[Travelandtourism] ADA Suit Against Disney May Expand
Trevor Attenberg
tattenberg at gmail.com
Sun Aug 31 19:57:35 UTC 2014
With regards to the ADA thing, it doesn't seem to me like we're discussing
much of a blindness issue. As a blind guy, I have no problem waiting in
lines for whatever, so long as I know where the line is moving--there are
various adaptive strategies for dealing with lines non-visually. On the
other hand, those of us with disabilities that directly impact our mobility,
including paraplegia, may have a completely different perspective. I can't
properly speak to that. We are pretty strictly a blindness group; and thus
our inclusion in this ADA Disney issue may be confusing or misleading to
outsiders and others who wonder how blind people function. Although, it
should be said we haven't actually given this topic much discussion, so
don't take this as a jab against any people on the list. What would probably
be pretty interesting would be to discuss just how blind people function in
environments like amusement parks, where there are big crowds, often long
lines, and a pretty complex and extensive landscape.
How do you handle this?
Best,
Trevor
-----Original Message-----
From: Travelandtourism [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Andrews via Travelandtourism
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2014 12:37 PM
To: Cheryl Echevarria; NFB Travel and Tourism Division List
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] ADA Suit Against Disney May Expand
I unsubscribed her.
Dave
At 06:49 AM 8/31/2014, you wrote:
>You have to go to NFBnet.org to unsubscribe from your account. You
>belong to other nfbnet.org talk lists just go there and take yourself
>off.
>I am sorry you no longer want to belong to the great list and possible
>belong to the division.
>Cheryl Echevarria, President National Federation of the Blind's Travel
>and Tourism Division A proud division of the NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
>BLIND - "Live the life you want"
>www.nfbtravel.org 631-236-5138
>cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com The National Federation of the Blind knows
>that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your
>future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because
>low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams.
>You can have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>Cheryl Echevarria is also the owner of Echevarria Travel
>www.echevarriatravel.com; 631-456-5394 or
>reservations at echevarriatravel.com and has partnered with Braille
>Smith.
>www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs. Gail Smith is the
>Secretary of the NFB of Alabama From: kcsmith8911
>[mailto:kcsmith8911 at msn.com] Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2014 9:40 PM
>To: Cheryl Echevarria; 'NFB Travel and Tourism Division List'; Amy
>Baron; Glenda Farnum; Margo downey; Jemal Powell; Steven Hastalis; john
>Tebockhorst
>Subject: RE: [Travelandtourism] ADA Suit Against Disney May Expand I do
>not want to receive any more emails from you guys. I have tried to opt
>out from the NFb. Web site 2 times but I still get emails. Please
>immediately remove me from your email list. Kathi Smith Sent on the new
>Sprint Network from my Samsung Galaxy S®4.
>-------- Original message -------- From: Cheryl Echevarria via
>Travelandtourism Date:08/30/2014
>2:35 PM (GMT-08:00) To: 'NFB Travel and Tourism Division List' ,Amy
>Baron ,Glenda Farnum ,Margo downey ,Jemal Powell ,Steven Hastalis ,john
>Tebockhorst Cc: Mark Jones Subject:
>[Travelandtourism] ADA Suit Against Disney May Expand This was posted
>yesterday on www.disabilityscoop.com <http://www.disabilityscoop.com>
><http://www.disabilityscoop.com> and online e-newsmagazine. Now for
>those of us, who went to Epcot this past summer, the Travel and Tourism
>Officers did go, we had some issues not with the rides, but other
>things, we are working with Mark Jones about. I have to say that when
>we were in Orlando, we didn't have an issues with the rides, but you
>never know. Here is the story, and Mark if you can chime in after the
>holiday or whenever you can. I am still waiting for you to get back to
>me to give you information with our credit card. Anyway, here is the
>article. The number of families looking to sue Disney over changes to
>its theme park access policy for people with disabilities is growing
>substantially. An additional 30 families including 36 individuals with
>disabilities are seeking to join a lawsuit originally filed this spring
>that accuses Walt Disney Parks and Resorts of violating the Americans
>with Disabilities Act by failing to accommodate their special needs.
>Initially, 14 families including
>16 people with disabilities were part of the lawsuit. The allegations
>stem from modifications last fall to Disney's procedures for
>accommodating visitors with disabilities. Prior to the change, those
>with special needs were provided passes that often allowed them and
>their guests to skip to the front of long lines for park attractions.
>Now, however, individuals with disabilities can schedule a return time
>for rides based on current wait times. Disney officials said the
>changes were necessary following "widespread" abuse of the old system.
>Since the new policy took effect, the families say in their lawsuit
>that visits to Disney theme parks have been marked by long waits and
>difficult interactions with Disney employees.
>What's more, the suit cites cases of kids with developmental
>disabilities who have experienced meltdowns allegedly because they
>could not handle waiting for rides. After the initial complaint was
>filed earlier this year, attorneys for the families "received an
>outpouring of phone calls and emails" from others who were similarly
>affected by changes to the disability access policy at Disneyland and
>Disney World, according to documents filed with the U.S.
>District Court for the Central District of California this week. "Most
>of the victims wanted to offer cheers of support and witness
>assistance; some were in search of counsel.
>Ultimately, the undersigned counsel agreed to represent many of them,"
>the attorneys, Andy Dogali and Eugene Feldman, wrote. Disney vehemently
>denied the allegations in a court filing last month saying that "all
>guests with disabilities are provided the level of accommodation
>required by law." At that time, the company requested that the lawsuit
>be dismissed. Attorneys for Disney have indicated they will fight
>efforts to add more families to the case when the issue goes before the
>court in October. The case is not expected to go to trial until 2016.
>Cheryl Echevarria, President National Federation of the Blind's Travel
>and Tourism Division A proud division of the NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
>BLIND - "Live the life you want" www.nfbtravel.org
><http://www.nfbtravel.org> 631-236-5138 cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
><mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> The National Federation of the Blind
>knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your
>future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because
>low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams.
>You can have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>Cheryl Echevarria is also the owner of Echevarria Travel
>www.echevarriatravel.com <http://www.echevarriatravel.com> ;
>631-456-5394 or reservations at echevarriatravel.com
><mailto:reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
>and has partnered with Braille Smith.
>www.braillesmith.com
><http://www.braillesmith.com> for all her braille needs. Gail Smith
>is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
>_______________________________________________
>Travelandtourism mailing list
>Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org <mailto:Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
E-Mail: dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org
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