt="Email Icon Image"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10206&qid=2129297"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1030" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" alt="Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a> <br><br><b>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | (410) 659-9314</b><br><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=8265&qid=2129297&h=6ce13ecf9bec2fd9">Unsubscribe</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=8265&qid=2129297&h=6ce13ecf9bec2fd9">Opt Out </a>| <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10207&qid=2129297">Sign up for email newsletter </a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><br>200 East Wells Street<br>Baltimore, MD 21230<br>United States</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p></div></body></html>