Mental health

[latopla]

I will possibly be flying out to Los Angeles  for a couple days next year.  If I had the guts to try it, I would take Sheriff with me and state that he is a service dog.  I wouldn't describe what type of service dog he is or anything.  I really wonder if they would let me through.  If they want to ask what tasks he performs, I would simply state that he alerts and responds to my medical condition.  Clean and simple.

However, I don't think I have the guts to do that.  Additionally, if I do need to fly to LA it will be for something really important so I wouldn't want to chance screwing it up in any manner. 

I do wonder though...what Kirsten quoted states that a mental health worker must write the letter and provide credentials.  It doesn't say a psychiatrist would have to write the letter.  So could my therapist or case manager write out a letter and that work just as well?

[Kirsten]

Just noticed this bit about flights over 8 hours:

There are a few new situations in which the rule permits carriers to require advance notice.  These include transportation of an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, transportation of any service animal on a flight scheduled to take eight hours or more, and accommodation of an individual who has both severe vision and hearing impairments.

But in answer to why documentation and advance notice are required regarding PSDs as well as ESAs:

As with emotional support animals, it is possible for this category of animals to be a source of abuse by persons attempting to circumvent carrier rules concerning transportation of pets.  Consequently, it is appropriate for airlines to apply the same advance notice and documentation requirements to psychiatric service animals as they do to emotional support animals.

[latopla]

Do they not understand invisible disabilities?  Someone who has no disability at all could fly their dog just because they say it is a seizure response dog.  It isn't like you can tell by appearance that a person has seizures.  What about autism dogs with adults?  What about mobility dogs for handlers that ambulate well but have difficulty with balance...not obviously a disability always.  Or TBI? 

People trying to sneak dogs onto planes under the guise of a SD could pick from a lot of different types of dogs.

I know this bush has been beaten repeatedly, but I think that the extra caution with PSDs is stupid.  Roxie is right, an SD is an SD is an SD.

[Kirsten]

I agree it isn't right.  They should require it for all SDs or none.  But that's the way it is (at least for now).

[HumSD]

Do they not understand invisible disabilities?  Someone who has no disability at all could fly their dog just because they say it is a seizure response dog.  It isn't like you can tell by appearance that a person has seizures. 

Dude, I was going to say the exact same thing! I just spent 90 minutes with a young lady who has Epilepsy. You can't tell by looking at her.

Because Max is a PSD (mobility training has begun!) I do carry documentation with me but I didn't tell them about him 48 hours before the last time I flew. When I was asked, I told them that he alerts and responds to flareups of my disability. It's true, it was enough for them and that was it.  When he was younger and I flew him as an ESA, I gave them notice. But he's almost 23.5 months old now and has several tasks plus obedience (still have to work on massive amounts of excitement when he sees another SD).  It's just discrimination that I refuse to bow down to.

[gpstracker]

I see a lot about airline guidelines, but what about trains? I maybe moving to Portland, OR if I am excepted into school out there and possible that I will need to take a train; I don't like to fly. Do the same guidelines apply to Amtrak?

[HumSD]

I believe Amtrak has to go by the ADA. Not sure about state laws such as they must also allow SDIT if they are in a state that allows handler access with SDIT. I took a commuter train a few times with Max and he was an SDIT and I had no problems. They probably didn't notice the In Training Patches. He laid down on the floor and went to sleep. Max prefers trains to buses and planes.

This is Amtrak's Service Animal Policy. By reading it sounds like the ADA, except that they do not specify that it's dogs and mini horses only. You could likely travel on Amtrak with your service goat.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267362158

[Kirsten]

I believe Amtrak falls under Title II, which is sort of unusual since I think it is a federal entity.  They do have a good SD policy and I haven't had difficulty traveling with them.  I went from KC to JC with Cole, then back to KC with Ruby.  That photo on SDC's facebook page is Ruby in my footspace on an Amtrak train.  They do not permit SDITs. 

Also:

Commercial facilities means facilities [w]hose operations will affect commerce; [t]hat are intended for nonresidential use by a private entity; and
[t]hat are not...Railroad locomotives, railroad freight cars, railroad cabooses, commuter or intercity passenger rail cars (including coaches, dining cars, sleeping cars, lounge cars, and food service cars), any other railroad cars described in section 242 of the Act or covered under title II of the Act, or railroad rights-of-way. For purposes of this definition, "rail'' and "railroad'' have the meaning given the term "railroad'' in section 202(e) of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 431(e)).

  http://www.ada.gov/reg3a.html#Anchor-36104

[labs4ever]

I agree, an SD is an SD no matter what job it does.  Unscrupulous people are going to skirt the law anyway,  sigh. 

As far as access. I had access issues with Greyhound in 2002,  I had bought my ticket was at the terminal and at the front of the line to board the bus.  In front of EVERYONE they denied me access because of the bus drivers "allergies"  they pushed me to a later bus by tricking me that we were going to go "discuss the issue"  in an office, meanwhile they let the bus go and I had to take the later bus which cut hours out of my weekend vacation.  It was annoying and embarrasing and totally stupid. I filed a complaint with DOJ and  it actually got put in with a class action suit against  Greyhound for  ADA stuff.  I didn't get anything personally from it though,  I just probably won't ever take Greyhound ever again! 

[Magesteff]

Amtrack has a website that it states under the "Passengers with disabilities tht SD's are allowed on the train.

People with Disbilities page:
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/Page/1241210579564/1237405732517

Specifically regarding SDs:
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267362158

Service Animals and Pet Policy
Animals Not Allowed Except for Service Animals
Amtrak does not permit pets on trains or Thruway services, in passenger areas of train stations, or in checked baggage.

The following are examples of types of animals that are not permitted:

Comfort animals: Animals not trained to perform a specific task, but which are said to provide emotional support or to relieve anxiety simply by their presence (for example, by the passenger holding or stroking the animal). Pets: Animals for which no claim of any service is made. Search and rescue dogs:* Animals that are trained generally, but not to assist a particular passenger. Police dogs:* Other than dogs brought on trains by the Amtrak Police Department. * If the passenger or agency feels an exception needs to be made for search and rescue dogs or police dogs, contact the Amtrak Police Department for assistance.

Only Service Animals Permitted
Service animals, however, are not considered pets, and are permitted in all areas where passengers are allowed. Service animals are animals that are trained to perform a specific task for the benefit of a person with a disability. You may be asked what task(s) your service animal performs for you.

Making Reservations with Service Animals
It is not possible to make reservations that include service animals on Amtrak.com. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or TDD/TTY (1-800-523-6590) if you need to bring a service animal on your trip. Agents are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Control of Your Service Animal
You must keep your service animal under control at all times. The animal should always be on a leash, harness or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash or other tether would interfere with the service animal's safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler's control.

Amtrak personnel may require you to remove your service animal en route or from the station premises if:

the animal is out of control and you do not take effective action to control it (for example, a dog causes a significant disturbance by barking repeatedly and uncontrollably or is not housebroken) or
the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
If you are asked to remove your service animal, but you would like to remain on the premises and/or continue travel without the animal, you must make arrangements for another person or local animal control to accept custody of your animal, and you may be required to continue or begin your Amtrak travel at a later time or on a later date.

Walking Your Service Animal
If the train schedule permits, you may walk your service animal at station stops provided that you stay within reasonable proximity to the train and re-board promptly when the conductor notifies you that the train is about to depart. If you plan to walk your animal during the trip, please notify the conductor when you first board the train.

Amtrak employees are not responsible for the care or supervision of any service

[Kirsten]

They did ask me about task training and they asked for the dog's name, which was entered on my ticket.  They also gave me a discount for being disabled.