[Ohio-talk] Another view - I don't have it in for any airline

Mon Nov 18 13:35:49 UTC 2013

That is a delightful column! Your tone is just right, and your solution is
brilliant, though I expect US Air could not recognize common sense if it hit
them over their corporate heads!

Barbara 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Deborah
Kendrick
Sent: Sunday, November 17, 2013 1:44 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Another view - I don't have it in for any airline

Since the whole airline situation has everyone talking, I thought I'd share
my newspaper column, in today's Columbus Dispatch, with you all.  You could
go read it yourself, but I am pasting it here, courtesy of NFB NEWSLINE.
Would love to hear what you think of my spin on the situation.

Deborah Kendrick commentary: Common sense can smooth out a flight. Sunday
November 17, 2013 6:58 AM At first, I admit, I paid attention to the story
only because I had just booked my flight to Florida for Thanksgiving and had
found the procrastinator's lowest fare to be on an airline I've never
patronized: U.S. Airways. A story combining U.S. Airways and "guide dog" in
its lead naturally garnered my attention. Albert Rizzi and his dog, Doxy,
were kicked off a U.S. Airways flight from Philadelphia to Long Island on
Wednesday night. The flight was delayed. Maybe you've been there - everyone
cramped in their tiny spaces, sitting on the tarmac, waiting for the plane
to just take off already. Guide dogs are typically extremely well trained,
but they are living creatures, after all, and this one was apparently
restless after an hour and a half. The flight attendant told Rizzi to get
his dog completely under the seat. When he couldn't do that, she called
security, the plane returned to the gate, and the man-dog team were escorted
off the plane. What made the story noteworthy was the reaction of the
remaining 30-some passengers. Removing Rizzi from the plane was absurd and
uncalled for, many passengers protested. The pilot came out of the cockpit
and pronounced the flight cancelled. In a powerful act of solidarity, the
passengers followed Rizzi and Doxy, many of them then taking the bus back to
Long Island rather than booking another flight. Email lists and Facebook
pages have been buzzing with the outrage and support of guide-dog users and
general empathizers. Everyone has a story. And most of the stories represent
a simple lack of communication and common sense. The problem is not so much
that there aren't regulations in place. There are. The problem is that each
airline and airport employee - whether working security, curbside check-in,
or serving coffee to the squished human cargo - has a tendency to interpret
rules in line with his or her own personal biases. Here are just a few of my
own experiences when flying with dogs: I have been told while going through
security that I cannot touch my dog until we have both been inspected. I
have been told while going through security that I must touch my dog until
we have both been inspected. I have been told that I absolutely can not sit
in a bulkhead row. I have been told that I must sit in a bulkhead row and
nowhere else. I could go on, but you get the gist. Each of these "rules" has
been stated with absolute conviction and authority by the employee involved
and, luckily for me, I have dissuaded them of their convictions through
good, old-fashioned conversation and explanation. No doubt I have been very
fortunate. I have never been kicked off a plane. In fact, I've often
received unexpected treats because some other human loves cute canines. Gate
agents have generously given me a seat with an unoc'cup'ied one beside it so
my dog can stretch out. Flight attendants have been known to move me to
first class because they like Labradors. And fellow passengers have begged
to mind my dog while I go to the rest room at the back of the plane. I have
had several guide dogs over time - ranging from 46 to 86 pounds, including a
German Shepherd, a few golden retrievers, both black and yellow labs. And
I've flown more times than I can possibly count. What I've learned is that
every person using a service animal develops a personal style for handling
the traveling-with-dog situation. Some dogs fits easily under a seat, and
some don't. Some sleep through anything, while others are a bit more prone
to anxiety. These are humans and dogs we are talking about here. Living
beings simply are never going to be as compliant or predictable as inanimate
objects. If other airlines - indeed, other businesses of all types - want to
avoid being the center of similarly unpopular headlines, here's all you need
to do. Test your employees for common sense from time to time. And require
that anyone dealing with customers has a certain measure of respect for
other humans - even ones who use dogs to guide them on and off the plane.
Albert Rizzi's fellow passengers clearly possessed that kind of respect for
a fellow human. Maybe U.S. Airways should hire some of them. Deborah
Kendrick is a Cincinnati writer and advocate for people with disabilities.
dkkendrick at earthlink.net This article is provided to you as a courtesy of
NFB-NEWSLINER Online for your sole use. The content of this E-mail is
protected under copyright law, and is not to be distributed in any manner to
others; infringement of our non-dissemination agreement is strictly
prohibited. Allowing someone to have access to this material is in violation
of the Terms of Use agreement that you electronically signed when you signed
up for NFB-NEWSLINER Online. Please do not forward this E-mail or its
attachments to any other person or disseminate it in any manner. Thank you.
The NFB-NEWSLINER Team.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dawn
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 8:18 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline

Hello  I am laughing   this is so funny  everyone  have a blessed day  and
thank God for the N F B  and all the wonderfull people  who are members

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of COLLEEN
ROTH
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 7:36 PM
To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline

Well if Wanda has been an NFB Member for 188 years she was definitely
pre-NFB.
Happy 73rd Birday, NFB.
We were formed in Wilke-Barre November 16, 1940.
Go have some yummy to celebrate.
Colleen Roth

----- Original Message -----
From: Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com>
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Friday, November 15, 2013 10:51 am
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline

>
>
> Wanda, you don't look as old as you must be if you have been an NFB 
> member for 188 years.  (smile)
> 
> On 11/16/13, Wanda Sloan <wsloan118 at roadrunner.com> wrote:
> > I agree.  I have been a NFB member for over 188 years and this issue 
> > with the Guide Dogs has always been a topic of aggravation for the 
> > blind
users.
> > On going education is very necessary.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> > Marianne Denning
> > Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 12:09 PM
> > To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
> > Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
> >
> > Cheryl, we did that several years ago in Cincinnati, excuse me, 
> > Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport.  I think it is ongoing 
> > education that needs to happen.  Great idea!
> >
> > On 11/14/13, Cheryl Fields <cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Mary Ann,
> >>
> >> Some years ago I had a dog and I never had a problem traveling, by 
> >> air or bus. The majority of my problems were with people and their 
> >> cars, smiles, my dog was big and they always wanted him to get in 
> >> the back seat.
> >> Do you think we should have some guide dog users and wheel chair 
> >> users schedule some conversations with local administration of 
> >> airlines to offer some education for their employees? This could be 
> >> helpful and get directly to the problems.So many airline employees 
> >> move from city to city, once educated they can spread the word and 
> >> learn about the nfb.
> >>
> >> Blessings,
> >> cheryl
> >>
> >> On 11/14/13, Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com> wrote:
> >>> Please don't think I hate any airline.  It looks like there is a 
> >>> pattern developing at U.S. Airways and that is of concern.
> >>>
> >>> 
> >>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> >>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> >>> (513) 607-6053
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Ohio-talk mailing list
> >>> Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> >>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> >>> for
> >>> Ohio-talk:
> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/cherylelain
> >>> e19
> >>> 57%40gmail.com
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> 
> >> Peace
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Ohio-talk mailing list
> >> Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> >> for
> >> Ohio-talk:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/marianne%40d
> >> enn
> >> ingweb.com
> >>
> >
> >
> > 
> > Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> > Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> > (513) 607-6053
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ohio-talk mailing list
> > Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> > for
> > Ohio-talk:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/wsloan118%40r
> > oadrunne
> > r.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ohio-talk mailing list
> > Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> > for
> > Ohio-talk:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/marianne%40de
> > nningweb.com
> >
> 
> 
> 
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ohio-talk mailing list
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