[NAGDU] Stress of discrimination

Thu Feb 22 20:36:28 UTC 2024

Hi, Christina,
I am currently waiting for the opportunity to train with another dog from The Seeing Eye. I am almost certain that I would not get out as much if I weren’t exercising a dog. Currently I am walking a Yorkie every day, and without him, I am sure I would only be using my Treadmill. You said you want and need a dog. If you want and need a dog, then go for it. I am doing that, and I am excited to see what adventures lie ahead for me. Like you, I wasn’t sure that I would want to put up with the things we are currently required to put up with, but one day I decided that it is just part of the adventure of life. I will continue to try to change these things, but in the meantime, I will try to train with another dog and have happy trails with that udog. 
Cindyray at gmail.com

Cindy Lou Ray
Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 22, 2024, at 1:20 PM, Christina Moore via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Tracy,
> 
> Thank you for your words of encouragement and support. I've had my share of
> denials in the past so that does contribute to my concerns in a large way.
> I've found the flight process pretty straightforward though and do not mind
> too much about having to fill out the form (though it is an inconvenience).
> I also am at a different stage in my life right now: I don't get out as
> much as did back when I was in college and had my first guide (I work from
> home so would only be doing mainly exercise walks which TSE said is fine).
> I was thinking maybe Uber and Lyft Etc. could add a checkbox that a person
> could check in their profile saying they have a service dog so then the
> drivers who will accept can accept and those who won't will not bother but
> then that in itself would be discriminatory and not hold the drivers
> accountable for their actions and give them a way out of complying. It is
> definitely a tricky thing and I'm not sure what the best option for us to
> be treated equally and with respect is.
> Christina
> 
>> On Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 8:10 AM Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Christina.
>> Of course it's up to you, but for me the advantages of having a dog far
>> outweigh the stress of worrying about possible discrimination.  We hear
>> about the problems; we don't hear about the times that went well.  I know
>> it's different in different places, but here in Jersey most of my Uber
>> rides go well.  I worry a bit every time, but not so much that I don't go
>> or I think about going without my dog, unless there's a real good reason
>> other than worry about some dumb driver.  And I was very worried about
>> flying last summer.  It was a huge hassle to deal with the stinking
>> paperwork, but the flights actually went well.
>> So it's up to you.  How many problems do you actually have?  How stressful
>> for you is it?  Those are the questions I'd ask myself.
>> Tracy
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Christina Moore via
>> NAGDU
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 9:06 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Christina Moore <moorechristina107 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Horrible Experience with JetBlue
>> 
>> I'm sorry this happened to you. There is no reason this should have
>> happened in the first place.
>> All of the trouble people have been having with rideshares and the
>> flights, make me question if I should get another dog altogether...I'm on
>> the waiting list for Seeing Eye however things are complicated right now
>> with our ability to travel freely with our dogs so I'm not sure what to do.
>> I really want and need a new dog but is all of this stress worth it when I
>> can just bring a cane? I'm unsure about this because I know with a dog I
>> travel more-easily, more-freely if that makes sense and I feel
>> more-confident than with my cane (though I have good cane skills) I feel
>> like my preferred tool is the guide dog. I'm more independent with a dog
>> than a cane. Thoughts?
>> Christina
>> 
>> On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 8:43 PM Michael Forzano via NAGDU <
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Exactly. Since the very beginning of the interaction I kept saying
>>> that I'm blind and she's my seeing eye dog, I filled out the form
>>> already and can you please just add her to the reservation. There was
>>> no empathy or coppassion shown by these employees. I was viewed as in
>>> the wrong until my girlfriend and I somehow got through to them. It
>>> was really surprising, honestly.
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Feb 21, 2024, at 6:39 PM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> This is outrageous.  Is it time to start calling the media?  They
>>>> beat
>>> the
>>>> heck out of the emotional support peacock.  They might at least show
>>>> the blind guy with his Seeing Eye dog being hassled by the airlines
>>>> that everyone despises.
>>>> How long, O Lord, how long?!
>>>> Tracy
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Michael Forzano
>>>> via NAGDU
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 5:20 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: Michael Forzano <michaeldforzano at gmail.com>
>>>> Subject: [NAGDU] Horrible Experience with JetBlue
>>>> 
>>>> Hi All,
>>>> 
>>>> Below is the text of the DOT complaint I submitted yesterday
>>>> regarding my experience with JetBlue this past Sunday. I wanted to
>>>> post here so the
>>> board
>>>> is aware in case it helps in our advocacy efforts, and so that the
>>>> NAGDU community is informed of the kinds of experience that await
>>>> you if you choose to fly this airline.
>>>> 
>>>> On February 18, 2024, I traveled from New York (JFK) to Fort
>>>> Lauderdale
>>>> (FLL) on JetBlue flight 1401. I am blind and travel with a Seeing
>>>> Eye
>>> dog.
>>>> I filled out the required DOT form weeks before my flight and
>>>> received
>>> the
>>>> email from the Open Doors Organization, which JetBlue partners with,
>>> that my
>>>> travel was approved. At JFK Terminal 5, JetBlue has instructed the
>>>> TSA boarding pass checkers not to let anyone with a dog through
>>>> unless they
>>> have
>>>> the dog listed on their boarding pass. Mine was not, so I was told
>>>> that I needed to go to the check in counter. I refused and asked to
>>>> speak with a supervisor. As I checked in online, I should not have
>>>> to go stand in
>>> another
>>>> line and requiring this of me is discriminatory.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Most of the employees I dealt with were rude and confrontational,
>>>> and
>>> would
>>>> not listen when I explained that I had filled out the form and it
>>>> had
>>> been
>>>> approved. I even showed them the approval email from Open Doors
>>>> which confirmed I was approved to fly with my guide dog on the
>>>> applicable confirmation number. The email is also attached to this
>>>> complaint. I was even asked to fill out the form again despite
>>>> having the email proving I
>>> had
>>>> already filled it out. As a totally blind person, filling out a
>>>> print
>>> copy
>>>> of a form is not something I am capable of doing. I had to argue
>>>> with
>>>> 4 different people before a supervisor finally agreed to just add my
>>>> dog
>>> to
>>>> the reservation. At the end of it, I was told that it was a glitch
>>>> in the system where even though I filled out the form it was not
>>>> linked to my reservation. The last employee I spoke to even said he
>>>> has a family
>>> member
>>>> who has a guide dog, and this happens to them all the time. This is
>>>> absolutely unacceptable. All said and done, I wasted a half hour of
>>>> my
>>> time,
>>>> with my girlfriend and I standing there humiliated as people
>>>> streamed
>>> past
>>>> us going through TSA. It was beyond embarrassing and the emotional
>>>> toll
>>> this
>>>> incident has taken on me is significant. I worry that in the future,
>>>> I
>>> will
>>>> end up missing a flight because an issue such as this one occurs.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> It's one thing to have these burdensome forms to deal with, but
>>>> another
>>> for
>>>> the systems to not work correctly so that people who follow the
>>>> rules are still penalized. I fly every month and have flown just
>>>> about every US airline since the regulations have gone into effect
>>>> and this is by far
>>> the
>>>> worst experience I have had. Most airlines are at least respectful
>>>> and do their best to work with us, but not JetBlue. Throughout the
>>>> whole
>>> ordeal, I
>>>> was talked down to as if I didn't know what I was doing and this was
>>>> my fault, and it took literally half an hour and 4 people for them
>>>> to admit that the airline dropped the ball.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I am filing this complaint as JetBlue needs to be held accountable
>>>> for
>>> their
>>>> mistake. I would like to be made aware of steps that JetBlue is
>>>> taking to prevent this from happening again. The systems need to be
>>>> rectified so
>>> that
>>>> the forms are correctly added to the reservation when filled out,
>>>> and JetBlue employees need training on how to interact with
>>>> customers with disabilities and how to treat them with the dignity
>>>> and respect they deserve.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> In addition to the DOT complaint, a complaint was filed on my behalf
>>>> by airport staff. JetBlue responded today, denying any wrongdoing
>>>> under the
>>> DOT
>>>> rules. They stated that my dog was added to the reservation on
>>>> December
>>> 31,
>>>> when I filled out the form, and that she wasn't listed on the
>>>> boarding
>>> pass
>>>> due to a technical glitch. Despite having to relive the entire
>>> experience on
>>>> a phone conversation with their executive team, they were not at all
>>>> apologetic about the conduct of their employees and refused to offer
>>>> me
>>> any
>>>> compensation even when I explicitly asked for it. Apparently, we are
>>>> expected to live with these "technical glitches" and just suck it up
>>>> and deal when we are held up at the airport. They have also given me
>>>> no guarantee that this won't happen on my return flight on Saturday.
>>>> At this point, I'm considering cancelling and booking with another
>>>> airline, even
>>> if
>>>> it would cost me over $600 for my girlfriend and I.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I'm truly frustrated with not only what happened but their totally
>>>> inadequate response as well.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -Michael
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