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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>Subject:</b> DOT Traveling by Air with Service Animals rule will be effective January 11, 2021<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:#CBCFB4;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;background:white;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=151 style='width:113.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:~WRD0000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. The Seeing Eye"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=449 valign=top style='width:336.75pt;padding:22.5pt 15.0pt 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=BCY8GnncThf-8_jlPRp9Hw" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 style='width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:~WRD0000.jpg" alt="Image removed by sender. Donate"></span></a></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:3.75pt'><td colspan=2 style='background:#ADC33C;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:3.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear Seeing Eye graduate: </span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>We sent you an email last week about the final rule issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on traveling by air with service animals. We are writing again to let you know that the rule has been published in the Federal Register and will be effective January 11, 2021. Below is a link to the rule as it appears in the Federal Register.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=9j0ht0XH3d92-s6r4m1Mqg">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-12-10/pdf/2020-26679.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list&utm_source=federalregister.gov</a></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Quite a few service animal organizations and handlers are pleased with certain aspects of the rule, including the definition of service animal as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified person with a disability. That said, please know that The Seeing Eye has significant concerns about the additional burdens imposed on guide dog handlers by the new Service Animal Air Transportation form. We were clear about our opposition to additional forms in our public comment to DOT about the proposed rule.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The final rule requires that airlines have an accessible version of the form on their web sites. We will be watching closely as airlines begin to implement the new rule and we ask for your help in this effort. If you encounter barriers to air travel created by the new rule, including inaccessible forms, we would appreciate it if you reach out to us so we know what guide dog handlers are experiencing. Remember, if you believe an airline has discriminated against you, ask to speak to a Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). If you are not satisfied with how the airline resolves the issue, you should file a complaint with DOT. DOT cannot take action against an airline unless individuals exercise their right to file a complaint. The civil rights complaint form can be found online at:</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=XpG8CgI9rn1kIUjBV9_Xcg">https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer</a></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>We will navigate the challenges posed by this new rule as individuals and as a community. We are here to help and support you in any way we can. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-539-4425 and ask to speak to Melissa Allman or email <a href="mailto:advocacy@seeingeye.org">advocacy@seeingeye.org.</a>.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Melissa R. Allman<br>Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations<br>The Seeing Eye</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D6CEFA.0A5C1100" alt="Image removed by sender."></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='background:#31241B;padding:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span class=applelinksgreen><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><a href="http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=WLIFHcXeqmNLW5samV2ZYQ">contact</a></span></b></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><br><br></span><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:white'>The Seeing Eye<br>P.O. Box 375<br>Morristown, NJ 07960-0375<br><br>(973) 539-4425</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><br><a href="mailto:info@seeingeye.org"><span style='color:#ADC33C'>info@seeingeye.org</span></a><br><br><a href="http://seeing.convio.net/site/CO?i=8G1LwMzolnLYeupt00KmEa2oQWVNDIsf&cid=1061"><span style='font-size:8.5pt;color:#ADC33C'>unsubscribe</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td valign=top style='background:#31241B;padding:15.0pt 30.0pt 15.0pt 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><span class=applelinksgreen><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#ADC33C'><a href="http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=HulAcXgaKoZi4-BEh0iooQ">social</a></span></b></span><span style='color:white'><br><br></span><span style='color:white'><a href="http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=5cllPgP7IBnfx54Rl0_I5Q"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=42 height=36 style='width:.4375in;height:.375in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D6CEFA.0A5C1100" alt="Image removed by sender. 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