[NAGDU] [nagdu] Blanket Prosciption Against Advance Notice
Raul A. Gallegos
raul at raulgallegos.com
Wed Nov 30 17:20:10 UTC 2016
I agree with Marion. I also would like to add that if we want to be
treated as equals, we should do as the sighted public does. For example,
if a person is traveling with a car seat for their child, they don't
have to give the airline advance notice of this. They simply deal with
that situation as necessary. In the case of the car seat, it's a gate
check in. Of course, that's not what we do with our dogs, but I still
feel it's a similar situation. I hope this makes sense.
--
Raul A. Gallegos
RGA Tech Solutions - Assistive Technology Trainer
“Any teacher that can be replaced with a computer, deserves to be.” –
David Thornburg
Voice/Text: 832.554.7285
Office: 832.639.4477
Personal Email: raul at raulgallegos.com
Work Email: training at raulgallegos.com
Twitter: @rau47 and @AT_Trainer
On 11/30/2016 11:03 AM, NAGDU President via NAGDU wrote:
> David,
>
> There should be no fear contradiciting the head cheese, whomever
> that person is! (smile) I offer my opinion based on my experiences. Your
> experience may be different, but I generally find that advanced notice
> causes more problems than it solves.
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
>
>
>
> Marion Gwizdala, President
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
> National Federation of the Blind
> (813) 626-2789
> President at NAGDU.ORG
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind people
> and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
> you back.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David via NAGDU
> Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2016 7:11 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: David
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] [nagdu] Blanket Prosciption Against Advance Notice
>
> Danielle, I am very glad that you had a good experience. My experiences
> with them on 10 flights with Claire Rose have always been good. Their
> disability desk has been very helpful and knowledgeable for me. I am
> somewhat fearful when sharing a positive experience that someone else
> may find the experience less so, especially when I am contradicting the
> head cheese. :-)
>
> David and Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL
>
> On 11/27/2016 2:27 PM, Danielle Ledet via NAGDU wrote:
>> Delta is awesome! there attendants are very well educated on these things.
>>
>> On 9/8/15, David via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Marion said, "As we have said so many times before, never, never,
>>> never give advance notice that you have a guide dog. This only creates
>>> problems, since the guide dog is irrelevant."
>>>
>>> Dear Marion, I realize that as a new NAGDU member and newly minted
>>> guide dog handler, I may have less of a basis for an opinion on your
>>> statement, above, than you or others.
>>>
>>> As with most blanket proscriptions, however, I feel that there are
>>> nuanced and important exceptions that should be noted or discussed. I
>>> generally agree with your proscription as it applies to hostelries,
>>> restaurants and most forms of transportation. I understand that a
>>> simple rule can help corral the tendencies of many us toward
>>> over-disclosure, but my experience so far has been different -- at
>>> least with respect to travel on one airline. Before I retired 9 years
>>> ago while I was cane traveling for years. I often traveled as much as
>>> 80,000 miles by air. I am very familiar with many airports, with the
>>> demeanor of airline personnel, and many of the peculiar exigencies of
>>> travel while visually impaired.
>>>
>>> My experience while flying with my 70 lb pup, Claire Rose, on Delta
>>> Airlines has been extremely positive, however. Flight attendants have
>>> been solicitous and have even offered to relocate an Emotional Support
>>> Animal that was creating a disturbance. Because I must use connecting
>>> flights to many locations from the Tampa airport, it is often quite
>>> difficult to create connections with sufficient time between flights
>>> in Atlanta to go outside security and return so that I have enough
>>> time to relieve Claire Rose. Calling the regular reservation number at
>>> Delta is vexatious at best and operators are often not helpful. The
>>> connection with a representative can take a very long time and
>>> disconnects are not uncommon.
>>>
>>>
>>> Delta, however, has a disability line that is answered quickly. The
>>> reps with whom I have talked are knowledgeable about seating space and
>>> ask about seating preferences. During my last reservation the rep
>>> moved passengers with existing reserved seats so that Claire Rose
>>> could be accommodated in a seat with a larger floor area. Connection
>>> times that would have taken me hours to try to figure out online were
>>> resolved during my 15 minute call and I was asked whether they could
>>> provide me with assistance to exit and return from the relieving area
>>> outside the commercial car pickup area at the end of the airport.
>>> Since I was based in Atlanta for 16 years and know the airport well,
>>> this wasn't necessary.
>>>
>>> Nearly all of us have experienced ignorance, discrimination, and
>>> prejudice, but I think there are times when we need to temper
>>> stridency with respect for others. When a company shows itself to be
>>> responsive and is demonstrably accommodating my needs, I am more than
>>> willing to give them advance notice, so that they do not have to
>>> scramble to accommodate me at the last minute with harried gate
>>> personnel handling overbooked flights, weather delays and
>>> 'temporarily' disabled passengers.
>>>
>>>
>>> -- David and Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL
>>> _______________________________________________
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> m
>>>
>>
>
>
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