[NAGDU] American Airlines and My Blind Spot join forces....

Albert Rizzi Albert at Myblindspot.org
Wed May 16 13:12:30 UTC 2018


I get my emails in digest form so going to respond en-masse to come of the feedback my post generated:


  1.  David, this is not a training video, it is an announcement about why American is doing something about the abuses perpetrated by people trying to pass off their pets as service animals.
  2.  Aleeha, thank you for stating the obvious. The video is meant to serve as a brief mention of changes happening within the company and why. It is not a training video at all. Only training
  3.  The piece serves as an internal PSA off sorts, and is being shared via social media, so it is a PSA for public consumption as well.
  4.  Marion, in no way did I promulgate dependency on anything but our choices in mobility aids. A cane is something we are "dependent" on just as I and others are on our guides. A simple good job, great step in the right direction would have sufficed sir. You may not see this as a good thing, but many others do. Thank you for what you do, but I feel good about all that was accomplished at American through open dialogue and a respect for the multitude of people using a service animal for any number of legitimate and legally protected reasons, and the NFB is not the only voice in the world and to think so is not realistic or anything I subscribe to personally or professionally.
  5.  Ricky, thank you, thank you, thank you. Marion's statement totally confused me as well. Dependency and reliance is not a bad thing and does not minimize our independence, especially when we are exercising our independence by choosing the mobility supports of our liking.
  6.  Marion, semantics my friend. You would no sooner leave the house your mobility tool, cane or dog, then you would without a pair of shoes or pants. So, you say one thing and we are saying another. Either way we use them to get around, and I for one, have no problem appreciating the reliance and inter dependency I and my guide have with one another. This is why the NFB, at times, can be such a bitter pill to swallow.
  7.  Michael, Ricky did not ask nor need your help. Again, you are splitting hairs. Were you dependent on your guide dog that day you walked out of the Twin Towers on 9/11 or were you independently devoid of the dog that day? Why are we splitting hairs over a word that absolutely serves the discussion well? I agree that most people hold low expectations for the community, and the disability community in general, but how has what you've been doing working for you? have you succeeded at correcting these misperceptions and antiquated perspectives on our ability? I am guessing not as much as you would have liked since you are saying the same thing repeatedly about the lack of appreciation people have about our ability. Maybe we need to change the narrative a bit just to try and nurture the results we desire.
  8.
And the only thing that seems to be too bad, is that Marion and NAGDU or GDUI, organizations that should have been on top of this years ago, were not at the table. Had they been there, I am sure the video would have been hailed a success worthy of an Oscar or something. At least I can say, in the short 10 years My Blind Spot has been advocating for authentic inclusion and respect for our community we have managed very well. We have made 30 year old software programs accessible and usable, we have worked with global giants to ensure Ability is celebrated alongside Race, Gender, Orientation and Religion in both our social and corporate cultures. The NFB and the ACB do not have the exclusive on any of this. so instead of stomping on such things, why not reach out to those of us being the change we want to see in the world to find ways to collaborate instead of negate and minimize our efforts.

I, personally and professionally, feel we made great advancements with American Airlines and will continue to do what we are doing in this partnership because the proof is in the outcomes, and the outcomes have been impressive. Peace and to be continued, and keep on fighting the good fight one and all, even when our peers question what we do.




Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
My Blind Spot, Inc
Founder and CEO

NYC Office
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fax: 631.620.3481

e-mail: Albert at MyBlindSpot.org<mailto:Albert at MyBlindSpot.org>
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