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

Mon Nov 18 16:13:21 UTC 2013

I agree with you J W.  Kaity has a problem in that area and it will
take care of itself over time.  Unfortunately, people think young
people don't really know what they need.  Keep on it Kaity and it will
change.

On 11/18/13, Smith, JW <smithj at ohio.edu> wrote:
>
> Preach it Kaiti!
>
> I hope that I don't offend anyone but I am finding it harder and harder to
> fine a taxicab driver or airport escort that speaks English or even American
> whatever that is!
>
> It is one of the benefits and challenges of diversity but it is all good
> most of the time.
>
> I find that you do have to be a bit more aggressive and inquisitive in both
> situations to maximize your success!
>
> Jw
>
> Dr. JW Smith
> Associate Professor
> Interim Director of Honors Tutorial Studies
> School of Communication Studies
> Lasher Hall, Rm. 112
> Athens, OH 45701
> smithj at ohio.edu
> T: 740-593-4838
> F: 740-593-4810
>
> *Ask me about the newly revised Ohio Fellows Program or visit
> http://www.ohio.edu/univcollege/ohiofellows.cfm
>
> "Regarding the past, change what you can, and can what you can't."
> "Our minds are like parachutes. They work best when they are open."
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
> Shelton
> Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 11:37 PM
> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
>
> Hi,
>
> I have not traveled by air much, but I had an interesting experience when I
> traveled this summer.  My trip down to the NFB convention went fine, but
> then again I had my mother with me till I boarded at Cincinnati because she
> wanted to see me off.  I got through the Orlando airport and onto the
> shuttle to go to the hotel without incident, and the airline volunteer who
> escorted me was fantastic.  On the morning I was supposed to go home I
> arrived at the airport and got through luggage check and got my boarding
> pass myself, but asked to have an escort help me get to my gate from there
> because I did not remember the way and didn't want to miss my flight.  This
> worker was not as good as the one I got a few days before.  First, I
> explained that it was best for my notetaker to be examined by hand rather
> than sent through a scanner, and instead of taking me to the examiner so I
> could hand it off like the attendant in the Cincinnati airport did he took
> it from the bin in which I had unloaded all my things that were in my
> backpack for examination.  Then when I asked where it was he didn't give me
> a straight answer.  I did get it back, but it was scary because he started
> walking with me somewhere else with all of my other things until I refused
> to go any further without the notetaker.  He went back and got it, but just
> left me in the middle of the airport when I had said I would go back and get
> it if he would give me some direction.  Once I got it back I was a little
> happier, and he was pretty good for the most part in taking me where I
> wanted to go.  (to the restroom, to buy a bottle of water so I could take a
> decongestant before boarding, etc).  The only troubling thing after that,
> and the most troubling part of my whole travel experience, was that once he
> got to the gate that was on my boarding pass he left me.  I noticed that a
> lot of people were exiting the gate, and asked a nearby family if something
> had changed.  Sure enough, they said that the screen showing the flight
> information had announced a change of gate shortly before the airline
> attendant dropped me off at the gate, and the mother and the teenaged
> daughter in the family were particularly troubled that he did not check the
> information and just hurried away because they were sure that he should have
> given me that information.
> They were able to give me directions to get to the correct gate so I didn't
> miss my flight home, and thankfully everything else was fine.
>
> I'm sure the airport was really packed with tons of blind people going home
> that particular day, and I even ran into quite a few even though I got to
> the airport at 5:30 in the morning.  I think there is much more education
> than just the cane and dog stuff that needs to happen, and it really needs
> to be at a deeper level because it is not just a regional thing, but even
> within airports there are different levels of service and awareness from
> employee to employee.
>
> I will say though that I think the work done at CVG has paid off.  I was
> pleasantly surprised when I got up to the scanners and an attendant asked if
> I would like to use a graphite cane the airport kept around while mine went
> through the metal detector.  They were also a lot more transparent with what
> they were doing to my notetaker, and took care of things in a quicker manner
> than the Orlando airport did on my return trip which I appreciated.  I think
> a slight language barrier might have been some of the problem with the
> second guy in Orlando, and though I traveled at around the same time for
> both flights I think traveling on a Monday morning was much easier than
> traveling on a Saturday because the second trip was definitely busier;
> however, I still don't understand why he would start taking me somewhere
> without one of my belongings and not stop until I absolutely refused to go
> further without it.
>
> Perhaps some energy can be put specifically on the Orlando airport, since
> that is going to be an important one for the next several years.
>
> On 11/16/13, Cheryl Fields <cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Great news, looking forward to it!
>> C
>>
>> On 11/16/13, COLLEEN ROTH <n8tnv at att.net> wrote:
>>> Hi Cheryl and Marianne,
>>> I think NAGDU will probably ask xs' Divisions in each State to
>>> coordinate some educational activities.
>>> I do think that all of us in the NFB whether whether we have a dog or
>>> not should know policies in effect in case we are in a situation
>>> where this knowledge might be helpful.
>>> I for one want Gudide Dod users to be able to use their dogs for
>>> independent travel. At the same time I want my right to avoid sitting
>>> by one to be respected.
>>> Many of you at the Convention know of my major fear and respect my
>>> feelings.
>>> For that I am truly grateful. This has taken a long time.
>>> I am no longer put down or harassed. By the same token, I no longer
>>> hate dogs with the exception of Pitt Bulls.
>>> I just want my space and dogs to be on leashes.
>>> I will stand up for your rights have a dog. I always did this but was
>>> happy when I really didn't need to do anything.
>>> In recent years, I have spoken up for blind people in Toledo who had
>>> issues.
>>> I referred them to other Guide dog users but still stayed involved.
>>> I by recently at a meeting where someones's guide dog had to be
>>> chased and brought back to her owner.
>>> This shouldn't happen. Guide dog handlers should be in control of
>>> their dogs.
>>> Have a gr day and fight for airline equity for all.
>>> Colleen Roth
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Cheryl Fields <cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com>
>>> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> Date: Thursday, November 14, 2013 12:00 pm
>>> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] I don't have it in for any airline
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 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
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>>>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> > for
>>>> > Ohio-talk:
>>>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/cherylelain
>>>> > e1957%40gmail.com
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -
>>>> Peace
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> et
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Peace
>>
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>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053