[Nfbmo] Airlines

Tue Jun 7 04:56:19 UTC 2016

Hi all,

I have also seen the wheelchair upon the arrival of airport assist,
which I usually try to avoid.  I find this particularly entertaining,
since I use a guide dog, and I cannot figure out how I am supposed to
be pushed in a wheelchair with my dog alongside me.

Last weekend I flew from St. Louis to Baltimore.  On the first leg of
the journey in St. Louis I was told at the check-in counter that I
could not use the escalator with my guide dog.  I asked the desk
attendant if this was an airport policy, and he said it was just their
requirement because of safety.  I responded by telling him that if it
was indeed a policy to prohibit the use of escalators by service dog
teams, then it violated the law.  Then he said that I could do what I
liked but that they would prefer I use the elevator.  I have to
admit...  I was a little proud of my advocacy in that moment.  O, and
we took the stairs because they were closest.  :)

I always prepare for everything when headed to the airport.  Usually,
my fellow passengers are kind and fun, and mostly the airport
employees seem to be poorly educated.  It is sad and unnecessary in my
opinion, and I have wanted to do something about this for years, ever
since airport staff intimidated me into taking all my dog's gear off
at security in 2010.  I wish there was a way to educate them, perform
trainings, something.  I have just been led to believe that this would
be more difficult than it's worth.

On 6/6/16, Dale Hamm via Nfbmo <nfbmo at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> hello everyone on this matter concerning wheelchairs  on the 31 of may on
> transfering at midway to kansas city I too was requested to use a wheel
> chair oh well it was about 20 gates from terminal from a to b section, while
>
> the airport person requested I use the chair on the way he bumped a lady
> caring  luggage she gave him a mean look and wasn't  happy what happened ,
> that was my experience I do my best to request no wheelchair needede, they
> pretty much try to put it on me anyway. Dale Hamm.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shelia Wright via Nfbmo
> Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 11:08 PM
> To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List'
> Cc: Shelia Wright
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Airlines
>
> I do not believe it is isolated at all. It almost seems like standard
> practice. I've known of situations where the individual seems to accept
> what
> the blind person tells them. If this is the case, there is no real problem.
> They follow company procedures, but seem to respect what each individual
> prefers. On the other hand, I have seen and heard about the airline escort
> to refuse to listen to the customer, insist that it is required and will be
> faster for him. It is the attitude, that I have a problem overlooking.
>
> The key is in how the person responds. There are blind people that have
> other disabilities. They are not always visible. The airline escort may
> also
> be on a tight schedule before they meet up with their next assignment. If
> they don't bring the chair and it is needed, then the traveler that needs
> the chair would have to wait until they go fetch one. I suppose that most
> people who need a chair can request one when they check in on their
> originating flight. However sometimes notes get missed. I don't usually ask
> for assistance at the airport because the airline seems to make that
> request
> whether you ask or not. If I don't need assistance, I can decline it. After
> a flight I'm quite ready to walk to stretch my legs. However, there may be
> a
> time I need it for reasons other than blindness. At that point I will ask
> for assistance. If they have to push a wheelchair, just know it makes a
> pretty good luggage cart for your carry on.
>
> I think being the one to decide when I do or do not need assistance is what
> is important.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbmo [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Roger Crome via
> Nfbmo
> Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 8:31 PM
> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Roger Crome <r_crome1 at msn.com>
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Airlines
>
> I wonder how isolated situations like this are.  If this was the lack of
> education of one truly ignorant person, then a simple localized level of
> advocacy would be effective, but if more people are experiencing this level
> of insult, then maybe it is time to blitz the industry with advocacy.  I
> wonder if the Missouri Affiliate could  approach the National Convention
> for
> a Resolution calling for training of employees of the airlines at all
> levels.
> Just a thought.
> Roger
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 6, 2016, at 4:39 PM, Daniel Garcia via Nfbmo <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7