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<body><div>In the event you didn't see this from nagdu.</div>
<div><br /></div><div id="signature_old" style="clear:both"><div dir="ltr"><div>Shane Popplestone</div><div>President of the Ohio Association of blind students</div><div>Co-chair of the ohio newsline committee</div><div>member of the Grater Akron Chapter</div><div>member of Ohio Association of Guide Dog users</div><div><a href="mailto:spopplestone.nfb@gmail.com">spopplestone.nfb@gmail.com</a></div><div>234-716-2208</div><div>You can live the life you want!</div></div></div><div style="clear:both"><br /></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<div>------ Forwarded Message ------</div>
<div>From "Sarah Calhoun via NAGDU" <<a href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a>></div>
<div>To "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <<a href="mailto:nagdu@nfbnet.org">nagdu@nfbnet.org</a>></div>
<div>Cc "Sarah Calhoun" <<a href="mailto:sc-tico@att.net">sc-tico@att.net</a>></div>
<div>Date 1/8/2024 6:00:45 PM</div>
<div>Subject [NAGDU] Important and time sensitive! Federal Register now accepting comments on DOT form required for air travel with service dogs. Due on1/12</div></div><div><br /></div>
<div id="x796756f100194eb" class="plain">
<div class="plain_line"> Please take the opportunity to voice your</div>
<div class="plain_line">opinion on the Department of Transportation service dog air travel forms on</div>
<div class="plain_line">the Federal Register. The deadline for comments is Friday, January 12,</div>
<div class="plain_line">2024. Please see below for more information and feel free to share.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Kind regards,</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Sarah Calhoun, GDUI President</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Dear Members of the Service dog community,</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">It has com e to our attention that the U.S. Department of Transportation</div>
<div class="plain_line">form required for air travel with service dogs is now under review. The</div>
<div class="plain_line">Federal Register is now accepting comments on this form until January12th,</div>
<div class="plain_line">2024, or this coming Friday.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">If you would like to provide your input, please submit to the Federal</div>
<div class="plain_line">Register at this link:</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/13/2023-24885/notice-of-su">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/13/2023-24885/notice-of-su</a></div>
<div class="plain_line">bmission-of-proposed-information-collection-to-omb-agency-request-for-reinst</div>
<div class="plain_line">atement-of</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">You may file comments identified by the docket number DOT-OST-2018-0068 by</div>
<div class="plain_line">any of the following methods:</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">. Federal Rulemaking Portal: Go to <<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>></div>
<div class="plain_line"><a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and follow the online instructions for</div>
<div class="plain_line">submitting comments. (You may access comments received for this notice at</div>
<div class="plain_line"><<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>> <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching</div>
<div class="plain_line">docket DOT-OST-2018-0068.)</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">. Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200</div>
<div class="plain_line">New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building Ground Floor Room, W12-140, Washington, DC</div>
<div class="plain_line">20590-0001;</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">. Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey</div>
<div class="plain_line">Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal</div>
<div class="plain_line">holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number</div>
<div class="plain_line">DOT-OST-2010-0054 at the beginning of your comment. All comments received</div>
<div class="plain_line">will be posted without change to <<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>></div>
<div class="plain_line"><a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information provided.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Below is a sample of comments that we intend to submit. Feel free to use</div>
<div class="plain_line">this as a basis for your comments.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">If you have any questions please contact:</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Moira Shea: <a href="mailto:moirashea@verizon.net">moirashea@verizon.net</a> <<a href="mailto:moirashea@verizon.net">mailto:moirashea@verizon.net</a>></div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Or</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Martha Steele: <a href="mailto:marthajs@verizon.net">marthajs@verizon.net</a> <<a href="mailto:marthajs@verizon.net">mailto:marthajs@verizon.net</a>></div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">With appreciation,</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Moira Shea and Martha Steele</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Comment:</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">I am a blind traveler who travels frequently domestically and</div>
<div class="plain_line">internationally with my service dog. I have been travelling with a guide dog</div>
<div class="plain_line">for the past 30 years without any incidence. But Since the US Department of</div>
<div class="plain_line">Transportation (DOT) started to require me to fill out an inaccessible form</div>
<div class="plain_line">(in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act), flying has become</div>
<div class="plain_line">very problematic for me.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">The DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form should be greatly simplified</div>
<div class="plain_line">in fully accessible format to conform generally with the requirements of the</div>
<div class="plain_line">Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Indeed the most recent version of the</div>
<div class="plain_line">Air Carrier Access ACT (ACAA) aligned its definition of service dogs as</div>
<div class="plain_line">defined within ADA. ADA only permits two questions of those individuals who</div>
<div class="plain_line">have a service animal:</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">1. Is your animal a service animal?</div>
<div class="plain_line">2. If so, what service does it perform?</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Currently, the DOT form is burdensome, lengthy, requires the service animal</div>
<div class="plain_line">handler to insert the service animal name eleven times, and asks for far</div>
<div class="plain_line">more (and irrelevant) information than is allowed under ADA. Below is a</div>
<div class="plain_line">partial list of what the current form requires:</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">1. Handler's name, address, email, and phone number</div>
<div class="plain_line">2. Service Dog's name, with accompanying details on dog, such as breed,</div>
<div class="plain_line">weight, gender, and whether spayed or neutered</div>
<div class="plain_line">3. Dates of dog's rabies vaccination and expiration</div>
<div class="plain_line">4. Handler statement that the dog is free of fleas, ticks, or other</div>
<div class="plain_line">diseases that might affect humans or other animals</div>
<div class="plain_line">5. veterinarian name and phone number</div>
<div class="plain_line">6. Handler certification that service animal performs certain services</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">7. Name of trainer or organization and phone number</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">8. Handler certification that animal has been trained to behave in public</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">9. Handler certification that he/she understands that service animal</div>
<div class="plain_line">must be under control at all times</div>
<div class="plain_line">10. Handler certification that service animal is not aggressive</div>
<div class="plain_line">11. Warning that if service animal does not behave, airline can charge</div>
<div class="plain_line">pet fee</div>
<div class="plain_line">12. Handler certification that service animal has not behaved poorly or</div>
<div class="plain_line">caused injury to other dogs</div>
<div class="plain_line">13. Handler certification that he/she understands that service animal</div>
<div class="plain_line">must be harnessed at all times</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">If DOT continues to require completion of a form for service animal users to</div>
<div class="plain_line">travel by air, the form should contain no more than four questions, as</div>
<div class="plain_line">follows:</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Are you traveling with a service animal?</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">If so, what service does it perform?</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">What is the name of the service animal?</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">What is the name and phone number of the school where the service animal was</div>
<div class="plain_line">trained?</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">However, I strongly urge that there be no form required for the service</div>
<div class="plain_line">animal handler to complete. The purpose of the ACAA is to make flying more</div>
<div class="plain_line">accessible to individuals with disabilities. Instead, in addition to</div>
<div class="plain_line">requiring that the handler complete the long, repetitive, and burdensome DOT</div>
<div class="plain_line">form inaccessible to many, the handler faces different requirements from</div>
<div class="plain_line">every airline. For example, Delta Airlines requires that the handler</div>
<div class="plain_line">complete the DOT form on the airlines' website, not accepting the already</div>
<div class="plain_line">completed DOT form with service animal identification number. Other</div>
<div class="plain_line">airlines, such as Jet Blue, require completion of an additional form beyond</div>
<div class="plain_line">the DOT form before they will give approval for the service animal's travel,</div>
<div class="plain_line">increasing the burden even more on the service animal handler. In addition,</div>
<div class="plain_line">the current process sometimes creates unnecessary and delayed travel</div>
<div class="plain_line">approval from the airlines.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">To truly make airline travel more accessible and in conformance with ADA, I</div>
<div class="plain_line">propose that all guide dog schools input into the DOT website the name of</div>
<div class="plain_line">the handler, the name of the service animal, and the name and phone number</div>
<div class="plain_line">of the school where the pair graduated from. The airline personnel can then</div>
<div class="plain_line">enter the DOT website to verify that the passenger is traveling with a</div>
<div class="plain_line">trained service animal in accordance with ACAA. This takes the burden off</div>
<div class="plain_line">the service animal handler, addresses concerns that many handlers face</div>
<div class="plain_line">inaccessibility issues with online forms for a variety of reasons, and</div>
<div class="plain_line">restores the purpose of the ACAA intent to improve air travel access for</div>
<div class="plain_line">those with disabilities.</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">The requirements for air travel are also far greater than for any other mode</div>
<div class="plain_line">of travel or entering public spaces. No other mode of transportation, such</div>
<div class="plain_line">as rail, bus, or ferry/ship, requires any such documentation. Entering</div>
<div class="plain_line">public spaces such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, grocery stores,</div>
<div class="plain_line">theaters, or museums, also do not require burdensome documentation. Why is</div>
<div class="plain_line">travel on an aircraft any different from other modes of transportation or</div>
<div class="plain_line">places frequented by the general public?</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">Thank you for your careful attention to these comments.</div>
<div class="plain_line">Sincerely,</div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line"> </div>
<div class="plain_line">_______________________________________________</div>
<div class="plain_line">NAGDU mailing list</div>
<div class="plain_line"><a href="mailto:NAGDU@nfbnet.org">NAGDU@nfbnet.org</a></div>
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<div class="plain_line">To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:</div>
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