[Ohio-talk] fyi not just us

[COLLEEN ROTH]

Unfortunately this problem with wheelchairs is well known among those who need them.
When we took Karen to Dallas I had been warned about this problem.
If a chair has a lot of custom features this can be a real problem.
There definitely should be training for those who handle wheelchairs and specialized equipment.
Some locations do not even have ramps for people who need them.
in 1993 I ended up carrying Karen down the aisle. She wasn't able to be accommodated in the wheelchair they had to use due to the narrow aisles on planes. 
Hopefully there will be more training for airline personnel so that these issues do not continue to occur.
Colleen Roth




----- Original Message -----
From: richard payne <rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'Ationfb of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 10:46 pm
Subject: [Ohio-talk] fyi not just us

>
>
> Feature Writer John Christie — Airlines Mishandle Wheelchairs for the
> Disabled and End Up Breaking Them
> 
>  
> 
> Yomi Wrong, a disabled passenger who depends on a motorized wheelchair for
> mobility flew to Florida for a conference. When she got to her destination,
> she waited for an hour until finally the airline found her wheelchair. When
> the wheelchair was given back to her, the headrest and backrest were broken
> off the wheelchair and lying on the seat. When she asked if someone from the
> airline or airport could assist her with fixing the chair, she was told that
> they couldn't get involved because of liability reasons. 
> 
>  
> 
> "It goes to a lack of awareness and effective training. Ultimately this
> amounts to discrimination to one group of passengers, people with
> disabilities," she said. 
> 
>  
> 
> Wrong's wheelchair is made specifically for her. She attempted to fix the
> wheelchair with no tools. However, in doing this, she lost many hours when
> she was supposed to be at a conference. After her return to California, the
> airline repaired her damaged chair. 
> 
>  
> 
> "This chair costs $26,000 — more than some people pay for a vehicle. When
> you hand your keys over to a valet you don't expect that they're going to
> crash your car and not take responsibility for it and that's what happens to
> us," says Wrong. 
> 
>  
> 
> With wheelchairs that are electric, there may be damage that the naked eye
> can't see but this damage may make the electrical circuits malfunction. 
> 
>  
> 
> The main reason why these wheelchairs end up damaged on airline flights is
> because they are put with the luggage and go up a conveyor belt. 
> 
>  
> 
> The disabled have been fighting for decades to get laws passed and enforced
> on this issue. 
> 
>  
> 
> The Air Carrier Access Act was passed in 1986. This law prevents
> discrimination against the disabled. The law has to be overseen and enforced
> by the Department of Transportation. However, this law has weak enforcement.
> That's why we are not seeing a resolution to these civil rights issues when
> it comes to the disabled. 
> 
>  
> 
> Meanwhile, if you have a broken wheelchair you may have to wait awhile to
> see if the airlines will repair it. You'll have better luck with the
> airlines getting a new wheelchair repaired than an old one. 
> 
>  
> 
> The Air Carrier Access Act as of right now is weak. The law has to be made
> stronger and enforced. Without this the disabled won't have a leg to stand
> on or a wheelchair to sit on. 
> 
>  
> 
> Source:
> http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/10/18/disabled-wheelchair-
> airlines-damage-air-carriers-access-act/2962483/
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
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