[nagdu] Issues at Orlando Airport July 10th with me, insulin pump and guide dog

[cheryl echevarria]

I am posting this to Diabetic Action Network, NAGDU and Travel and Tourism because it affects us all.

I know everything happened to me during convention, maybe it happened to you and so I will let you know what went on and how I handled it.

On July 10th, heading home airport itself was wonderful, accept going through security.

I have to say thanks go Marion Gwizdala, President of NAGDU, I contact the person from TSA who takes complaints and is looking into the issues I had.

First the screener asked me to remove my insulin pump, that is attached to my body, I said I couldn't that is was attached, then he said that I had to remove it from the clip he says it is similar to a cell phone, which I had no idea, because the person training to use my pump didn't even tell me that the clip can be removed. Nonetheless, he insisted, and he took it off my person and said see this is how it is. Then handed it back to me.

I know the answer of how this is down with an Insulin pump, and Mr. Jeremy Bouselle, who by the way was at the NAGDU meeting and gave a presentation about going through security and what to expect said I was correct with the procedure, that I have done at least 10 times since I have gotten my insulin pump.

After you go through security they will ask you to touch the pump, and then they will wipe your hands with something and look under a special machine to see if there is any suspicious chemicals on your hands or pump.

2. The man had no idea of what he was doing, now we come to the issue of me and the guide dog, I started to put my dog on a sit stay command, and extend his leash, and the Officer said to me what was I doing, I said preparing myself and dog to walk through, he said no, I had to let go of the dog and walk through, I refused to do this, I said I will not let go of my dog, and he didn't have the right to ask me to do so, and asked to speak to a supervisor, which you are allowed to do, he said there was none around, and it was to bad.  Finally he let me walk through the correct way with my dog, and when I go through, the other security person timidly told me the person's name and I called this morning Orlando TSA Management Office as well as Mr. Bouselle, and he took down my complaint so I wouldn't have to do it again.

Now, for people who are cane user's including myself, when going through screening the proper way is to either fold up your can and put it in the bins with your other items to be screened, if your airport didn't do it, they should, or if you don't have a folding cane just ask for assistance and they will screen it for you, they should also maneuver you and they should ask to help you or you should ask for assistance just to make sure you are walking through without hitting the walls of the scanning. They will give you your cane, or they will help you to get your cane afterwards.

Believe it or not, people pass themselves off as blind and can put things inside of the cane and that is why they want to scan them.




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Cheryl Echevarria
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