[Ohio-talk] Dayton airport

Wed Dec 3 14:15:43 UTC 2014

David, unfortunately, it is not that random.  By far the majority of
people who need help in an airport need a wheelchair so that is how
the assistants think.  I understand that.  I am only suggesting that
they learn to ask what kind of assistance we need. Is that too much?

On 12/3/14, David Cohen via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Thank you Deborah!  It is an entirely random experience.  We're
> talking about minutes and most of us wait longer for buses.  Look at
> it as an opportunity to connect with someone on Facebook
>
> On 12/3/14, Deborah Kendrick via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> All,
>> I feel the need to reiterate that much of the treatment received at
>> airports
>> is random, due more in part to the individual human you encounter than to
>> an
>> overall staff deficiency.  Training for all people who deal with the
>> public,
>> which includes us, is an ongoing need, but the annoyances we sometimes
>> encounter can occur anywhere.
>> I have flown in and out of Cincinnati airport probably six times in the
>> last
>> few months.  Some of those times, the curbside check-in guys recognized
>> me,
>> called for someone to escort me to the gate, and all went smoothly.   One
>> of
>> those times, however, about three weeks ago, I went inside and the sky
>> cap
>> called for someone on his radio.  He clearly said "escort" and "guide
>> dog",
>> but here came a wheelchair.
>> It happens.
>> In Minnesota a few weeks ago, learning that I had to go from terminal B
>> to
>> G, I asked if there was an electric cart available.  There was and I
>> happily
>> climbed aboard, but had I not asked, I would have been offered no
>> assistance
>> at all.
>> I've had my share of aggravated encounters with airport workers not
>> understanding my needs, but I think that for the most part, we need to
>> just
>> keep smiling and educating, one person at a time.
>> The cane that is offered at security, by the way, is typically an
>> orthopedic
>> cane, not a long white cane.  Again, random.  I typically let them have
>> my
>> cane, if they insist, walk the three feet through the portal, and stand
>> still until it is handed back to me.  If using my dog, I have her sit,
>> walk
>> through, and call her to me.
>> Again, dog treatment is random.
>> I used to fly out of Dayton so much that many employees recognized me.
>> Still, more than once, security workers had the notion that, even though
>> my
>> dog came through without me and set off the alarm whereas I did not, I
>> had
>> to be patted down because I touched her before we arrived.
>> Silly?  Yes.  But we are dealing with mere humans, often not highly
>> educated
>> humans, who misinterpret some of the rules.
>> I'm not saying that education isn't needed.  It is always needed.  I am
>> saying that each of us can and should take a piece of the responsibility
>> for
>> that education, one ill-informed person at a time.  I admit that the
>> older
>> I
>> get, the harder it is for me to keep smiling, but experience has taught
>> me
>> that it is by far the most effective tool.
>>
>> Deborah
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Marianne
>> Denning via Ohio-talk
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 10:15 PM
>> To: Kaiti Shelton; NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
>> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Dayton airport
>>
>> Deanna, correct me if I am wrong but I thought if you had a folding cane
>> they could visually inspect you did not have to let them take your cane.
>>
>> I think we can learn from the airports and they can learn from us and it
>> will make travel better for everyone.  As long as a family member or
>> friend
>> escort you back to the gates there shouldn't be any problems.  As I said,
>> I
>> have usually been pleased with the Dayton airport.  It has only been the
>> last few trips where I have had challenges.
>>
>> On 12/2/14, Kaiti Shelton via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I wonder if such a demonstration or training would be received well by
>>> the Dayton Airport.  I know Cincinnati did something similar at CVG,
>>> and I have nothing but positive things to say about my experiences,
>>> although limited, with that airport.  When going to National
>>> Convention and coming home from it last summer, I had more trouble in
>>> the Orlando airport where all the blind people were converging, and no
>>> problems whatsoever with CVG.  I was especially impressed when in
>>> security they said, "We'll have to scan your cane with your other
>>> belongings, but we have another one you can take through the metal
>>> detector with you."  I did end up borrowing the airport's cane and
>>> traded the TSA worker at the end of the scanners for my own cane.  I
>>> have to question why, if they do have to take the person's personal
>>> cane for security measures, why don't all airports offer loaner canes
>>> to blind travelers?
>>>
>>> I'm especially interested in this, as I had to provide two separate
>>> airports as potential departure and return airports for my trip to
>>> Jamaica next summer.  I listed Dayton as my second choice, so it's
>>> probably a 50-50 shot that I'll fly out of there instead of
>>> Cincinnati.  If efforts are taken to educate the airport staff at any
>>> point I would love to help out.
>>>
>>> On 12/2/14, Cheryl Fischer via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> I've experienced helpers at various airports who wanted me to sit in
>>>> a wheelchair. Most became flustered when I refused.
>>>>
>>>> I usually say "I've been sitting a lot today and will be sitting even
>>>> longer once I get in the plane, so I really need to walk."
>>>>
>>>> One airport employee explained that the reason they seemed anxious
>>>> and needed me to get in the chair was because they were responsible
>>>> for the wheelchair, and so they couldn't leave it behind. I suggested
>>>> that we put my bags in the chair and that I would follow by holding
>>>> onto their elbow while they pushed the wheelchair along. This worked
>>>> out fine.
>>>>
>>>> I recall one time that I gave in and allowed myself to be pushed to
>>>> my destination in a wheelchair. I don't remember the details, but I
>>>> think it was a situation where I felt that it would be cruel to give
>>>> this particular airport helper a hard time.
>>>>
>>>> Cheryl
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>>> Deborah Kendrick via Ohio-talk
>>>> Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2014 8:59 AM
>>>> To: 'Marianne Denning'; 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
>>>> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Dayton airport
>>>>
>>>> This is very surprising.  I have flown out of Dayton many, many times
>>>> over the past decade and never had the wheelchair conversation.
>>>> Sounds like maybe you have just had the misfortune of running into
>>>> one or two ill-informed employees.  And those can pop up anywhere --
>>>> and
>> do!
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>>> Marianne Denning via Ohio-talk
>>>> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2014 9:24 PM
>>>> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
>>>> Subject: [Ohio-talk] Dayton airport
>>>>
>>>> I have been flying out of the Dayton airport lately.  Every time I
>>>> have gone through that airport lately I have been told they would get
>>>> a wheelchair for me.  I tell them I don't need a wheelchair but
>>>> someone to walk me to the gate.  The conversation goes downhill from
>>>> that point.  I have not used a wheelchair but they act like I have a
>>>> bad attitude.  I don't yell at anyone, I try to tell them in an
>>>> assertive way that I don't need the wheelchair.
>>>> Has anyone else had a similar experience at the Dayton airport?
>>>> Could the NFB of Dayton or another nearby chapter offer to provide
>>>> training to the different airlines and the meet and assist staff of
>>>> that airport?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kaiti Shelton
>>> University of Dayton 2016.
>>> Music Therapy, Psychology, Philosophy
>>> President, Ohio Association of Blind Students Sigma Alpha Iota-Delta
>>> Sigma
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>> (513) 607-6053
>>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053