[nfbmi-talk] Blind Maine woman, guide dog booted from flight over seating - Portland Press Herald

[Kane Brolin]

The beat goes on and the struggle continues--as if any of us needed a reminder.

I did not get the attached story from a Federation source, and I have
no evidence that the woman in question Sue W Martin is a member of the
National Federation of the Blind.  But nonetheless, this demonstrates
that discrimination against the blind in general--and against persons
with disabilities who have service animals specifically--is alive and
well. http://www.pressherald.com/2017/03/13/maine-woman-says-she-and-her-guide-dog-were-kicked-off-a-plane/

As with blowback from similar cases I read about last year that
involved Uber, it appears that many in the general public have the
impression that people claiming to have a disability frequently scam
transportation providers and service establishments by claiming
falsely that the pet they want to bring along, is a service animal
when it's really not.  I've never heard a legitimate story about
anyone claiming service animal privileges for a "fake dog guide,"
etc.; but I think many in society believe this happens all the time.

>From the 2012 archive I found in "The Daily News" of Bangor, Maine,
this proves that Sue Martin is a suicide survivor and writer about
disabilities-related issues, as she claims to be.
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/09/19/news/bangor/blind-writer-suicide-survivor-to-offer-message-of-hope-at-bangor-career-center-2/

Kind regards,

-Kane