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

Sun Jan 29 21:42:37 UTC 2023

Hi Elizabeth and all,

That is absolutely correct; you can't be forced to do something if you don't feel it necessary. I don't have a guide dog, although I do have a friend who has one (I've already visited him twice now in the past year or so). He told me that when he flies on Southwest Airlines (which has no assigned seating), the flight attendants will sometimes try to suggest he sit in the back. He doesn't like sitting in the front either, and what he usually does is tell them the back is more convenient for him and his dog. He says they normally relent after he makes his case to them.

As a blind person, it's your responsibility to tell the airport or station employees what you need or don't need. I would even go so far as to tell them that forcing you to do something you don't want is an ADA violation (that's what I did one time when an airport employee tried to force me to ride in a wheelchair).

I've never rode on Amtrak on my own before, although, as someone else pointed out, your seat is assigned on the Amtrak train. If you have your ticket on your phone, you should be able to find what your seat is. That way, if the conductor or station employee is assisting you, you can tell him/her what your seat is. Otherwise, you can show them your ticket on paper if you printed it out or picked it up at the station.

As for traveling on a plane, if you're traveling domestically within the United States, I'd recommend flying with Southwest Airlines. It's relatively cheap compared to other airlines, and it seems to be the go-to airline for lots of Americans out there, blind or sighted. From my experience flying with them, I've also found them to be overwhelmingly accommodating to people with visual impairments, and most (if not all) employees have been very responsive and understanding when I've informed them anything they did to be unnecessary. They also have no assigned seating (unlike other airlines). This means that by law, the employees are not allowed to force you to sit anywhere you don't want to, particularly if you tell them as such.

So yes, it's all a matter of advocacy and you knowing your specific individual needs. I hope all this info is helpful.

Thanks,

Sami On Jan 28, 2023 11:41 PM, Julie McGinnity via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> 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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> >>
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>
> -- 
> Julie A. McGinnity
> MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of
> Law, JD Candidate 2023
>
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