[Nfbf-l] Amtrak

[Sherrill O'Brien]

Hello,

Inconsistency in treatment of blind people by numerous carriers, in this
case, Amtrak, often makes it more difficult to get to the root of the
problem and correct it.  One of the most frustrating things that happened to
me when flying was the time many years ago when I was relaxing on a plane,
sipping my coffee, when I happened to notice a piece of paper sticking to
the lapel of my jacket.  I was puzzled because I certainly hadn't adorned
myself with it that morning while putting on my earrings (smile.)  I asked
the flight attendant about it, and she said something like "It's a bright
red sticker issued by the airline with ATTENTION:  VISUALLY IMPAIRED
PASSENGER".  I was furious, but was careful not to take it out on the poor
attendant.  Apparently, the woman at the counter had placed the sticker on
my jacket when I was checking in at the boarding gate.  I was carrying it
over my arm and didn't feel her place it there.  I recalled her asking if I
needed help during and after the flight.  When I politely said no I didn't,
she said, as if she hadn't heard me, "Don't worry.  Everyone will see that
you're taken care of."  That statement puzzled and irritated me, but I put
it all together once I had my "helpless blind woman" sticker read to me.   I
went to the counter when we landed and registered a complaint, saying I had
never encountered such humiliating treatment before.  I was told that since
I was unaccompanied, the person at the counter must have thought she was
doing the right thing.  He apologized, saying of course this wasn't standard
operating procedure.

So when I see this sort of scenario played out in 2009, I feel that the only
thing to do is to follow up  on this unfortunate procedure, get to the heart
of it, and make sure it is no longer part of Amtrak's allowed treatment of
visually impaired passengers.  Perhaps this is a good idea for unaccompanied
children, and the policy simply gets muddled and used for other classes of
travelers who would seem to need looking after.

I am an aficionado of train travel, so this makes me even more determined
that we address this unexpected and humiliating treatment of even a few
blind persons.  Thanks, Marion, for following up so quickly!

Sherrill
  -----Original Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Holly
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:20 PM
To: NFB of Florida Listserv
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Amtrak


Did anyone notice that while riding Amtrak, there was a green label placed
above the seat in which read, "VI DFB Keep In Sight"
When students or myself went from car to car we were followed by one of the
employees. Did this happen to you?
Holly

--
"God gives you 86,400 seconds in a day. Take one to say Thank You."
Walter A. Ward
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