[Nfbmo] Airlines

Tue Jun 7 15:42:33 UTC 2016

What I dislike about these carts is that they expect us to take them.
I prefer to walk, and my dog needs it after a long plane ride or
before a long train ride.

I recently had a lay-over in Charlotte North Carolina.  It was an
exercise in structured discovery that ended up taking me outside the
secure area.  :)  But I noticed a lot of those carts and was glad I
wasn't expected to ride in them.  Like Shelia said, I want to have my
choice about where to go and how I get there.

On 6/7/16, Daniel Garcia via Nfbmo <nfbmo at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Back in December of 2013, I was flying from Little Rock to Detroit. I had a
> layover in Charlotte and the connecting flight was on the other side of the
> airport and there was not too much time to spare. So I did agree to ride on
> one of them electric golf cart type vehicles. It seems that this was a
> popular way to transport people in this particular airport since I kept
> hearing carts buzzing back and forth.
>
> Those of you who have taken the train from Kansas City will surely remember
> that since the station is so large, they will take you on an electric golf
> cart across the yard to the train. When I got on this cart last October to
> go to Jefferson City, I told the escort that I hoped she wasn't expecting me
> to drive this thing. The passenger in the back seat was cracking up. She
> told me she wanted me to drive.
>
> Regards
>
> Daniel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbmo [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 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
>>
>>
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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