[nfbwatlk] {Disarmed} FW: Why a blind man, his dog, and 35 passengers left an airplane

Wed Nov 27 14:05:40 UTC 2013

I actually did listen to the interviews, and understand exactly what you are
saying before I wrote the e-mail. Taking that into account, my dog would
have laid there for over that amount of time because we have been stuck on
the tarmac for over 2.5 hours, and he was perfectly still. And whether a
person is asked to remove themselves from a plane or not, this man could
have used this as a teaching moment for the officer who removed him instead
of using "choice words" as he quoted in the interview. All I am saying that
is not who I want to represent me.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Becky
Frankeberger
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 3:55 PM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] {Disarmed} FW: Why a blind man, his dog, and 35
passengers left an airplane

I personally feel sorry for you, Correy. That you haven't heard the many
interviews with Albert. His story is consistant. 

Since reading and listening is not your long suit, Albert was placed at the
very back of a small plane on a bench seat. The lady next to him offered her
leg room for the dog. She is from Monroeville PA was also interviewed and
her story is consistant also. The passengers sat on the tarmac for one and a
half hours. Your nor my guide dog would have stayed still.  Heck you nor I
would have stayed perfectly still in our seats. The floor of an airplane is
hot with little air flow. Doxy was tucked away under this lady's seat. The
dog oozed under Albert's legs not in the isle, not running up and down the
isle as attested to by passengers seated near Albert.  The Flight Attendant
came back. AAlbert put the dog under the seat again. Again they waited and
waited.  Doxie oozed out behind Alberts legs. She came back again with a
firmer tone.  Albert asked when they were ready to take off to tell him,
since they were in the same cabin, so he again could put the dog under the
seat.  To make the dog stay in such conditions well... She came back again
just about yelling at him. The plane turned around unknown to Albert. He was
asked to get off the plane and realized he was singled out to get off the
plane.

By the way there were other seats open he and his guide dog could have sat.
Albert is totally blind. He is a tall man of six foot four and slender.

Anyway, INSTEAD OF FINDING OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED YOU WINE AND PLAY THE
VICTIM.  That is not the NFB way of handling things.

Becky and Seeing Eye dog Jake    

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Corey
Grandstaff
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 8:58 AM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] {Disarmed} FW: Why a blind man, his dog, and 35
passengers left an airplane

As a dog guide user, I think it is important to add a little comment on this
story. The job of a dog guide is to be not noticed, almost to be invisible,
as much as possible. In addition, the dog guide is taught to go under
airplane seats, chairs, etc: therefore, when the gentleman's dog became
restless(which can happen after sitting on the runway for over two hours),
he could have respectfully explain his dog needed to relieve himself or get
some exercise, and typically airlines are very accommodating in this
instance. However, when the gentleman allowed his dog to begin moving around
the airplane, which is disruptive to other people, in my opinion, the dog
became noticed, which is not what is supposed to happen. I think in this
instance we need to refer back to the document Don Mitchell posted a few
weeks ago on expectations sighted people have for people who are blind. The
reason I say this is because society is jumping on the story because this
"poor blind disabled man" was kicked off an airplane. The reason they are
jumping on this is because of the low expectations sighted people have for
blind people. Therefore, when I go to fly the next time, and I have to deal
with the stereotype that dog guides cannot behave, I can blame this man who
allowed his dog guide to misbehave, just as when blind people create
stereotypes about needing help all the time, this man created a stereotype
dog guide users will now have to defend every time we fly. The fact of the
matter is his dog was not behaving correctly, and if he could not control
it, he should either go back to using a cane or remove himself from the
plane. We should not be feeling sorry for this man, he should learn how to
control his dog.
     corey
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Nightingale, Noel
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 11:30 AM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbwatlk] {Disarmed} FW: Why a blind man, his dog, and 35
passengers left an airplane

From: Anthony D. Romero, ACLU Action [mailto:aclu at aclu.org]
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 2:05 PM
To: Nightingale, Noel
Subject: Why a blind man, his dog, and 35 passengers left an airplane

[http://image.actions.aclu.org/lib/fe9315707063007477/m/1/ETTemplatelogo.png
]<http://click.actions.aclu.org/?qs=a5fc9491b5ade95d6fef8329d7c85a79531bb7d4
07c3288e46943253fe85415f>

[http://image.actions.aclu.org/lib/fe9315707063007477/m/1/servicedog-219px.j
pg]

<http://click.actions.aclu.org/?qs=a5fc9491b5ade95d9ccc79ebccd603acd93001f37
933671671d5294da109992e>US Airways kicked a blind man and his guide dog 
933671671d5294da109992e>off
a flight. Demand they apologize and make sure it never happens
again.<http://click.actions.aclu.org/?qs=a5fc9491b5ade95dfb15f547be52b48ae9d
b0f23366b514cd2bab9205ccefc6b>

[http://image.actions.aclu.org/lib/fe9315707063007477/m/1/ETTemplateb-lt.gif
]

[http://image.actions.aclu.org/lib/fe9315707063007477/m/1/ETTemplatebtn_act-
now.png]<http://click.actions.aclu.org/?qs=a5fc9491b5ade95d71e722b74e7ba7871
56b76646b9bba49082b11efce2bd8b9>

[http://image.actions.aclu.org/lib/fe9315707063007477/m/1/ETTemplateb-rt.gif
]

Please note: If you forward or distribute, the links will open a page with
your information filled in.

Dear Friends,

Passengers on a US Airways flight recently rallied around a blind man and
his service dog, who were kicked off the plane, and got the same treatment
for doing the right thing.

After a long delay on a US Airways flight, Albert Rizzi's guide dog, Doxy,
became restless from being cramped under the seat in front of him. According
to Rizzi and fellow passengers, a flight attendant insisted Doxy had to stay
under the seat or the plane would turn around. When Rizzi objected, they
were both kicked off the plane.

Then in an inspiring show of unity, his fellow passengers demanded Rizzi and
Doxy be let back on. Instead of fixing the situation, the captain cancelled
the whole flight, and all 35 passengers left the plane with Rizzi.

This story is already getting a lot of attention Wednesday is one of the
biggest traveling days of the year. But US Airways is making matters worse
by digging its heels in, insisting it did nothing wrong and refusing to
apologize to Rizzi. So let's join with Mr. Rizzi and his fellow passengers
to pressure US Airways to change their ways - and help make sure that all
airlines treat people with disabilities with dignity as they fly to see
their loved ones this holiday season.

Stand with Mr. Rizzi and his fellow passengers: sign the petition urging US
Airways to treat all passengers with disabilities with
respect.<http://click.actions.aclu.org/?qs=a5fc9491b5ade95d590858e433c62fcf3
ec2919550ae98e7a74b7d9e46414f09>

Rizzi's fellow passengers spoke out against his treatment because they knew
in their conscience what's written in law - that airlines are supposed be as
accommodating as possible to people flying with service animals; removing
the animal should be a last resort.

US Airways has been so inflexible and thoughtless that they actually posted
this on their Facebook page: "There certainly must be more to this story
than meets the eye," which is a horrible turn of phase when responding to
their treatment of a blind passenger. And they continue to blame Rizzi's
"disruptive" behavior.

The ACLU fights for the rights of all people to live lives free of
discrimination. Rizzi's story demonstrates the mistreatment people with
disabilities often face - but it also highlights the power of people joining
together to speak out for what's right. Let's make sure Rizzi knows we're
with him and call on US Airways to make sure this never happens again.

Stand with Mr. Rizzi and his fellow passengers: sign the petition urging US
Airways to treat all passengers with disabilities with
respect.<http://click.actions.aclu.org/?qs=a5fc9491b5ade95d65829434c2fa30def
beecedbb43a9d6bd8f1b0bb3be10bab>

Thank you,
Anthony for the ACLU Action team

Sources:
"The blind leading the sighted." The Economist, 11/18/2013 "Blind man and
guide dog kicked off plane; passengers follow in support." CNN, 11/15/2013

Please note: If you forward or distribute, the links will open a page with
your information filled in.

This email was sent to:
noel.nightingale at ed.gov<mailto:noel.nightingale at ed.gov>

This email was sent by:
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY, 10004, USA

Update Subscription
Preferences<http://pages.actions.aclu.org/page.aspx?qs=c76003443ff9837dd8f32
d492c60d71e8b8e715b12adc86314a4f92b7fb949f5319e18b688d9f2bffa923820e0bf973b3
87eaa640575c98aa51ced2405dc90c7ba5a7572486ec68a784f2331641af99bdde3b9ef785dc
201f8ca4b4bdd0d87a82a562a403cd6a1b1c53e68ff1e341772bd8c4dfc9f839ee7795de79e2
3e6e5ad>

We respect your right to privacy - view our
policy<http://click.actions.aclu.org/?qs=a5fc9491b5ade95dcb644d6eae245286551
399c90f6b5a0ca23e0f5fefac8e15>.
_______________________________________________
nfbwatlk mailing list
nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nfbwatlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/corey.grandstaff%40gma
il.com

_______________________________________________
nfbwatlk mailing list
nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nfbwatlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/b.butterfly%40comcast.
net

_______________________________________________
nfbwatlk mailing list
nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nfbwatlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/corey.grandstaff%40gma
il.com