[Ohio-talk] Fwd: [nagdu] FYI FW: Letter from Kimberly Walton, Assistant Administrator, Civil Rights & Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement, TSA, DHS

Tue Nov 24 18:53:59 UTC 2015

I plan to travel in December and will ask for a PSS in advance to see
if things go more smoothly.  I am not sure if this is only to get
through security or if the PSS will help me find my gate.  I will be
glad when we have indoor navigation so we can go to our gate without
assistance.  I know I am dreaming big but I will keep dreaming.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Hingson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:16:07 -0800
Subject: [nagdu] FYI FW: Letter from Kimberly Walton, Assistant
Administrator, Civil Rights & Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler
Engagement, TSA, DHS
To: NFB of California List <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>, nagdu at nfbnet.org,
cagdu at nfbcal.org, txagdu at nfbtx.org, nfbnet-members-list at nfb.org
Cc: Michael Hingson <mike at michaelhingson.com>

Hi,

In addition to the attachment referred to in the following letter I have
pasted the text of the letter at the end of this email.

Best Regards,

Michael Hingson

-----Original Message-----
From: Buckland, Susan [mailto:Susan.Buckland at tsa.dhs.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2015 9:55 AM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Letter from Kimberly Walton, Assistant Administrator, Civil Rights
& Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement, TSA, DHS

Please see the attached Section 508-compliant PDF letter from Kimberly
Walton, Assistant Administrator for Civil Rights & Liberties, Ombudsman and
Traveler Engagement, Transportation Security Administration, Department of
Homeland Security.

The letter is to inform you about TSA's programs available for individuals
with disabilities or medical conditions to enhance smooth travels during the
holiday season.

We are very grateful for your time and consideration.  If you have any
questions, please to not hesitate to contact me at
Susan.Buckland at tsa.dhs.gov<mailto:Susan.Buckland at tsa.dhs.gov>.

Susan Buckland
Senior Policy Advisor
Management and Program Analyst
TSA POC and Liaison
Disability and Medical Condition Coalition, Outreach and Engagement
Disability Branch Office of Civil Rights and Liberties, Ombudsmen and
Traveler Engagement Transportation Security Administration Department of
Homeland Security
Susan.buckland at tsa.dhs.gov<mailto:Susan.buckland at tsa.dhs.gov>

 [cid:image001.png at 01D02E3E.7AD788A0]

AA Walton Open Letter to DMD Coalition 11 23 15_508.pdf
Office ofCivil Rights & liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement U.S.
Department of Homeland Security 601 South 12th Street Arlington, VA 20598
Seal and Signature of the Transporation Security Administration
NOV 2 3 2015
Dear Coalition Members:
On behalf ofthe Transportation Security Administration (TSA), I want to take
a moment to share some important tips to help you better prepare for
security
screening at our Nation's airport screening checkpoints. In light of
Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General covert testing
of TSA
security checkpoint operations announced in the media earlier this year, and
given TSA's continuing mission to protect the Nation's transportation
systems,
you will likely see slightly longer lines resulting from modified screening
procedures.
For these reasons, I encourage you to arrive at least two hours early for
domestic and three hours early for international flights, to give yourself
plenty
of time to get through security screening. For general information about
what to expect during security screening, you may contact the TSA Contact
Center
at (866) 289-9673 or email at TSA-ContactCenter at tsa.dhs.gov. The TSA Contact
Center has representatives available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET
and on weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Automated information is
available in 12 languages. Travelers who are deaf or hard ofhearing may use
a relay service to contact the TSA Contact Center (Federal Relay 711).
TSA also offers the TSA Cares helpline. I encourage anyone who may need
additional assistance during the security screening process, travelers with
disabilities
or medical conditions, and travelers who have concerns about the screening
process to contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours before travel. TSA Cares
agents
have received training to provide callers with specific information about
the specialized screening needs in a variety of circumstances. In addition,
you
may provide a TSA Cares agent with your flight itinerary, and they will
coordinate assistance to be specifically available for you with a Passenger
Support
Specialist (PSS) and/or customer service manager at the airport. Even if you
do not provide your itinerary beforehand, you may ask for a PSS or
supervisor
at the checkpoint.
The PSS program was created to assist travelers at the checkpoint, and
Passenger Support Specialists receive specialized training, including how to
assist
and communicate with individuals with disabilities as well as best practices
on interactions with travelers from various cultures and communities. While
TSA recommends contacting TSA Cares to set up PSS assistance in advance, our
goal is to have a PSS in the vicinity of every checkpoint to provide
assistance
as needed and resolve traveler-related screening concerns on the ground, as
quickly as possible.
Any traveler who needs assistance or is concerned about his or her screening
may ask for a Supervisory Transportation Security Officer or a PSS at any
time.
Travelers or their companions may call TSA Cares toll free at (855)
787-2227. The hours of operation for the TSA Cares helpline are 8:00 a.m. to
11 :00
p.m. ET from Monday to Friday and
9:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on weekends/holidays. Travelers who are deaf or hard of
hearing may
e-mail TSA-ContactCenter at tsa.dhs.gov or may use a relay service to contact
TSA Cares
(Federal Relay 711)
You may also download a Notification Card from
www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures,
which allows you to discreetly notify the Transportation Security Officer of
your disability,
medical condition, or other circumstance that requires assistance. This
card, however, does not
exempt you from screening.
TSA works hard every day to ensure that you and your loved ones arrive at
your destinations safely. I assure you that TSA remains committed to
ensuring
that all travelers are treated with respect and courtesy, and we emphasize
that screening must be conducted without regard to a person's race, color,
national
origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity in
order to ensure your safety.
Sincerely,
Signature of Kimberly A. Walton, Assistant Administrator
K mberly A. alton Assistant Administrator Office of Civil Rights and
Liberties, Ombudsman, and Traveler Engagement

-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053
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