Small service animal on Amtrak shuttle to laughlin nv

[PVD]

What people do because they believe it to be right, (or because they don't want bad publicity) and what they are required to do can be very different. Example: the minimum max weight for a wheelchair lift for rail travel is 600 lbs. If you have a person and a chair that weigh 700 lbs, they don't have to go out and buy a bigger lift. If they had an 800 lb lift at each station you will be using, or a level boarding situation at one end, fine, then they would have to, but if they don't, they don't have to carry you, advance notice or not. Rail cars are compliant by having a missing row, and a single seat in an additional row for a companion situation, and a single ADA compliant restroom. They don't have to modify both restrooms. Even the next gen single level car committee only specs one of 2 restrooms as compliant.

 

[BCL]

The operating word is "reasonable". This was from the Dept of Justice page on the revised ADA guidelines:

Entities covered by the ADA must modify their policies to permit miniature horses where reasonable. The regulations set out four assessment factors to assist entities in determining whether miniature horses can be accommodated in their facility. The assessment factors are (1) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (2) whether the miniature horse is under the owner’s control; (3) whether the facility can accommodate the miniature horse’s type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the miniature horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility.

There can't be any forcing of removal of seats, as that's not something practical to do on short notice. There are reasonable ways to accommodate a service animal that will not be considered isolation or segregation. If the animal can fit in front of a seat (like many service dogs) that's fine. If it can only be on the upper level in the aisle that's not good. If it can manage it's way upstairs, then maybe an end seat would work, as there's lots of legroom. There's got to be a certain standard of reasonableness.

To me, and to any objective person, it is reasonable for Amtrak to comply with the Justice Dept and accommodate a miniature horse, when the miniature horse meets those listed requirements.

I guess, I don't see six years (from 2010) as being "short notice", as you seem to feel. Amtrak had those six years to make what ever modifications are required. As I suggested, if they need to allocate floor space for a service animal, one way to do it, is to remove a seat or two.

This is similar to the need to create space to accommodate a wheel chair. Your reasoning is that someone in a wheel chair must be able to squeeze in, between the cushion of one seat and the back of the one in front of it, because they don't deserve any modifications.

BTW, a member of our family is in a wheel chair. When she accompanies us to baseball game, we simply call the stadium in the afternoon, and they remove three seats out on the suite's balcony, to make a space for the wheel chair. So, others can do it.

Again, what is "reasonable"? The accommodations for wheelchairs have been built into the current series of Amtrak rail cars. Such spaces can easily be used for large service animals.

Service animals can certainly be accommodated - even a miniature horse. That doesn't mean that they have to be prepared for a third of the seats in the upper level to handle miniature horses as service animals. They have a longstanding (and I believe reasonable) policy that passengers with larger service animals that can't fit in between seats will be placed in seating areas that can handle such animals. This is such a rare case that it's perfectly reasonable to accommodate such needs with the equipment as currently outfitted. On top of that, I'd be interested in seeing a miniature horse trying to get upstairs. The stories I hear are that they typically need a lift just to get into the lower level, unlike dogs that can jump.

As for wheelchair space, I love various sports and have been quite familiar with how stadiums and arenas handle accessible areas. I've never seen a lower seating area totally scrapped, with the exception of a modular seating area that was replaced with a modular platform for certain events. There are plenty of wheelchair spaces located near concourses. I've seen platforms near exits and setups clearly meant for wheelchairs and those with limited mobility (i.e. use of a cane).

 

[AmtrakBlue]

BTW, a member of our family is in a wheel chair. When she accompanies us to baseball game, we simply call the stadium in the afternoon, and they remove three seats out on the suite's balcony, to make a space for the wheel chair. So, others can do it.

And the stadium is consistent. Railcars in consists are not. It's highly unlikely they'll swap out that suite due to a bad order.

 

[PVD]

Most stadiums and arenas will build areas to accomodate chairs and scooters. Newer or rebuilt ones do pretty well, but even the older ones usually try pretty hard. Some have space for the w/c or scooter, and place a folding chair next to it, others have a clear area next to a seat that is in place permanently. There are real problems with unrenovated old theater buildings, particularly when they have landmarked interiors. Went to a show a few months back, and I drove my friend and his wife (she uses a rollator style walker). The bathrooms are upstairs and downstairs, none are on the ground level. The theater had an arrangement with the hotel next door to use the accessible bathroom in their lobby, and even walked with you if you needed help. Nothing else practical, but they were very nice about it. They had lift up armrests on the outside seats of the last few rows.

 

[Shanghai]

I know a person who has an "Emotional Support" dog and a confirmation

letter from a doctor so stating. Every airline flown accepts the dog like a

service animal.

 

[PVD]

The Air Carrier Access Act has somewhat different rules than the general ADA rules. ESA with a letter are permitted on planes. They are treated like service animals and are not required to be caged and placed under a seat.