[nabs-l] Fwd: [Members] Airline apologizes for forgetting blind teen

[Briley Pollard]

Valory,

Again, the reason this is upsetting is A, this girl, (from the way it was portrayed), isn't comfortable enough with herself to stand up for her rights, and B, (the biggest issue), how we're portrayed in the media. What is said about one of us is perceived to be a definition of all of us. Media coverage of us is so often negative and condescending, and yes, it does upset me, and yes it does push me to speak up about how this is not acceptable.

Briley 


On May 15, 2010, at 10:15 PM, Valerie Gibson wrote:

> I agree.  Seems to quick to point out someone else's fault and become indignant for all over one person's actions.
> 
> There's just not enough imformation in the article to make such judgement calls.  We can only say what we would do in that situation, and while we don't know this girl's background or mental capabilities it seems unfair to point fingers.
> 
> Perhaps she did not know that there are organisations like the NFB who could help her. Perhaps she has been told all of her life that she needs sighted help in everything.  
> 
> We've all been in a position where we did not know how to do things, and judging that you have found this mailing list, you've found the NFB as well as a sense of endependance.   Not everyone has done so.
> 
> Does it look bad for the blind community? Yes. 
> 
> But how's this for a solution: try and find this girl and tell her that there are places where she can learn a bit of independance.
> 
> On May 15, 2010, at 8:33 PM, Darrell Shandrow wrote:
> 
>> Hello Sarah and all,
>> 
>> I think we may want to exercise care before judging this situation too quickly.
>> 
>> Many times while traveling by air, flight attendants have asked that I wait until the plane has emptied before leaving. Sometimes I do this and sometimes I don't.
>> 
>> If Jessica were asked to wait, then she were forgotten, then she certainly does have a very legitimate complaint here.
>> 
>> We also need to keep in mind that members of the blind community have wide ranging capabilities and other disabilities with which they must cope.
>> 
>> As always, this just comes down to the fact we all must exercise our due diligence while performing our jobs to avoid problems of this sort.
>> 
>> 
>> On 5/15/2010 4:19 PM, Sarah Alawami wrote:
>>> I think she should have gotten off the plain by her self. How hard can that be? just  get off and turn right and go up the ramp thing and turn left and get out and then wait for your escort. but here's the story.
>>> 
>>> Airline apologizes for forgetting blind teen
>>> 
>>> Edmonton Journal , May 15, 2010
>>> 
>>> United Airlines has apologized to a blind woman from Vancouver Island who
>>> was abandoned on an empty plane in Chicago.
>>> 
>>> Jessica Cabot of Courtenay, B.C., made headlines this week after she went
>>> public about being forgotten in an empty United Airlines plane on an April 7
>>> stopover in Chicago.
>>> 
>>> The 18-year-old was waiting for flight attendants to escort her to a
>>> connecting flight to Florida when she heard the plane door seal shut. Ten
>>> minutes later two maintenance staff happened to find her on an unscheduled
>>> check of the plane.
>>> 
>>> She panicked in the plane, calling for help.
>>> 
>>> After a series of complaints, Cabot received a $250 airline voucher and the
>>> promise of an apology. Five weeks after her flight and a series of news
>>> stories later, she finally got one.
>>> 
>>> "They just called," said Cabot, on the phone from Jacksonville, Fla., where
>>> she is visiting her fiance. "I can't even count how many times they said
>>> sorry."
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
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