Welcome to the latest edition of CertaPet’s newsletter – your go-to for the latest happenings in the world of Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). This week, we’re covering a significant development related to the forms required for transportation of Service Animals. Stick with us to learn more.
Senators Release A Letter Calling For Service Animal Transport Forms To Be More Accessible and User-Friendly
Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) to modernize and digitize paperwork required for Americans with disabilities who travel with Service Animals.
In a letter addressed to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (publicly released on January 12), the senators criticized the existing Service Animal transport form, implemented in 2021, and a proposed update as “inaccessible, demeaning, and time-consuming.”
Both senators expressed concern over their constituents’ complaints regarding the current form’s poor design and unnecessary complexity. They claimed that the current and proposed versions violate federal law.
They highlighted the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (enforced 2018), which prioritizes digital forms over traditional paper or electronic formats. The letter also mentioned President Biden’s executive order in December 2021, further underscoring the need for federal agencies, including the DOT, to enhance accessibility and facilitate the customer experience for individuals with disabilities.
The current Service Animal form is available only in PDF format, which is deemed outdated and challenging to navigate on mobiles or other technologies such as screen readers.
Wyden and Duckworth urged the agency to develop an accessible, mobile-friendly, web-based form. They underlined the importance of making the process user-friendly for those relying on mobile devices and assistive technologies.
Currently, DOT allows airlines to mandate that travelers with Service Animals complete a new form for each trip, worsening accessibility challenges for disabled travelers.
The senators proposed several changes in the public letter. They recommended allowing travelers to store a digital copy of their form that can be reused, updated when necessary and submitted digitally to airlines.
They also urged the DOT to eliminate unnecessary fields from the form and to establish a telephone helpline to assist disabled travelers with completing their paperwork.
Another noteworthy recommendation was the removal of “redundant and threatening legal warnings that might discourage individuals with disabilities from asserting their civil right to air travel on equitable terms.”
CertaPet’s Thoughts on This Week’s News
It’s unclear what impact the public letter by the senators will have on the DOT. However, what’s certain is that the Service Animal transportation form is problematic for Individuals with disabilities looking to travel. The CertaPet team will keep you updated on all further developments.
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