[nagdu] Regarding guide dogs, airports and security

Jordan Gallacher jgallacher1987 at gmail.com
Fri Nov 26 03:56:08 UTC 2010



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Brenda
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 7:58 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] Regarding guide dogs, airports and security

The issue that is guide dog related is that no matter what full body 
scanner they have, a person with a service dog is not allowed to use the 
full body  scanner and must go through the very invasive pat down (aka 
groping).

This is very important information for me as a prospective guide dog 
user as I will have to choose between getting a guide dog or flying on 
air planes.  What I would like to see is a work around so people using 
service animals can use the full body scanner so as not to be touched.  
Couldn't we use a bed chain (not sure the proper term) to secure the 
service animFor the most part, the dog will get a pat down, unless you beep
or are randomly selected which is rare that I have that happen.
Jordanal in order to go through the full body scanner?  At 
present, this is  not an option.  Is this something the NFB can advocate 
for so we can have the same option of not being touched invasively as a 
person who does not use a service dog.

For now, I have to choose between a service animal and air travel.  I 
sure hope they don't get as strict on trains or buses or else I will be 
really stuck.

Brenda






On 11/25/2010 2:46 PM, David Andrews wrote:
> It is my understanding that there is a "second generation" of the 
> full-body scanner machines, used in Europe that show stick figures.  
> It seems to me that everybody is going to have to give a little on 
> this one, I mean everybody -- not blind persons.
>
> Dave
>
> At 12:00 PM 11/25/2010, you wrote:
>> Well said David.
>>
>> I realize the pat downs are invasive and may be obnixous to some.  
>> However,
>> some inconvenience and a bit of invasion is the price we all must pay 
>> for
>> security.
>>
>> We already know the media is making this into a much bigger fremzy 
>> than it
>> needs to be.  I have been through the process and will again as I must
>> travel for my work.  I would like to use the full body scan, but such 
>> is not
>> to be the case and I choose not to argue the point.
>>
>>
>> Mike Hingson
>>
>> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>>  "Speaking with Vision"
>> Michael Hingson, President
>> (415) 827-4084
>> info at michaelhingson.com
>> To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
>> availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com
>> Thunder Dog is now available for early ordering on Amazon!!!
>>
http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Dog-Blind-Triumph-Ground/dp/140020304X/ref=sr_

>>
>> 1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289090352&sr=1-3
>>
>>
>> for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
>> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of David Andrews
>> Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 9:55 AM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] airports and security
>>
>> It seems to me that we should not ask for any kind of special
>> treatment -- simply because we are blind.  Maybe that isn't what you
>> are saying -- but some will ask for it.  After all, one of the
>> masterminds of the first World Trade Center attempt, in the 90's was
>> blind as I recall.
>>
>> There isn't an easy answer -- someone had explosives in their shoes,
>> so the shoe thing, then the underwear.  There isn't much left, except
>> to hide explosives inside yourself, as some apparently do with drugs.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> At 11:11 AM 11/25/2010, you wrote:
>> >Michael,
>> >
>> >I am not opposed to the heightened security. What I am opposed to is 
>> the
>> way
>> >the pat downs are done, and how violating they are. Feeling between 
>> my legs
>> >in very very private areas, looking down my underwear,  is just not 
>> right
>> to
>> >me. Yes someone posing to be blind, and in a wheelchair could have 
>> tried to
>> >get a bomb on the plane, but. But. But. With that said. I would like
>> >profiling to be done. If I fly, and TSA sees that I am a blind 
>> person, with
>> >a vailded ID, all my information checks out, I am who I say I am. 
>> Sure put
>> >me through security, make me go through the metal detector. But do not
>> treat
>> >me like I am a terrorist or a criminal. I know terrorism is a real 
>> threat.
>> >And I agree that what happened on 911 was horrible and should have 
>> never
>> >happened. I had close friends die in the towers. But there HAS. To be a
>> >better way.
>> >
>> >Just my opinion.
>> >
>> >Marsha
>> >
>> >
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> >Of Michael Hingson
>> >Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 3:20 PM
>> >To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> >Subject: Re: [nagdu] airports and security
>> >
>> >Hi,
>> >
>> >I am sorry for your experience.  However, you know you are blind, 
>> and using
>> >a wheelchair.  How does the TSA know that?  Also, how do they know you
>> >aren't targeted and either willingly or forced to carry an explosive
>> device?
>> >
>> >The fact is they cannot know these things.  Please keep this in
>> prospective.
>> >Invasive the pat downs may be, but, speaking as someone who was in the
>> World
>> >Trade Center on 9-11, the alternative of not being more secure and 
>> checking
>> >is worse.
>> >
>> >Do you think for one moment there wouldn't be a tremendous outcry if 
>> even
>> >one aircraft explodes  due to a lack of security?  The present 
>> measures are
>> >the lesser of two evils by far.
>> >
>> >The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>> >  "Speaking with Vision"
>> >Michael Hingson, President
>> >(415) 827-4084
>> >info at michaelhingson.com
>> >To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
>> >availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com
>> >Thunder Dog is now available for early ordering on Amazon!!!
>>
>http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Dog-Blind-Triumph-Ground/dp/140020304X/ref=sr

>>
>> _
>> >1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289090352&sr=1-3
>> >
>> >
>> >for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
>> >http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>> >
>> >
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> >Of Marsha Drenth
>> >Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 10:32 AM
>> >To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> >Subject: [nagdu] airports and security
>> >
>> >Hi folks,
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >On Monday, my hubby and I flew to Texas for thanksgiving. I did not 
>> have my
>> >pup with me, as last Thursday, I fell yet again, and sprained my 
>> ankle and
>> >tore a ligament in my leg. So I am on crutches and wearing a splint,
>> >probably for at least 2 weeks. So I used a wheelchair to go through
>> >security. Well lets just say, my experience was not pleasant. I was 
>> subject
>> >to the pat down. The pat down was with another female in a private 
>> room.
>> >Lets just say that my personal space was totally violated. Their 
>> hands went
>> >in areas that a stranger is not suppose to go. I felt so dirty and
>> >disgusting after wards. I saw all the reports on the news, facebook and
>> >twitter, about women being vilated through security checks, and I 
>> didn't
>> >believe them, or atleast I wanted to give them the benefit of doubt. 
>> But
>> >they are true. By the time it was all over, I was crying. I set off 
>> alarms
>> >twice, from different parts of body being swabbed. So then they had 
>> to go
>> >through all my stuff and my husbands. I can't imagine what it would 
>> have
>> >been like if I had gone through with my dog. It took us 45 minutes 
>> to get
>> >through security. I know, I know, I know what you all are saying, the
>> >security is there to protect us. But come on people, me, a totally 
>> blind,
>> >hearing impaired, sprained ankle sort of  person in a wheelchair is the
>> >least likely person to do anything. Hell I can't even walk at the 
>> moment.
>> >The people being targeted for the pat downs are the people like 
>> elderly,
>> the
>> >disabled, and children. I know we can't be too careful, but there 
>> has to be
>> >a better way.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >This was just my experience. If anyone else wants to hear more graphic
>> >details, email me off list.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >I know this is off topic, and not talking about guide dogs, but 
>> since I am
>> a
>> >guide dog user, thought I would share my comments and experiences.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >Marsha
>
>
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