[nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E] Terry.Powers at nih.gov
Wed Jul 13 12:11:57 UTC 2011


I do not intend to start up a big stir, but Joseph, what do you have against walking a few steps, straight and then receiving your cane.  I have a little sight, but I know I could do it with a blindfold.  Its only 5 or 6 steps!  You mean you can not walk anywhere in your home, with out your cane?  You can even feal the threshold of the entrence, as you walk over it.  
I do this, with no sighted guide and stay on the other side, until I get my cane back.  Coming back, I was also asked to take off my shoes.  I was surprised, but did not complain, even though I have medical problems that make it hard to bend over.  I wanted to make it through, so I did what I guess everyone else had to do and I made it through.  
Terry Powers


-----Original Message-----
From: T. Joseph Carter [mailto:carter.tjoseph at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 9:22 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando

I gave them my cane for scanning and asked to have it returned to me so I could travel through the metal detector.  I was told that I had to take the agent's arm.  I said I was fine with the cane, and that the cane would not set off the metal detector.  I was told that I could not do that, even after offering them the copy of their own regulations saying that I could and should.

What followed was punitive action taken because I tried to assert my right to travel with a cane, not an arm.  You'd think punishment for using a cane rather than a sighted guide is right up the NFB's alley.  
Apparently though, it's not.

I'll be pursuing it on my own.  But as Mike so eloquently put it, I'm "not a-gonna win" if I do that.  I will do it anyway, though, because it is the right thing to do.  We fought for the right to our canes, and if we haven't got the guts to defend that right, then we don't really have it after all.

I'll just hope that when I lose, I don't manage to set any new precedents that we don't in fact have a right to our canes.  I don't know that I could prevent that going it alone, but several people have made it quite clear that punishment for using a white cane just isn't the NFB's fight.

Joseph


On Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 05:56:43PM -0400, bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote:
>Joeseph,
>I'm sure there is more to the story; its clear they did extra screening 
>as a punishment.
>But what rights were violated? Where did they insist upon sighted guide?
>I thought you gave up your cane for scanning and walked through the 
>scanner without it?
>So where does this sighted guide come in? If you walk five steps 
>without your cane, it's a straight shot, and you didn't have a guide.
>I never had a guide when going through a security metal detector 
>whether at a federal building, at the Capitol for a concert, or the 
>Pentagon.
>
>I was a little upset when they wanted me to give up my cane last time I 
>flew as well.
>But after I walked through the scanner without setting it off, it was 
>returned to me promptly.
>If you file a complaint with TSA, let us know how it goes.
>Ashley
>
>-----Original Message----- From: T. Joseph Carter
>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 11:28 PM
>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>
>So what you're saying, Brian, is that you're willing to be intimidated 
>into giving up your rights, because the big boogeyman TSA agents can do 
>too much to you if you don't do exactly what they say, whether it's 
>illegal or flies in the face of every battle we have fought long and 
>hard for as an organization?
>
>Just want to be sure I understand here.  Because the TSA said that of 
>nearly 3,000 blind people going through the airport, I'm the only one 
>who insisted that I had a right NOT to be led around like a child, 
>denied the use of my cane for travel.
>
>Joseph
>
>
>On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 09:07:58PM -0400, Brian Miller wrote:
>>Hi Peter,
>>
>>I don't think anyone feels that Joe was treated well, or with the 
>>respect he deserves, but security checks are a serious hassle and a 
>>drag for everyone, and indignities abound.  I think solidarity across 
>>the board, and not just for blind people, is in order.
>>
>>I merely say that for me using my cane to walk a few feet through the 
>>metal detector is not worth fighting over -- the last thing I need is 
>>to end up on a "no fly" list.  The point is, you are exactly right 
>>that the blind have been fighting, and getting arrested, and going to 
>>jail, for years over our right to have our mobility devices, and we've 
>>won some, and lost many others.  I think we need to figure out where 
>>to focus our energies to maximize independence while recognizing that 
>>we face a very difficult environment in which to make our arguments 
>>when it comes to security.
>>
>>Heck, we still don't, and maybe never will, have the right to sit in 
>>the emergency row -- now that makes me feel more like a child than 
>>does a quick guide through the magnetometer .
>>
>>Not long ago Dr. Fred Schoeder was denied the right to fly to a 
>>meeting because he was traveling alone... Granted, this was not in the 
>>United States, but that kind of right of freedom of movement, is 
>>something I'm willing to lie down on the tarmac for and go to jail.... 
>>Maybe not a jail in Thailand, though *smile*
>>
>>In any case, I don't think Alicia, or any of us, are trying to 
>>miminize the fight we all face.
>>
>>Brian M
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>On Behalf Of Peter Donahue
>>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 11:30 AM
>>To: Alicia Richards; NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>>
>>Hello Alicia and everyone,
>>
>>The next time you pass through a TSA Check point we'll cut both of 
>>your feet off and demand that you walk through like anyone else. Blind 
>>people have fought long and hard to be allowed to keep their canes and 
>>dogs with them at all times while passing through TSA check points and 
>>on planes themselves.
>>Blind people were arrested and went to jail to insure these rights are 
>>protected and we don't need our own people telling us that it's not a 
>>big deal.
>>
>>Peter Donahue who along with Mary took their last flight ever on a 
>>commercial airliner and can look forward to avoiding TSA screeners in 
>>the future!
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Alicia Richards" <alicianfb at gmail.com>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 11:37 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] TSA discrimination in Orlando
>>
>>
>>I agree with Mike and others here.  Yes, the TSA has been given too 
>>much power.  It's shameful that they can perform such invasive 
>>patdowns, violating one's personal space and dignity.  but as Ryan 
>>said, that's not a blindness issue: they can do that to anyone.  And, 
>>I've never understood people's issue with giving up their cane for 30 
>>seconds, taking someone's hand to walk five steps through the security 
>>check, and then have their cane handed right back to them.  I question 
>>someone's mobility training if they are unable to walk five steps 
>>without their cane, and also can't help but wonder if they're 
>>exhibiting what I believe was once called, "rebellious independence," 
>>by refusing to take the hand or arm of a TSA official for that very 
>>brief time.  But to each their own.  Joseph, I'll be curious if you 
>>get a reply from Scott LaBarre about this?
>>
>>Alicia
>>
>>
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