June 2024 NewsJune went by so fast I've nearly forgotten where I've been, no wonder since the list includes New York, Boston, London and Paris. Unfortunately, I also was discriminated against this month by Uber, TSA and Eurostar. It's very hard for me to sit quietly and embarrassed as I did in these incidences. I’m sure many of you would expect me to speak up in the heat of the moment, but you would be mistaken. I usually let the wrong doing happen, sit on it for a few days or weeks, then reach out to whichever company discriminated against me. And I don't always reach out to every airline and every hotel each time something happens. Why do I put up with it? Why, when you face discrimination of whatever type, do you? Eric Lipp, Executive Director
Open Doors Organization
Airbus X-Industry Workshop
On June 26-27, the Airbus Customer Experience Team welcomed experts from around the world to its Accessibility & Inclusion Cross-Industry Workshop in Washington, DC. The goal was to analyze pain points for travelers with mobility, hearing, vision and cognitive disabilities and identify the solutions that hold the most promise for future cabin design. Joining the discussion were representatives from the transportation sector (aviation, rail, motorcoach, and cruise lines), museums, mobility aid manufacturers, technology start ups, and disability organizations including Open Doors Organization. Airbus, which developed the first accessible lavatory for a single-aisle aircraft, recently unveiled other mobility solutions at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. Thanks to our hosts and all who attended for a very positive, informative exchange. (Shown above: workshop group photo).
CDC Rule to Impact Service Dogs As of August 1, any dog coming into the US, even those returning with its handler from a low-risk zone for rabies, will have to meet strict new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements. These include a microchip, vaccination verification from a veterinarian, and a CDC Dog Import Form receipt among others. There is no exemption for service dogs. Those returning from high-risk zones--currently more than 100 countries including many popular tourism destinations--must fly into a port with a CDC-registered animal care facility and have a prior reservation. At present these include only ATL, IAD, JFK, LAX, MIA, and PHL. Needless to say, this rule will make it much more difficult for service animal handlers to travel internationally.
After learning just last week about the new CDC requirements, ODO immediately contacted its web developers to update the Service Animals Forms Portal (SAFP). Whether or not air carrier efforts to push back the start date are successful, the SAFP system will be fully developed and operational to handle these new requirements by August 1. Travelers using SAFP will be alerted to the new international restrictions and helped to determine which forms are needed using the questions in the CDC DogBot. In addition to storing their DOT form, travelers will also be able to upload CDC forms to the SAFP, which will be linked to the traveler's SVAN ID number for future travel. ODO currently handles DOT forms for four US air carriers: Alaska, Allegiant, JetBlue and Sun Country.
JetBlue BOS Ramp Training
Our efforts at ODO to reduce damage to mobility devices continued in June with a number of Stowage Trainings at Boston Logan International Airport for JetBlue. Eric Lipp (shown above with two ramp agents) and Craig Kennedy led the highly interactive, hands-on workshops, both in the classroom and on the tarmac. These complimentary trainings, sponsored by ODO partner Global Repair Group, are available on request. For more information, contact Eric Lipp.
Design Standards for Adult Changing Stations
One important provision of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 is a requirement by 2030 for medium or large airports to agree to install or maintain at least one “Universal Changing Station” in order to qualify for an airport development project grant. The Act also instructs the Access Board to create design standards for these changing tables and rooms within a 2-year period. Adult changing tables are already in place at 32 US airports with more in the planning stage. Happily, for those just starting the process, a new set of standards already exists: 2023 ANSI A117.1 in the 2024 International Building Code (IBC). If a state or municipality has not adopted the latest IBC, an airport authority can still instruct its architects/designers to follow the new standard to ensure accessibility. While the 2023 ANSI Standard does not require a hoist system, an individual airport may decide to go over and above the requirement and join MEM, MSP and ORD who have installed this feature.
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