[nagdu] Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after being left ontrain in Brussels

GARY STEEVES rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca
Wed Feb 23 23:38:09 UTC 2011 

Hi Tami:

Yes, Bogart can get it going at times. Yesterday he was groommed. I booked this appointment before I went away last weekend to germany (he stayed with my girlfriend for this short trip). No one told me we were going to have a record breaking cold snap here. Okay, for all you easterners don't get worried a record breaking cold snap here means that it will go down to -10 C at night. I think 0 C is 32 F. So we're not going to die but he had quite the long curls and now he seems like he is naked. So yesterday and today I noticed that we have been walking at break neck speeds. I expect more on our walk home later. Bogart is now part of my daily exercise program to get me in shape for my hawaii holiday in May. :)

Gary


----- Original Message -----
From: Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
Date: Sunday, February 20, 2011 2:02 pm
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after being left ontrain in Brussels
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>

> Gary,
> 
> Yup!  Bogart is definitely a poodle.  /grin/  
> Getting out of airports with
> Mitzi as a guide is a breeze!  By which I mean, I feel the 
> stiff wind
> blowing through my hair as she zooms the heck outta there.  /lol/
> 
> Tami Smith-Kinney
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf
> Of GARY STEEVES
> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 8:17 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after 
> being left
> ontrain in Brussels
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Lisa:
> 
> I agree with you that taking assistance doesn't mean you are not
> independent. On the contrary, for me it means that you are very 
> confidentand know when you need assistance  and how to get 
> it.  i often use
> assistance in airports or train stations. It usually helps me 
> get to the
> gate on time and rlaxed. an example of being too indepedent once 
> was when I
> was still using my cane. I got the gal in the cart to drop me 
> off at the pub
> diagnally across from my gate. I thought I'd have a beer or two 
> and a burger
> while I waited for my flight. I almost missed my flight because 
> I hadn't
> noticed that announcements weren't pumped into the pub. I had to 
> ask a gal
> down the bar from me what time my boarding pass said boarding 
> was. it was
> ten minutes ago she said. i sprung up and headed across the 
> hallway. "Hello
> Mr. steeves, we were looking for ou." :)
> 
> with bogart, there is no chance that we will calmly sit on the 
> plane while
> everyone gets off. Bogart is off as soon as he can. We get to 
> the exit ofr
> the gate and many nice things have happened. on my last trip I 
> had my folks
> meeting me so once i learned that it was a straight line we just 
> headed off
> rather than wait for asistance. another time, on bogart's first 
> trip, a nice
> woman asked if I needed help. i said that someone from the 
> airline would be
> there soon. she offered to have me follow her to baggage claims 
> and then she
> helped me find my bags. The only thing that keeps me waiting is 
> just getting
> my suitcases. I still need a pair of eyes. Hard to get enough 
> time with the
> luggage and the luggage delivery system to train bogart to 
> identify my bags.
> :)
> 
> Certainly have noticed that in settings like airports bogart and 
> I get
> around much faster than I did with my cane. something to do with 
> how much
> bogart doesn't like airports. :)
> 
> Gary
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lisa belville <missktlab1217 at frontier.com>
> Date: Friday, February 18, 2011 6:43 am
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after 
> being left
> ontrain in Brussels
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> 
> > Well, it's easy for all of us to judge and be the proverbial 
> > Monday Morning quarterback with situations like this.  
> The 
> > info given is only as accurate as the reporter's research.
> > 
> > I do wonder, though, why he chose to leave his dog at 
> > home.  Taking the dog and then having a cabby refuse to 
> > transport would have been a perfect example of the 
> > discrimination he was afraid of.
> > 
> > Also, did this person not at least flag down another passenger 
> > or a conductor and request help?  I doubt if it was a 
> > language barrier, and this would have been the easiest way to 
> > obtain the help.
> > 
> > Just sitting waiting on a train while it's being emptied out 
> is 
> > not a place I'd want to be, especially if I needed to be 
> > someplace on time.
> > 
> > It's one reason why I hate asking for help when flying; they 
> > expect me to wait until someone has come to the gate, and to 
> the 
> > flight attendants, this means I need to sit in my seat like a 
> > good little girl rather than exiting the plane with everyone 
> > else.  I almost missed a connection once due to this 
> > attitude, so I just grab my carry-on stuff and head out with 
> > everyone else.
> > 
> > But, the person in this article didn't have their dog or a 
> cane, 
> > they didn't have as much autonomy.
> > 
> > And before anyone says I should navigate airports alone. . . I 
> > only fly once every three years or so.  I don't do it 
> often 
> > enough to be good at it, so I don't learn the layouts of 
> > airports and I'd prefer to get assistance when possible so I 
> can 
> > get where I need to be on time..
> > 
> > IF THE HOUSEWORK IS DONE - THEN THE COMPUTER IS Broken!
> > Lisa Belville
> > missktlab1217 at frontier.com
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ginger Kutsch" 
> > <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the 
> National 
> > Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 5:35 AM
> > Subject: [nagdu] Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after 
> > being left ontrain in Brussels
> > 
> > 
> > >Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after being left on train
> > >in Brussels
> > >
> > >LEFT ALONE: Tom Pey, pictured here with his guide dogBy emma
> > >curry reporters at sevenoaks-chronicle.co.uk
> > >http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Blind-man-train-
> ordeal/article-3
> > >231003-detail/article.html
> > >
> > >A BLIND man is threatening to sue Eurostar after he was abandoned
> > >on a train in Brussels.
> > >
> > >Dr Tom Pey, chief executive of the Royal London Society for the
> > >Blind (RSLB) and Dorton House in Seal, has accused the travel
> > >firm of disability discrimination.
> > >
> > >He was travelling to the European Parliament to press for
> > >improved rights for guide dog owners at a meeting of the European
> > >Guide Dog Federation, of which he is president, on Wednesday,
> > >February 2.
> > >
> > >He had left his guide dog in Seal, worried that Belgian taxi
> > >drivers may not want to take him, and was taken to the 
> station by
> > >his secretary Alison Nield.
> > >
> > >Unable to get through the barriers, she asked a Eurostar employee
> > >to help Dr Pey on to the train and the train conductor to guide
> > >Mr Pey off the train in Brussels.
> > >
> > >But when they arrived, Mr Pey was left alone. He waited for half
> > >an hour before struggling out of the station himself.
> > >
> > >Dr Pey said: "It's really difficult to make your way around 
> in a
> > >foreign country at the best of times, quite apart from being
> > >visually impaired.
> > >
> > >"I was also at a real loss without my guide dog.
> > >
> > >"I eventually managed to stumble off the train and remembered
> > >that the taxi rank was near a pizza restaurant. Only problem is
> > >there are two pizza eateries at Brussels station. It was most
> > >distressing."
> > >
> > >Ms Nield said: "I usually travel with him. Tom's quite brilliant
> > >but this situation was unacceptable.
> > >
> > >"It was luck rather than judgement that got him off that train.
> > >
> > >"At this end, Eurostar knew perfectly well he needed assistance.
> > >It's ridiculous."
> > >
> > >Tim Arnold, communications manager of the RLSB, said: "Eurostar
> > >are re-defining the word 'shameful'. They have a clear
> > >responsibility under the Equalities Act to make a reasonable
> > >adjustment for disabled people.
> > >
> > >"Tom's lawyers say he has a good case for disability
> > >discrimination."
> > >
> > >A Eurostar spokesman said: "This was obviously a distressing
> > >experience for Dr Pey and we have called him to apologise
> > >unreservedly.
> > >
> > >"Situations like these are thankfully rare, but are taken
> > >extremely seriously and therefore, together with our SNCB
> > >colleagues at Brussels Midi, we are investigating why this
> > >happened as a matter of urgency."
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >nagdu mailing list
> > >nagdu at nfbnet.org
> > >http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> > >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
> > info for nagdu:
> >
> >http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/missktlab1217%40fron
> tier.com 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > nagdu mailing list
> > nagdu at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
> > info for nagdu:
> >
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rainshadowmusic%40sha
> w.ca
> > 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lisa belville <missktlab1217 at frontier.com>
> Date: Friday, February 18, 2011 6:43 am
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after 
> being left
> ontrain in Brussels
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> 
> > Well, it's easy for all of us to judge and be the proverbial 
> > Monday Morning quarterback with situations like this.  
> The 
> > info given is only as accurate as the reporter's research.
> > 
> > I do wonder, though, why he chose to leave his dog at 
> > home.  Taking the dog and then having a cabby refuse to 
> > transport would have been a perfect example of the 
> > discrimination he was afraid of.
> > 
> > Also, did this person not at least flag down another passenger 
> > or a conductor and request help?  I doubt if it was a 
> > language barrier, and this would have been the easiest way to 
> > obtain the help.
> > 
> > Just sitting waiting on a train while it's being emptied out 
> is 
> > not a place I'd want to be, especially if I needed to be 
> > someplace on time.
> > 
> > It's one reason why I hate asking for help when flying; they 
> > expect me to wait until someone has come to the gate, and to 
> the 
> > flight attendants, this means I need to sit in my seat like a 
> > good little girl rather than exiting the plane with everyone 
> > else.  I almost missed a connection once due to this 
> > attitude, so I just grab my carry-on stuff and head out with 
> > everyone else.
> > 
> > But, the person in this article didn't have their dog or a 
> cane, 
> > they didn't have as much autonomy.
> > 
> > And before anyone says I should navigate airports alone. . . I 
> > only fly once every three years or so.  I don't do it 
> often 
> > enough to be good at it, so I don't learn the layouts of 
> > airports and I'd prefer to get assistance when possible so I 
> can 
> > get where I need to be on time..
> > 
> > IF THE HOUSEWORK IS DONE - THEN THE COMPUTER IS Broken!
> > Lisa Belville
> > missktlab1217 at frontier.com
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ginger Kutsch" 
> > <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the 
> National 
> > Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 5:35 AM
> > Subject: [nagdu] Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after 
> > being left ontrain in Brussels
> > 
> > 
> > >Blind man Dr Tom Pey may sue Eurostar after being left on train
> > >in Brussels
> > >
> > >LEFT ALONE: Tom Pey, pictured here with his guide dogBy emma
> > >curry reporters at sevenoaks-chronicle.co.uk
> > >http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Blind-man-train-
> ordeal/article-3
> > >231003-detail/article.html
> > >
> > >A BLIND man is threatening to sue Eurostar after he was abandoned
> > >on a train in Brussels.
> > >
> > >Dr Tom Pey, chief executive of the Royal London Society for the
> > >Blind (RSLB) and Dorton House in Seal, has accused the travel
> > >firm of disability discrimination.
> > >
> > >He was travelling to the European Parliament to press for
> > >improved rights for guide dog owners at a meeting of the European
> > >Guide Dog Federation, of which he is president, on Wednesday,
> > >February 2.
> > >
> > >He had left his guide dog in Seal, worried that Belgian taxi
> > >drivers may not want to take him, and was taken to the 
> station by
> > >his secretary Alison Nield.
> > >
> > >Unable to get through the barriers, she asked a Eurostar employee
> > >to help Dr Pey on to the train and the train conductor to guide
> > >Mr Pey off the train in Brussels.
> > >
> > >But when they arrived, Mr Pey was left alone. He waited for half
> > >an hour before struggling out of the station himself.
> > >
> > >Dr Pey said: "It's really difficult to make your way around 
> in a
> > >foreign country at the best of times, quite apart from being
> > >visually impaired.
> > >
> > >"I was also at a real loss without my guide dog.
> > >
> > >"I eventually managed to stumble off the train and remembered
> > >that the taxi rank was near a pizza restaurant. Only problem is
> > >there are two pizza eateries at Brussels station. It was most
> > >distressing."
> > >
> > >Ms Nield said: "I usually travel with him. Tom's quite brilliant
> > >but this situation was unacceptable.
> > >
> > >"It was luck rather than judgement that got him off that train.
> > >
> > >"At this end, Eurostar knew perfectly well he needed assistance.
> > >It's ridiculous."
> > >
> > >Tim Arnold, communications manager of the RLSB, said: "Eurostar
> > >are re-defining the word 'shameful'. They have a clear
> > >responsibility under the Equalities Act to make a reasonable
> > >adjustment for disabled people.
> > >
> > >"Tom's lawyers say he has a good case for disability
> > >discrimination."
> > >
> > >A Eurostar spokesman said: "This was obviously a distressing
> > >experience for Dr Pey and we have called him to apologise
> > >unreservedly.
> > >
> > >"Situations like these are thankfully rare, but are taken
> > >extremely seriously and therefore, together with our SNCB
> > >colleagues at Brussels Midi, we are investigating why this
> > >happened as a matter of urgency."
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >nagdu mailing list
> > >nagdu at nfbnet.org
> > >http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> > >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
> > info for nagdu:
> >
> >http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/missktlab1217%40fron
> tier.com 
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > nagdu mailing list
> > nagdu at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account 
> > info for nagdu:
> >
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rainshadowmusic%40sha
> w.ca
> > 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
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