[nabs-l] Flying with a cane/exploring airports

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Arielle,

You bring up a very good point: Exploring a place like an airport is
actually a safe environment in which to explore. While many airports are
large in size, they are essentially a contained area. Unlike many
outdoor areas, an airport is enclosed so eventually, you have to turn
around, or there aren't moving vehicles, or you can't keep walking into
the sunset. Ha-ha! At some point, you start to walk in a circle!

Now, if you're using proper, safe cane techniques, outdoor travel really
isn't that difficult, but for many, learning in an enclosed space with
barriers, A. K. A walls, that will eventually keep you from traveling
the globe, though hopping on an airplane will accomplish this *grin* is
a less nerve-racking environment in which to practice independent travel
skills. True, there will be people, kiosks, seats, and a number of other
obstacles you have to navigate, but if you stop and calm down and think
about it, when using a cane properly, what's the worse thing that can
happen? You go the wrong direction? Big deal; you just figure your
direction out and keep moving!

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog for Live Well Nebraska.com at
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

Message: 13
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:51:03 -0600
From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [nabs-l] Flying with a Cane
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Hi all,
Since I travel to visit family a lot, and attend NFB and psychology
meetings on a regular basis, I have become a very frequent flyer. Over
the past two years I flew, on average, once a month and almost all
those flights were solo. I have been flying alone for several years
and have never had any serious problems with airline officials beyond
the nuisance of being asked repeatedly if I need assistance. Although
independent air travel used to be rough, I do believe that things have
gotten much better with the passage of the 1986 Air Carrier Access
Act.
In security I do place my cane on the X-ray belt along with my
luggage, shoes and laptop. A security official guides me by voice,
hand or both so I can get through the detector without bumping into
it. I then retrieve my cane on the other side with my belongings and
don't think much of it. The distance I have to walk without my cane is
very minimal.
Like others have said I will insist on keeping my cane during the
flight, however, for the simple reason that should I need to evacuate
the plane, I need to have my cane with me and I will not have time to
try to find it in the overhead bin. If I am traveling with a folding
cane I will fold it up and stash it under the seat in front of me. If
I am using a straight cane I lay it on the floor between the window
seat and the window, running parallel to the window. If I don't have a
window seat and someone is already seated there when I board, I simply
ask this passenger to do this for me. This has never caused any
problems. It's important to remember that no matter what a flight
attendant might tell you, you have a legal right to place your cane
next to the window. You also have a legal right to refuse any
assistance offered to you at the airport, including escorts,
wheelchairs, and pre-boarding. I think there was only one time when I
actually had to remind an airport official about this
I have navigated airports throughout the country without an official
escort and have done so for the past five years with only one
exception (when I was flying back from Australia and had limited time
to make a connection). Bear in mind, I am not a stellar traveler, and
I started navigating airports on my own before I had good travel
training. The interior of an airport is a safe place to travel
independently even if you have little travel experience because there
are so many people from whom to gather information. I have posted
before on this list about techniques I use in the airport and I'd be
happy to correspond with anyone privately if you want to know more
detail about how I do it or have specific questions.
Best,
Arielle