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

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi Elizabeth,

I think there is a section in the ADA that gives the disabled person
the right to refuse an accommodation. In other words, no one can force
you to accept an accommodation you don't want. I've experienced this
on airplanes when I worked my guide dogs. Flight attendants always
wanted me to sit in the bulkhead, and I didn't like sitting there with
my dogs, particularly my second one. I just ignored them and did what
I wanted, and they never stopped me.

I suggest just telling people a firm, no, thank you, in situations
like this. Tell them you know where your seat is, can make it to your
seat, whatever. Amtrack people can be completely overzealous when
offering help, so it might be difficult to get through to them. If
that's the case, you will have to decide if you want to stand your
ground or just go with the flow.

Hope that helps,

Julie


On 1/28/23, Elizabeth Sprecher via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hey,
> So how are you supposed to do that when everyone is getting on quickly?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jan 28, 2023, at 9:28 PM, Zachary N. Griego-Dreicer
>> <zdreicer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>  Hi. Amtrak typically assigns seats so find out your seat assignment and
>> tell someone to direct you to that one. Also I’ve gone as far as telling
>> some people that what they are doing to try and feel as if they have
>> helped you is unnecessary.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Macbook Pro 13
>>
>>> On Jan 28, 2023, at 20:11, Elizabeth Sprecher via NABS-L
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> 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
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of
Law, JD Candidate 2023