12/17/01  CAN Announces Updated Security Procedures for Deaf and 
                  Hard of Hearing Air Travelers from US Dept. of Transportation

              TDI 2002 Blue Book in Production

              GA-SK Issue about Disaster Preparedness on its Way

              Please Consider a Contribution to TDI

              TDI Board of Directors & Office Staff Wishes You a Happy Holiday Season!

CAN ANNOUNCES UPDATED SECURITY PROCEDURES FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING AIR TRAVELERS FROM US DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION

TDI is a member of the Consumer Action Network (CAN), a coalition of national organizations working together to develop national policies on behalf of individuals who are deaf, late-deafened, hard-of-hearing and deaf-blind.

Security Procedures for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Air Travelers
By Kelby N. Brick, Esq.

The Consumer Action Network (CAN) reminds deaf and hard of hearing travelers planning airline flights during the holiday season that new air travel rules may have a significant effect.  The United States Department of Transportation has released a fact sheet regarding security procedures for travelers with disabilities, which contains several items that impact deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and late-deafened travelers.

For example, airlines must continue to provide meet and assist service (e.g., assistance to gate or aircraft) at drop-off points for deaf-blind travelers. The lack of curbside check-in, for certain airlines at some airports, has not changed the requirement for meet and assist service at drop-off points.

The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices.  Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft.  Such assistive devices may include TTY bags, laptops that are configured to provide CART or other services.

Service animals, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft.  Any backpack or sidepack that is carried on the animal will be manually inspected or put through the X-ray machines.  The service animal's halter may also be removed for inspection.

Assistive devices such as TTYs and hearing aids, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft.

Air carriers must ensure that qualified individuals with a disability, including those with who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind, have timely access to information, such as new security measures, the carriers provide to other passengers.   For example, on flights to Reagan Washington National Airport, persons are verbally warned to use the restrooms more than a half an hour before arrival since after that point in time passengers are required to remain in their seats.   Alternative formats are necessary to ensure that all passengers, especially deaf persons, understand new security measures such as the one at Reagan Washington National.

CAN is the premier coalition of national consumer organizations representing a wide continuum of deaf and hard of hearing people, including those who are deaf-blind and late-deafened.  There are over 28 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States. For more information about CAN, contact Arvilla Rank, Vice-Chair, at vicechair@candhh.com.

Members of CAN include ADARA, American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB), American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC), Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA), Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD), Deaf Seniors of America (DSA), Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA), Jewish Deaf Congress (JDC), National Association of the Deaf (NAD), National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA), National Catholic Office of the Deaf (NCOD), National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM), Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), TDI, Inc. (TDI),
USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF).

Editor’s Note: The full text of the above-referenced fact sheet can be found at the US Dept. of Transportation’s website at: www.dot.gov/ost/ogc/subject/consumer/aviation/publications/disabled.html

TDI 2002 BLUE BOOK IN PRODUCTION

The 2002 Blue Book is now in production at TDI.  Watch your mailbox sometime late January or early February for the new edition. As usual, the 2002 Directory and Resource Guide will contain thousands of listings and several up-to-date articles and resources to help you with your telecommunications and media access needs.  Any future changes to your listings will be posted next year in the 2003 Blue Book.  Stay tuned for further updates on TDI-L eNotes.

GA-SK ISSUE ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ON ITS WAY

The GA-SK #32.3 is on its way to your mailboxes.  With the assistance of several professional reviewers, the staff at TDI put together a lot of resources that you may find useful in your personal and community disaster preparedness plans. 

PLEASE CONSIDER A CONTRIBUTION TO TDI

TDI has had a busy year.  Because of past contributions from members and subscribers in addition to their annual dues, TDI was able to perform well speaking on your behalf at the Nations Capitol on telecommunications and media access issues.  We anticipate more challenges and a wider variety of issues in 2002 that will have an impact on the daily lives of people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind.  A letter will be mailed out to past donors as well as active members and subscribers of TDI.  If you have not received a letter, but still would like to make a contribution, please contact TDI at the address below.  Remember, TDI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit - Federal ID #35-1146784 - when making your contributions, which are taxable to the extent allowed by law.

TDI BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICE STAFF WISHES YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY!