[Travelandtourism] Amtrak

Tue Oct 1 23:03:15 UTC 2013

Steve Johnson:

This is our business, we need to know these issues so we never have it happen again.

These issues happened back in 2011 and 2012.

Just like the airline issues we have and other travel related issues, we need to know as well. 

Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute, has been putting out to all member of the NFBNET in the braille Monitor and also Dr. Maurer, has mentioned about our National Survey's after the National Convention, or anytime someone travels that has issues. That is what this division is for as well.

So no, we will not let them take care of it themselves.

We are an organization that works on these issues, and not just work on people having the same interests in traveling together.

Cheryl Echevarria

Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerwww.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.comwww.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com

Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10 FLST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a blind child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama

> From: blinddog3 at charter.net
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 17:25:25 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Amtrak
> 
> Just a thought, but how about empowering this individual to get to the
> bottom of the issue himself and instead of doing it for him, providing
> support so he can become a stronger and more effective advocate for himself?
> Sometimes, I believe that outside interference/intervention is unnecessary.
> Teach a man to fish, don't fish for him.  As you can see from a number of
> responses, this is not generally the case and is most likely a very isolated
> situation as it occurred over a year ago.  
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Travelandtourism [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Trevor Attenberg
> Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 5:18 PM
> To: 'NFB Travel and Tourism Division List'
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Amtrak
> 
> Hey guys,
> I don't feel one necessarily has to state their blindness when making
> reservations. That's not typically something I do--I prefer getting the help
> I need when I need it instead of having people decide that for me ahead of
> time. That holds true with train, plane, and bus, but it's just my
> preference as I like to be left alone sometimes. Of course there are plenty
> of situations where you will want to bring up the issue of your blindness
> ahead of time in order to optimize your outcome. I don't think I can add
> anything else to the Amtrak conversation, save ditto to those who pointed
> out the fact this is illegal, and unprofessional behavior. Quite often
> people will ask me how much vision I have in casual situations when I'm
> asking about something or trying to just chat. I generally feel it's a lame
> topic that will just waste time without helping anyone; so I will sidestep
> the issue as politely as possible. People's perception that they should plan
> ahead of time about how to react to you based on how much vision you have
> suggests ignorance about blindness and providing assistance in general.
> Speaking for myself, it is extremely difficult to describe my vision, even
> if I have all the time in the world. With that said, I recommend going into
> situations with a clear idea of what kind of help and directions you need.
> This way folks shouldn't be left guessing as to how best they can provide
> accommodation. 
> Best,
> Trev
>        
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Travelandtourism [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jordan Gallacher
> Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 2:56 PM
> To: NFB Travel and Tourism Division List
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Amtrak
> 
> The horrible experience happened in March 2012, and the dining car issue was
> both in March 2012 and November 2011.
> Jordan
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> > On Oct 1, 2013, at 4:46 PM, cheryl echevarria 
> > <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> > 
> > Jordan, you are saying when you had a guide dog. How long ago did this
> issue happen? 
> > 
> > Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in
> Independent Travel!
> > Cheryl Echevarria,
> Ownerwww.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.comww
> w.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
> > 
> > Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST -
> #1018299-10 FLST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a
> blind child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
> https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has
> partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her
> braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
> > 
> >> From: jordanandseptember at gmail.com
> >> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 16:44:01 -0500
> >> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> >> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Amtrak
> >> 
> >> At the time, I was using a guide dog.  I can tell you that they are 
> >> not
> following or have not been following their dining car reservation policy at
> the time of travel.  There was at least once I can recall where I was denied
> access to the dining car with the statement being made there is no room for
> your dog.  There is a very simple solution to the dining car issue.  Amtrak
> needs to make sure that they are walking through the cars for lunch and
> dinner taking reservations.  There is still no excuse to tell me that there
> is no room for my dog or the dining car is full.  The two trains that have
> been the issue are the City of New Orleans and the Crescent.  I will give
> you as much details as I can.
> >> Thanks,
> >> Jordan
> >> 
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >> 
> >>> On Oct 1, 2013, at 4:20 PM, cheryl echevarria
> <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>> 
> >>> Really, wow!
> >>> 
> >>> Please again, write everything up so we can help.
> >>> 
> >>> Send me the information please to
> >>> 
> >>> cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
> >>> 
> >>> And we will get to the bottom of this.  
> >>> 
> >>> I will be seeing Mark Riccobono this weekend at the NFB of  NY State
> Convention in Albany
> >>> 
> >>> 
> >>> Do you also use a guide dog, cane, sighted guide, just wondering, 
> >>> that
> way if it has to do with a guide dog as well, we can get some assistance
> from Marion Gwizdala, President of NAGDU. 
> >>> 
> >>> 
> >>> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in
> Independent Travel!
> >>> Cheryl Echevarria,
> Ownerwww.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.comww
> w.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
> >>> 
> >>> Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST -
> #1018299-10 FLST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a
> blind child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
> https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has
> partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her
> braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
> >>> 
> >>>> From: jordanandseptember at gmail.com
> >>>> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 16:01:34 -0500
> >>>> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Amtrak
> >>>> 
> >>>> I've been denied access to the dining car too based on being blind 
> >>>> as
> well.
> >>>> Jordan
> >>>> 
> >>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>> 
> >>>>> On Oct 1, 2013, at 3:57 PM, cheryl echevarria
> <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> No that is against, ADA about this. We had our monthly meeting 
> >>>>> last
> night, would have loved to learned this then, but I will be contacting
> Amtrak, and forwarding this to Mark Riccobono and the paralegals in
> Baltimore.
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> That is none of their business how much vision you have.
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Cheryl Echevarria, President
> >>>>> NFB Travel & Tourism Division
> >>>>> National Federation of the Blind
> >>>>> www.nfbtravel.org
> >>>>> 631-236-5138
> >>>>> info at nfbtravel.org
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way 
> >>>>> in
> Independent Travel!
> >>>>> Cheryl Echevarria,
> Ownerwww.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.comww
> w.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST -
> #1018299-10 FLST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a
> blind child.  Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
> https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has
> partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her
> braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
> >>>>> 
> >>>>>> From: jordanandseptember at gmail.com
> >>>>>> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 15:53:50 -0500
> >>>>>> To: Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> >>>>>> Subject: [Travelandtourism] Amtrak
> >>>>>> 
> >>>>>> Is there a reason Amtrak asks for how much vision a blind person 
> >>>>>> has
> when calling on the phone to book a reservation?  I ask because the last
> time I took Amtrak somewhere I ended up being treated horribly.
> >>>>>> Thanks,
> >>>>>> Jordan
> >>>>>> 
> >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>> 
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> >>>> 
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> >> 
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> >                         
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