[Nfbmo] Airlines

[Daniel Garcia]

When I arrive at Detroit last Thursday the person escorting me to the luggage claim area had a wheelchair waiting for me. I told him I could walk just fine and he insisted I make use of the wheelchair. I politely repeated to him that I would not be using it. He did not insist and I told him where my parents would be waiting for me. 

Let me digress  a little and address those of you who are wondering why I even have an escort guiding me through the airport to begin with. If that was your first thought when you first read this message then I urge you to read "The Nature of Independence" which was a speech given by Dr. Jernigan at the 1993 National Convention.

Now let's go back to the main focus of my message.

Back in the 1980's I was not blind and had no problem with how the airlines treated me. Many Federationists though will remember firsthand the efforts of the NFB to ensure that blind people would be treated better by airlines. By my reading of history, it seems that things have improved thanks to the efforts of the NFB. However, no matter how many laws and policies are enacted to protect us, people are people and thus we have situations where some airport workers still cling to outmoded ideas of what the blind are capable of.  The person escorting me no doubt believed that blind people are clumsy and unsafe and that it would be more convenient for him to just have me sit down and shut up and allow myself to be taken in a wheelchair.

Best Regards

Daniel Garcia