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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear NAGDU Members & Supporters,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>I am writing to share with you my comments to Guiding Eyes for the Blind regarding their comments on Delta’s proposed service animal policy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Marion Gwizdala their statement <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>January 24, 2018 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Mr. Cawley,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Via Email: <a href="mailto:bcawley@guidingeyes.org">bcawley@guidingeyes.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> I want to express my extreme disappointment with the response by Guiding eyes for the Blind to the issue we are facing with delta Airlines. The National Association of Guide Dog Users, a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, is committed to advocating for all guide dog users, whether they receive their guide dogs from a formal training program or choose to owner-train their dogs. We are also aware that, when we advocate for policies that affect us as guide dog users, we have a more global responsibility to the entire service dog industry. We take this responsibility seriously and reject any attempt to weaken our civil rights. This being said, we oppose any measures that have the effect of discriminating against disabled individuals who use service dogs, including the imposition of an unequal benefit, something Guiding Eyes for the Blind seems to condone in their recent statement. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Though it is true that consumers of Guiding Eyes for the Blind and other guide dog training programs are issued identification cards, these cards are not and should not be required as a precondition for access under the Air Carrier Access Act or a covered entity under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Though it is equally true that all responsible animal owners, including guide and service dog users, must accept the responsibility of maintaining the health of their dogs, it is paternalistic to require us to demonstrate that we are doing so just because we are blind or otherwise disabled and use a service dog! The requirement to present a health record as a precondition to travel is discriminatory and imposes an undue burden for those of us who use service dogs. Likewise, the inability to book on-demand travel and check-in online, curbside, or by means of a kiosk is a discriminatory unequal benefit. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'> By issuing their statement, Guiding Eyes for the Blind has done a disservice to their consumers and the entire service dog using public. Such an ill-informed position compromises the progress made by the National Federation of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users to ensure that service dog users have the right to full participation in society on terms of full equality and to travel freely without harassment or the imposition of unnecessary, burdensome requirements.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'> The National Association of Guide Dog Users strongly urges Guiding Eyes for the Blind to rescind their statement and take a stand with us to demand that those of us who choose to use service dogs have the ability to travel freely and on equal terms with our nondisabled peers. We further urge <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>all guide and service dog training programs to stand with the National Federation of the blind and its National Association of Guide Dog Users to ensure that their consumers are well-informed about their civil rights under the law and take an active role in advocating for those rights.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'> For more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users, please visit 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="http://nagdu.org">http://nagdu.org</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'>Follow us on Twitter - @nagdu<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Join the discussion on our Facebook page by searching for NAGDU.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Live the life you want; nobody can stop you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Respectfully yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(813) 626-2789<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President@NAGDU.ORG<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>