[nfbwatlk] Discrimination on Metro bus

[Arielle Silverman]

How sadly ironic is it that the term "ADA seats" is being invoked by a
driver who is clearly in violation of the ADA's spirit of
nondiscrimination.

On 12/28/14, Tanna Shoyo via nfbwatlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> That is messed up.  If it will turn what is the bus, they would have to move
> anyways. That driver's "so called" ADA Logic stinks.
> Tanna
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Dec 28, 2014, at 5:54 PM, Marci Carpenter via nfbwatlk
>> <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> BREAKING NEWS - SEATTLE: Today around 1:25 pm Mike Mello and Cindy Bennett
>> were denied entrance onto a Metro bus. As they began to board the driver
>> said, loudly, "My ADA section is full". They stated that they did not
>> require seats in the front to the bus. The driver kept repeating his
>> statement louder each time until he was yelling at them. they asked if his
>> entire bus was full. He eventually said that it was, but they know this
>> wasn't true since Cindy was already inside and could tell there were no
>> people standing near the front. They eventually left and caught another
>> bus home. It was a disturbing encounter and a clear case of
>> discrimination. The law does not require that blind people sit near the
>> front. It simply says that they are allowed to do so. These 2 blind people
>> are in their 20's and 30's and are perfectly capable of finding other
>> seats or standing; they are frequent transit riders and have never
>> experienced anything so harsh and degrading. They have filed complaints
>> with Metro. I have also done so as the President of the National
>> Federation of the Blind of Washington. We want the public to know about
>> this. I have also contacted local media to educate the public about this
>> issue. We will not allow this to go on. If you would like to discuss this
>> with me please feel free to call or email me.
>> Marci Carpenter, President
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> of Washington
>> mjc59 at comcast.net
>> 206-604-5507
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