[NABS-L] Equal Access to Seating on Public Transportation

[Elizabeth Sprecher]

Hi all,
Is it just me or does anyone else going through the same thing, and what’s a solution.
Why are blind people forced to use the quote, priority seating on public transportation? I noticed this not only in Chicago, but also on amtrack trains. I was at a train station in Ann Arbor and was walking out to catch the train with everyone else. Before the train arrived at the station, someone working there stood next to me with a ramp. When the train stopped he immediately spoke to the workers on the train and said I was visually impaired without my permission. Then he told everyone to wait while he helped me on the train. He directed me to a seat he said was by the bathroom, and the last seat on the train. I said I wanted to sit by the other seats since these two seats were separate from all the other. He also said that they were sold out and asked if this was okay?
So I sat there while all the other passengers had the freedom to sit where ever they wanted. I’m kind of insulted that the reason they had me sit there was because the bathroom was behind the seat.
Doesn’t anyone else feel bothered by this? What can we all do to break this barrier that isolates people with disabilities from everyone else on public transportation? Does anyone care about this?

Sent from my iPhone