[Nfbf-l] Tell them it is a Service Dog!

[David Evans]

Dear Kirk,

I believe that you are wrong in this one area of your presentation.
You do not, under the ADA have to carry or show anything to anyone, that 
says that your dog is a service dog.
Some animals are privately trained or trained by their owner/user and 
therefore can not be certified by a recognized agency.
These dogs are an acception and not the rule as most do come from agencies 
such as "Seeing Eye", Southeast Guide Dog, or many of the other guide dog 
schools.
These dogs all have a tattoo in their ear, an imbedded RF chip in their neck 
and a special id disk on their collar.
By law, the only questions they can as of you are, "Is this a service 
animal", and "What service does it perform for you."
If they ask more than this it is a ADA violation.
They must accept your word for it or violate the law.
The animal does not have to perform for them or do anything else.
Even being an employee of the TSA does not protect them from a civil lawsuit 
if they go too far.
Under the latest ruling from the DOJ, only dogs and Mini horses are 
considered to be true service animals.  Emotional support animals are not 
considered service animals but are pets.  They do not have the protection of 
the ADA.  They must be confined to a pet carrier if small enough or to the 
baggage storage area if too large.

I am currently investigating why the TSA policy is that we, and our dogs, 
can not be screened by walking through the full body scanners, like everyone 
else and must and can only be cleared by the use of a pat down.
I just want them to explain to me why my dog can not go through the scanner 
and I can, or the lady with small children can and my dog can't.
They just need to give me some reasons I can accept.
Otherwise , it just gives them another way to discriminate and set us aside 
as profoundly different than everyone else.
If they don't have to touch me or my dog, so much the better.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kirk" <kvharmon54 at gmail.com>
To: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>; "sheila" <sayoung125 at att.net>
Cc: <FRG-BVA at yahoogroups.com>; "Ralph Ingram" <ralphingram99 at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2010 5:56 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Tell them it is a Service Dog!


> Hi my friends, I thought this was worth passing along to our friends that
> travel and have service Dogs!
> What To Expect If You Are Blind Or Visually Impaired And Use A Service Dog
> If you are blind or visually impaired and use a service dog, both you and
> your dog will have to go through screening.
> What Choices, If Any, Do You Have in the Screening Process?
> You will not be eligible for screening using Advanced Imaging Technology
> (AIT).
> You can choose to undergo Walk Through Metal Detector (WTMD) screening, or
> request a pat-down. A pat-down may be conducted in a private screening 
> area
> by an officer of the same gender.
> IF YOU AND YOUR DOG GO THROUGH THE WTMD TOGETHER AND ALARM, BOTH OF YOU 
> WILL
> HAVE TO UNDERGO ADDITIONAL SCREENING.
> 1. To resolve the passenger alarm, the Transportation Security Officer 
> (TSO)
> will conduct a pat-down to verify that no prohibited items are present.
> 2. Since your dog's harness most likely contains metal, the TSO will need 
> to
> physically inspect your dog and its belongings (collar, harness, leash,
> backpack, vest, etc.) in order to resolve the alarm. Although the dog's
> harness will not be removed, it and other items that s/he may be carrying
> such as a backpack are subject to screening.
>
> IF YOU AND YOUR DOG WALK THOUGH THE WTMD INDIVIDUALLY AND ONE OR BOTH OF 
> YOU
> ALARM Additional screening will be conducted as described above on whoever
> causes the alarm.
>
> WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FACILITATE THE SCREENING PROCESS
>
> 1. Inform the Security Officer that the animal accompanying you is a 
> service
> animal and not a pet, and carry appropriate identification to verify this
> fact.
>
> 2. Inform the Security Officer how you and your dog will walk through the
> WTMD (walking together or with the service dog walking in front or behind
> you).
>
> 3. Keep control of your service animal while the TSO conducts the 
> screening.
>
> WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU EXPECT
>
> The TSO should:
>
> * Offer to assist you in placing your accessible property on the x-ray 
> belt.
> * Provide you with verbal instructions regarding the screening process.
> * Allow you to stay with your dog throughout the entire screening process.
> * Allow you to go to the front of the screening line if you choose to do 
> so.
> * Allow you to go to the front of the line to be re-screened when you have
> to leave the checkpoint to take your animal to a service animal relief 
> area.
>
> WHAT ARE SOME OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
>
> If you leave the sterile area to relieve your dog, you will have to 
> undergo
> the entire screening process again. When you return to the security
> checkpoint, however, you are entitled to move to the front of the 
> screening
> line to expedite the process.
>
> Medication for service animals is permitted through security checkpoints
> once it has undergone x-ray or visual inspection screening. All liquids,
> gels, or aerosols will have to undergo Liquid Container Screening.
>
> _______________________________________________
> gdui-announce mailing list
> gdui-announce at acb.org
> http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/gdui-announce
>
>
>
> __._,_.___
> Kirk Harmon
> President & CEO
> Florida Disabled Citizens
> for Progress
> P.O.Box 61794
> Jacksonville, FL 32236
> PH(904) 783-9896
> Cell: (407) 473-2176
> DAV/BVA
> Life Member
>
> " TURNING HOPE INTO REALITY"
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