vary interesting article . it was a knoledge sharing one . enjoyed reading I empathise with those who are facing difficulties with their guide dogs.
On 9/11/23, sreenivas choudari <suns....@gmail.com> wrote: > OK > > On Mon, Sep 11, 2023, 10:00 AM Vetrivel Murugan Adhimoolam < > vadhimoo...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> This is interesting indeed. Then think of those visually challenged >> people who lack computer literacy. believe it or not, US much like >> india has more visually challenged people who lack computer knowledge. >> >> On 10/09/2023, kanchanpamn...@gmail.com <kanchanpamn...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > An interesting article from The Washington Post Airlines tried to stop >> fake >> > service animals. It kept blind people off flights. >> > >> > >> > New Department of Transportation rules have made flying more difficult, >> and >> > at times, inaccessible to blind passengers >> > >> > >> > >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://s3.amazonaws.co >> > >> m/arc-authors/washpost/b4c1be1b-c55a-4776-afb1-f687bab128f2.png&w=196&h=196> >> > >> > >> > By Amanda Morris >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/amanda-morris/?itid=ai_top_morrisa> >> > >> > August 28, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. EDT >> > >> > Elizabeth Schoen, 21, with her black Labrador service dog, Eva, at >> Gravelly >> > Point Park near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 12. >> > (Craig Hudson for The Washington Post) >> > >> > Listen >> > >> > 10 min >> > >> > Share >> > >> > Comment1163 >> > >> > Add to your saved stories >> > >> > Save >> > >> > Elizabeth Schoen’s guide dog, Eva, is trained to help her navigate >> crowded, >> > chaotic environments such as airports. The black Labrador knows how to >> find >> > elevators, follow crowds to the baggage claim area and help Schoen, who >> is >> > blind, avoid obstacles. >> > >> > But when Schoen, 21, of Arlington, Va., tried to fly to Boston to tour >> > graduate schools last March, airline staffers told her she could not >> > take >> > Eva on the plane. >> > >> > She is one of many blind people who say they have encountered more >> > difficulty taking service animals onto flights since new rules from the >> > Department of Transportation took effect in January 2021. The >> > regulations >> > were an effort to crack down on a rise in passengers passing off >> untrained >> > pets as service or emotional support animals. Some travelers tried to >> take >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2018/01/30/a-woman-tried-to >> > >> -board-a-plane-with-her-emotional-support-peacock-united-wouldnt-let-it-fly/ >> > ?itid=lk_inline_manual_4> peacocks, >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/01/emotional-sup >> > port-pig-ejected-from-airplane-after-defecating/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4> >> > pigs, >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/10/20/daniel-the-emoti >> > >> onal-support-duck-takes-his-first-plane-ride-soars-in-popularity/?itid=lk_in >> > line_manual_4> ducks and even miniature >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2018/05/16/miniature-hor >> > >> ses-are-welcome-as-service-animals-but-monkeys-are-a-maybe-u-s-airline-regul >> > ators-say/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4> horses onboard aircraft. Some >> > animals >> > defecated on the planes or attacked crew members, passengers and >> legitimate >> > service dogs. >> > >> > The new rules state that emotional support animals are not considered >> > service animals and narrow the definition exclusively to properly >> > trained >> > dogs. Airlines can require passengers to complete forms about their >> service >> > dog’s training at least 48 hours before their flight. Airlines also >> > must >> > make a reasonable effort to allow all passengers with service dogs to >> fly, >> > even if they do not submit their forms in time. >> > >> > Schoen with service dog Eva at Gravelly Point Park. (Craig Hudson for >> > The >> > Washington Post) >> > >> > But disability advocates say airlines seem to be interpreting the >> > regulations differently, enforcing varying rules for submitting >> > documents >> > or >> > rejecting forms from other airlines’ websites. >> > >> > Some passengers say their dogs have been rejected for simple paperwork >> > mistakes. The required forms also have been difficult to fill out, >> > blind >> > travelers say, because they are often not compatible with the screen >> reader >> > technology people use to convert text to speech. >> > >> > In interviews, blind people told The Washington Post that the >> > regulations >> > are so difficult to navigate that they are now hesitant to fly or are >> > anxious about the experience. Various organizations for the blind are >> > calling for the forms to be changed or eliminated. >> > >> > Department of Transportation data shows that the number of >> > service-animal-related complaints from people with disabilities have >> > more >> > than doubled since the new regulations took effect. In 2018, the agency >> > received 116 complaints. In 2022, the number was 451. >> > >> > The agency acknowledged that people with disabilities are experiencing >> > problems flying with their service animals and said in an email that it >> is >> > taking their concerns seriously and “has begun looking further into >> > those >> > issues.” >> > >> > “It’s a gigantic mess,” said Albert Elia, a board member at the >> > National >> > Association of Guide Dog Users and a staff attorney at the Civil Rights >> > Education and Enforcement Center, a nonprofit legal organization >> > focused >> on >> > disability justice. >> > >> > Eva guides Schoen along a trail at Gravelly Point Park. (Craig Hudson >> > for >> > The Washington Post) >> > >> > >> > Denied at the airport >> > >> > >> > Schoen originally tried to submit her form online four days before her >> > JetBlue flight, but it was rejected by the airline. JetBlue’s customer >> > service advised her to bring the paperwork to the airport on the day of >> her >> > flight. >> > >> > When she arrived, airline staffers told her she had not submitted the >> form >> > on time. Schoen tried to explain that JetBlue needed to make reasonable >> > efforts to get her and Eva on the flight but was told that the airline >> had >> > the right to turn her dog away. >> > >> > “If you’re denying my dog, you’re denying me,” she said. >> > >> > Schoen missed her flight and spent about $400 to fly the next day with >> > a >> > different airline. She was later reimbursed for her original flight and >> > learned that the form had been rejected because she had used an >> > incorrect >> > flight confirmation code. >> > >> > The experience is one of many in which Schoen said she has had trouble >> > submitting her form and been treated with suspicion by airline >> > staffers. >> > >> > “It’s made me more scared. Every time I go to the airport, it’s like, >> ‘Are >> > they going to stop me?’” Schoen said. “Even if I know I’m approved, I >> still >> > feel this pressure, like I’m under a microscope.” >> > >> > The airline did not respond to questions about Schoen’s experience, but >> > JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski wrote in an email that timely >> submission >> > of the service dog form is necessary to determine whether a dog is >> > qualified >> > to travel. He wrote that roughly 80 percent of applications are >> > approved >> > but >> > that “customers who do not submit in advance may not be able to >> > travel.” >> > >> > >> > Inaccessible forms >> > >> > >> > A guide dog in training to lead a person through an airplane cabin at >> > Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif. (Paul Chinn/AP) >> > >> > Filling out the forms requires blind users to have the most up-to-date >> > screen-reader technology, which can cost over $1,000, said Elia, the >> > attorney at the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center. In some >> > cases, forms are difficult to navigate because text boxes are not >> > labeled >> > properly or cannot be clicked into. It took over 30 minutes for Elia to >> > fill >> > out the form, and on some devices and browsers, he was not able to fill >> out >> > the form at all. >> > >> > The forms have proved so cumbersome that travelers including Sherry >> Gomes, >> > 65, of Patterson, Calif., now choose not to fly. Gomes used to teach >> > computer skills to other blind people and assist people encountering >> > screen-reader problems but grew frustrated trying to fill out the form >> > herself. >> > >> > “It was a fairly simple form. But if I, who have a lot of experience >> using >> > this product, had trouble with it, then newer computer people and >> > people >> > with less experience are going to have a lot more trouble with it,” she >> > said. >> > >> > A Department of Transportation spokesperson said in an email that the >> > department consulted disability rights organizations on the forms and >> also >> > worked with accessibility testers. The department said it has begun >> > investigating potential problems and is open to feedback to make >> > improvements. >> > >> > An emotional support peacock at Newark Liberty International Airport in >> New >> > Jersey in January 2018 as its owner tried to take it on a plane but was >> > denied boarding. (Jet Set TV/Reuters) >> > >> > >> > Not enough to stop fake service animals >> > >> > >> > For all the trouble the forms cause, they do not stop people from lying >> or >> > trying to pass off untrained pets as service animals, said Eric Lipp, >> > the >> > executive director of Open Doors Organization, which reviews >> > service-dog >> > forms for JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air and Sun Country >> Airlines. >> > >> > Share this articleNo subscription required to readShare >> > >> > The >> > < >> https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2021-01/U.S.%20DOT%20Ser >> > vice%20Animal%20Air%20Transportation%20Form.pdf> forms ask owners to >> attest >> > that their dog has been properly trained to assist them with their >> > disability and to behave in public settings. Owners must also provide >> > veterinarian contact information and date of last vaccination, but are >> not >> > required to present other documentation. It can be hard to tell a >> > legitimate >> > service dog from a fake one, Lipp said, and some service animals are >> > trained >> > by individuals or owners rather than by organizations. >> > >> > Michael Stein, the executive director of the Harvard Law School Project >> on >> > Disability, called the regulations “poorly designed” because they >> introduce >> > additional barriers for people with disabilities and ultimately leave >> > decisions up to the discretion of workers. He said there is no clear >> > rationale behind the forms, as they do not help airline staffers to >> > distinguish fake service dogs from legitimate ones. >> > >> > “This seems to be bending over backward to create some kind of formal >> > requirement,” he said. “I don’t see the logic or the benefit.” >> > >> > Under the >> > < >> https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/#:~:text=St >> > aff%20may%20ask%20two%20questions,dog%20been%20trained%20to%20perform.> >> > Americans With Disabilities Act, businesses are allowed to ask people >> > if >> > their service dogs are required because of a disability and to explain >> what >> > tasks the dogs are trained to perform. >> > >> > But it is still possible to fake having a service dog in person, >> > particularly when it comes to dogs assisting people with psychiatric >> > disorders or other invisible disabilities, Elia said. “How am I >> > supposed >> to >> > know if a dog is trained to perceive seizures? How are you going to >> > prove >> > it? Have a seizure on demand?” >> > >> > And asking people to prove that they have disabilities may force them >> > to >> > disclose sensitive health information, Elia added. >> > >> > Some airlines have contacted service-dog training programs to verify >> > information on the required forms. But in early August, the Civil >> > Rights >> > Education and Enforcement Center warned some airlines and dog-training >> > programs that this could be considered a violation of the Health >> Insurance >> > Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects the privacy >> > of >> > health information. >> > >> > Airlines for America, a trade group representing U.S. airlines, did not >> > respond to questions about these practices. Hannah Walden, a >> > spokeswoman >> > for >> > the association, wrote in an email that its members comply with the >> > Department of Transportation’s rules. >> > >> > A guide dog leading its owner. (Jim Craigmyle/Getty Images) >> > >> > >> > A matter of safety >> > >> > >> > The Department of Transportation said the rules were created to ensure >> the >> > safety and health of passengers and aircrews. But the agency said it >> > does >> > not have data on whether these rules have reduced incidents involving >> > untrained animals on flights. >> > >> > JetBlue has seen a “significant reduction in disruptions from untrained >> > dogs,” but some problems continue, Dombrowski wrote in an email. >> > JetBlue >> > says that on average it experiences an incident involving service dogs, >> > such >> > as a dog biting customers or crew members, every three weeks. >> > >> > Screening out fake service animals also can help protect the safety of >> > genuine ones, said Donald Overton Jr., executive director of the >> > Blinded >> > Veterans Association. >> > >> > His guide dog, a German Shepherd named Pierce, was trained for years at >> > a >> > cost of thousands of dollars. After Pierce was attacked multiple times >> > by >> > untrained pets on planes and in airports, the dog eventually became too >> > reactive and anxious to continue working as a service animal. >> > >> > “In the blink of an eye, somebody who has just casually and carelessly >> > decided that their pet should be out there can take all of that and >> destroy >> > it,” he said. >> > >> > >> > Pushing for change >> > >> > >> > Organizations including the American Council of the Blind, Guide Dog >> Users >> > Inc., the National Federation of the Blind and the National Association >> of >> > Guide Dog Users have been meeting with Department of Transportation >> > staffers >> > and pushing for the forms to be eliminated or changed. >> > >> > “We don’t think airlines, with regard to guide dogs, should require a >> > separate process than what is required for everyone else,” said John G. >> > Paré >> > Jr., the executive director for advocacy and policy at the National >> > Federation of the Blind. >> > >> > But changing the rules could take time, because proposed regulations go >> > through a public comment period before decisions are made. >> > >> > In the meantime, some of these organizations are supporting a >> > < >> https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1939/text#id1A568A >> > 9169B34B95B4DA51E20B75CE9C> provision in the Senate Federal Aviation >> > Administration Reauthorization Act that would establish a pilot program >> for >> > people to register their service dogs. This would allow blind people to >> fly >> > repeatedly with guide dogs on the basis of a one-time approval process, >> > instead of needing to submit a form every time they fly. >> > >> > The provision is one of many bipartisan efforts >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/05/disabilities-air-travel- >> > wheelchairs/?itid=lk_inline_manual_54> seeking to >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/06/09/faa-bill-house-air >> > lines-delays/?itid=lk_inline_manual_54> improve air travel for disabled >> > passengers as Congress prepares to reauthorize the Federal Aviation >> > Administration’s funding and programs before Sept. 30. >> > >> > Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who is a double leg amputee as a result >> > of >> > combat injuries sustained as a U.S. military pilot and who drafted the >> > provision, said the program would create a more streamlined process for >> > vetting service animals. >> > >> > “Far too often, many continue to be flat-out denied or charged >> > exorbitant >> > extra fees to sit in accessible seats or sit with a service companion >> > during >> > commercial flights,” she said. >> > >> > Jessica Beecham, 38, of Colorado Springs, is blind and said she >> > regularly >> > faces questions from airline workers about her guide dog and has been >> > delayed at airports for up to four hours over issues with her form. >> > >> > “It feels like a guessing game of whether or not you’re going to get >> > hassled,” Beecham said. “I would like to just fly in peace.” >> > >> > >> > >> > < >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://s3.amazonaws.co >> > >> m/arc-authors/washpost/b4c1be1b-c55a-4776-afb1-f687bab128f2.png&w=196&h=196> >> > >> > >> > >> > By Amanda Morris <https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/amanda-morris/> >> > >> > Amanda Morris is a disability reporter for The Washington Post on its >> > Well+Being desk. Before joining The Post in 2022, she was the inaugural >> > disability reporting fellow for the New York Times. >> > <https://twitter.com/@amandamomorris> Twitter >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Disclaimer: >> > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking >> > of >> the >> > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> > veracity; >> > >> > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> > sent through this mailing list.. >> > >> > >> > Search for old postings at: >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> > --- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> > Groups >> > "AccessIndia" group. >> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >> > an >> > email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> > >> https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/02de01d9e3c1%24fc5ff280%24f51fd780%24%40gmail.com >> . >> > >> >> >> -- >> -- >> Thanks and Regards, >> >> Vetri. >> >> -------- >> அவசியத்திற்க்கு ாங்கிலம், அடையாலமாய்த் தமிழ்! >> -------- >> English is my necesity, but Tamil is my identity! >> >> -------- >> Vetrivel Murugan Adhimoolam, >> Staffing and Sourcing coordinator, >> BGL13 - Ground Floor, >> Cisco Systems Limited, >> SEZ Unit, >> Cessna Business Park, >> Kadubeesanahalli Village, >> Varthur Hobli, >> Sarjapur Marathalli Outer Ring Road, >> BANGALORE, KARNATAKA-560103 >> >> Cel - Karnataka: +919620330770. >> Cel - Tamilnadu: +919597784596 or +917305211330. >> Email: avm...@gmail.com >> vadhi...@cisco.com >> >> Chatt with me on what'sapp: >> https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=919597784596 >> >> Skype: vetrivelmurugan >> >> -- >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "AccessIndia" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to accessindia+unsubscr...@accessindia.org.in. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAHdx1xhuDGdJfSQOBHmvm%2B1q9Bqs7NnLX%3D%2B3fedkkj3XHECVaQ%40mail.gmail.com >> . >> > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. 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