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

[Steve Jacobson]

We need to be careful to lay too much blame on her without more information.  First, we don't know if there were other 
disabilities involved.  Second, you have to fiercely fight for any independence on airlines, and the fact that we do is 
largely because of airlines' actions.  Frankly, this might be one of the more blatent situations I have heard of, but over 
the years I've seen and even experienced other cases where one can fall through the cracks when one turns over 
one's independence to the airlines.  The fact is that many blind people see the airlines as figures of authority who cannot 
be challenged.  This is true especially since 9/11.  Let's learn from this story that we need to control our own destinies 
and we need to help others know that is what needs to be done.  Let's be careful of condemning her, though, without 
knowing more.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Sat, 15 May 2010 20:17:14 -0500, Harry Hogue wrote:

>This is ridiculous.  At least be proactive in mentioning your needs, even if
>you are not comfortable with traveling off the plane yourself.  And of
>course, if you make headlines, naturally the airline will apologize; they do
>not want the adverse publicity resulting from not apologizing, etc.


>-----Original Message-----
>From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>Of Sarah Alawami
>Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 6:19 PM
>To: nabs list list
>Subject: [nabs-l] Fwd: [Members] Airline apologizes for forgetting blind
>teen

>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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