ACB statement concerning the Federal DOT announcement with respect to Service and other animals.
Charles Crawford
Hello fellow GDUI members and friends,
Upon GDUI review and authorization to release, here is the ACB statement with respect to the notice provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation with respect to enforcement priorities and the various kinds of animals folks might be bringing to board planes. GDUI will certainly be involved with the final rule making on this matter and we are confident that ACB will as well be involved.
Charles Crawford: Chair: GDUI Board Advocacy and Legislative Committee.
Text of ACB release…
1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22311
Tel: (202) 467-5081
Fax: (703) 465-5085
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
ACB Commends DOT, FAA on Final Statement of Enforcement Priorities Regarding Service
Animals
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - On Thursday, August 8, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Enforcement Office issued a final statement of enforcement priorities for service animals. In this
statement, DOT provides greater clarity to air travel passengers with service animals, as well as airlines,
about the DOT’s interpretation and enforcement of the existing service animal rules. The American
Council of the Blind commends the administration for listening to the concerns of ACB, as well as our
affiliate, Guide Dog Users, Inc., and the broader disability community, and we support this final statement
of enforcement priorities regarding service animals.
Since 2015, ACB has been a leading organization on the front lines of constructing inclusive service
animal policies with DOT and the airlines that are true to the Air Carrier Access Act. ACB is pleased that
DOT has constructed a final enforcement statement that will protect the rights of passengers with service
animals for the entirety of their flying experience. The DOT’s final enforcement statement contains
provisions that:
* Prohibit airlines from requiring advanced notice that a passenger is traveling with a service animal
for flights less than eight hours. This guarantees passengers with service animals greater flexibility
in air travel.
* Consistent with the Air Carrier Access Act, credible verbal assurance is proof that a person with a
disability is traveling with a service animal.
* Prohibit airline categorical restrictions on service animals based exclusively on breed and age.
* Limit airline requests for documentation regarding service animal vaccinations, training and
behavior to reasonable requests to determine whether a specific animal poses a direct threat to the
health and safety of others.
ACB and its members nationwide will remain engaged on this important issue to ensure that all
passengers traveling with service animals receive the full protections of the Air Carrier Access Act. To
this end, ACB and Guide Dog Users, Inc. remain willing to assist all airlines to review and amend their
current service animal policies. We look forward to continued collaboration with the administration and
airlines to enhance the air travel experience for all passengers.
The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing
Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With 70 affiliates, ACB strives to increase the
independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve quality of life for all blind and visually
impaired people. Learn more by visiting www.acb.org.
