[Nfbf-l] Amtrak

[Kirk]

Sherrill, as you know, Am Track is government owned, so as we all know, the 
gov never does anything quickly! Not to make light of the situation, just 
stating a fact we all are very aware of. Your friend, Kirk


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherrill O'Brien" <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Amtrak


> 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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