[Nfbmo] Airlines

nancy Lynn seabreeze.stl at gmail.com
Tue Jun 7 11:19:26 UTC 2016 

I like getting the wheelchair at airports, but then I have some difficulty 
walking long distances. I've also ridden in those electric carts even with a 
guide dog, and they're really cool! I never cared how I got through the 
airport as long as I got where I need to go.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dan Flasar via Nfbmo
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2016 1:17 AM
To: nfbmo at nfbnet.org
Cc: DanFlasar at aol.com
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Airlines

Heck, if they're going to insist on you taking wheeled transportation, have
them get an electric cart instead of a wheelchair.   Instead of being
seen as disabled, your status to onlookers has upgraded to VIP!
   Outa my way, peasants!

    Kidding aside, I did request assistance once.   Airport signage can be
hard to make out, which can really slow things down  - especially if you
have 10 minutes before your connecting flight and that gate  is on the other
side of the airport.
     It's the only way to fly!
Dan


In a message dated 6/6/2016 11:24:09 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
nfbmo at nfbnet.org writes:

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
>
>
>  _______________________________________________
> Nfbmo mailing  list
> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
>  http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe,  change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbmo:
>  http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/r_crome1%40msn.com

_______________________________________________
Nfbmo  mailing  list
Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbmo:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/sbwright95%40att.net


_______________________________________________
Nfbmo  mailing  list
Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbmo:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/w5ln%40att.net


_______________________________________________
Nfbmo mailing  list
Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbmo:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/danflasar%40aol.com

_______________________________________________
Nfbmo mailing list
Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbmo:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/seabreeze.stl%40gmail.com

More information about the NFBMO mailing list