[Travelandtourism] What's important to you as a blind air traveler?

Wed May 6 03:17:07 UTC 2015

Hi Jordan, thanks for sharing this very useful advice! Can you please
describe a bit more how Northwest, Continental and Southwest are
better, and how Delta, American and U.S. Air are not as good?
Thanks a lot!
Best,
Phil

On 5/5/15, Jordan Gallacher via Travelandtourism
<travelandtourism at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Bus wise, the Greyhound iPhone app is totally inaccessible.
> Air travel wise there needs to be more and better training of the customer
> service agents who come to assist.  I find that all airlines are different,
> and I have had the most success with used to be Northwest, Continnential,
> and Southwest getting assistance wise.  Delta, US Air and American I have
> had problems with assistance.
> Jordan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Travelandtourism [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Phil via Travelandtourism
> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2015 11:09 AM
> To: NFB Travel and Tourism Division List
> Cc: Phil; Milton Taylor; john Tebockhorst; Steven Hastalis; Jemal Powell;
> miltjotaylor at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] What's important to you as a blind air
> traveler?
>
> Hi all, thanks for sharing your views on this! Many good points so far.
> Besides things that frustrate you, what are some things that airlines and
> airports are doing well that are important to you and that they should keep
> doing or expand? Please feel free to cite both domestic or international
> examples.
> Also, what are some things that are done well for blind bus and train
> travelers that you wish were also somehow available for blind air travelers?
> Thanks a lot!
> Phil
>
>
>
>
> On 5/5/15, Cheryl Echevarria via Travelandtourism
> <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> It was a statement in general, where looks are deceiving and that you
>> should educate and advocate.
>>
>> Don't sit back and let them force you into a wheelchair.
>>
>> Today many people at the airport do not do this any longer. If you
>> show that you are confident and professional and not rude or mean
>> about something and calmly. This is not saying that I am responding
>> directly to Trevor on this topic.
>>
>> Learning myself, I have fought tooth and nail in a rude and nasty
>> attitude in the past to the rude and nasty people at the airport, it
>> gets you nowhere.
>>
>> If you patient, educated and instill your rights not just at the
>> airport, but anywhere, then they will be less likely to treat you like
>> a person they don't respect. To that person they respect and will
>> learn from and take that back with them to work.
>>
>> Case in point, nothing to do with the airport.
>>
>> During Meet the Blind Month of October 2013. Travel & Tourism did
>> there 1st Fundraiser Trip to Las Vegas & Utah. The tour company we
>> used never knew anything about the blind, and what we could do or how
>> we could explore the areas around us.
>>
>> We had an experiment with all travelers on our 1st full day, while we
>> were at one of the State Parks.
>>
>> We got out and walked around, somewhere wondering, we cannot see
>> anything why are we here.
>>
>> I said to everyone stop where you are, what do you hear?
>>
>> Some heard birds and the horses in the air because this park was also
>> a place they people came to ride their horses.
>>
>> Some people said they heard nothing and were happy about it, because
>> where they live, it was all noise, that it was peace full.
>>
>> I said, mend down and touch something. Some felt the desert plants or
>> flowers, the red clay dirt.
>>
>> We ate lunch together as a picnic, that was tasting.
>>
>> We got to climb up to where the original settlers heading north carved
>> their names and dates on the side of the canyons at the park.
>>
>> Some couldn't climb so they slid down on their butts, like myself.
>>
>> The point I am trying to make is, that we are also teachers to one
>> another and to those around us.
>>
>> So getting back to the airports, and sensitivity of having people run
>> after you with a wheelchair, or not getting your off the planes fast
>> enough, etc.
>>
>> Remember that we represent all blind people and not just each other.
>> Educating that we don't need a wheelchair or an arm, or fighting to
>> sit anywhere with a guide dog on a plane, like Secretary - Margo
>> Downey did a few years ago with her dog.
>>
>> Or the arrest of people for sitting in the an emergency exit seat of a
>> plane.
>>
>> So, the response may not be fully to answer Trevor about looking
>> blind, or anything else. It has to do the general questions this
>> morning about the airlines.
>>
>> We have had people arrested for sitting in areas of the planes.
>>
>> The point is that we need to stand up for ourselves. So other will follow.
>>
>> We are in our 75th Year, let's keep up that fight. If we do not want
>> something and we didn't ask for it, then do use it.
>>
>> If we did then take it.
>>
>>
>> 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
>> Travel is our specialty and offering the best of meaningful travel for
>> all ages is our passion!
>> http://www.echevarriatravel.com
>> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>> 631-456-5394
>>
>> Visit my website to get my FREE report, “Top 5 Good Reasons to Use a
>> Travel Professional”
>>
>> I build my business on referrals. Please pass my details on to friends
>> and family members that deserve the best vacation that they can
>> imagine
>>
>> P.S. – Families of all sizes is my specialty. Whether you are just
>> starting out and looking for that romantic destination for your
>> destination wedding or honeymoon. Booking that planned family vacation
>> to Walt Disney World or that bucket list trip that Grandma  & Grandpa
>> are planning for the family, I would love to help you.
>>
>> We have partnered with Braille Smith. www.braillesmith.com for all her
>> braille needs.  Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: tattenberg at gmail.com [mailto:tattenberg at gmail.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 9:58 AM
>> To: NFB Travel and Tourism Division List
>> Cc: Cheryl Echevarria; Milton Taylor; john Tebockhorst; Steven
>> Hastalis; Jemal Powell; miltjotaylor at gmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] What's important to you as a blind air
>> traveler?
>>
>> Not sure what your point is with reference to what I said. I did not
>> talk about appearance of blindness.
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On May 5, 2015, at 3:23 AM, Cheryl Echevarria via Travelandtourism
>>> <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Trevor:
>>>
>>> No one knows until we tell them.
>>>
>>> No one knows I am blind because I don't look blind, or I am not blind
>>> enough.
>>>
>>> I don't look diabetic, but I have had low blood sugar and shake for
>>> no apparent reason.
>>>
>>> We need to educate and advocate. If we don't then there is no reason
>>> for the NFB. We will always have to be polite and better than the
>>> other person to educate them.
>>>
>>> Also, put your foot down! If they still don't do what you ask, ask
>>> for management.
>>>
>>> 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
>>> Travel is our specialty and offering the best of meaningful travel
>>> for all ages is our passion!
>>> http://www.echevarriatravel.com
>>> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>>> 631-456-5394
>>>
>>> Visit my website to get my FREE report, “Top 5 Good Reasons to Use a
>>> Travel Professional”
>>>
>>> I build my business on referrals. Please pass my details on to
>>> friends and family members that deserve the best vacation that they
>>> can imagine
>>>
>>> P.S. – Families of all sizes is my specialty. Whether you are just
>>> starting out and looking for that romantic destination for your
>>> destination wedding or honeymoon. Booking that planned family
>>> vacation to Walt Disney World or that bucket list trip that Grandma
>>> & Grandpa are planning for the family, I would love to help you.
>>>
>>> We have partnered with Braille Smith. www.braillesmith.com for all
>>> her braille needs.  Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Travelandtourism [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>> On Behalf Of Trevor Attenberg via Travelandtourism
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 2:39 AM
>>> To: NFB Travel and Tourism Division List
>>> Cc: tattenberg at gmail.com
>>> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] What's important to you as a blind
>>> air traveler?
>>>
>>>
>>> What an excellent  question.
>>> I would like airport and airline staff to be less condescending and
>>> overbearingly custodial. They should provide directions when asked
>>> instead of insisting on following the blind customer around or
>>> calling for a wheelchair. They should thus know how to provide verbal
>>> directions.  It should be assumed that blind people do not need a
>>> wheelchair unless it is specifically requested. It should also be
>>> assumed that blind people can board the plane without assistance and
>>> without boarding before everyone
>>> else. Special assistance should be requested and not expected.   Staff at
>>> the security check points especially need to remember such protocol.
>>> Blind people are allowed to bring their cane through the metal
>>> detector. Blind people should not be grabbed, pulled, or pushed
>>> without permission. If rules are being broken then blind people
>>> should be vocally warned before physical contact. It should be
>>> assumed that blind people can move through the airport unescorted;
>>> and they can use stairs, escalators, and moving walkways just like
>>> everyone else. They do not necessarily need elevators.
>>> I realize that many blind people, including several on this list do
>>> have additional needs, and thus require extra assistance. But a good
>>> universal policy is to allow people to ask for help rather than
>>> allowing assumptions of relative helplessness to prevail. I also know
>>> that sometimes it is very helpful if not necessary for blind people
>>> to get personal escorts from place to place in an airport; but again,
>>> blind people need to be allowed to practice free will. And I would
>>> like to see airport staff and other people home their verbal skills.
>>> Best,
>>> Trevor
>>>   .
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On May 4, 2015, at 9:59 PM, Ivonne Mosquera via Travelandtourism
>>>> <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> It would be helpful to have an independent way of calling or texting
>>>> for assistance, once a flight has landed, to facilitate with
>>>> connections or exiting the airport. This is typically left up to the
>>>> flight attendants or the gate agents, and they often forget or take a
>>>> long time to do it.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Ivonne
>>>> www.iminmotion.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>> On Tue, May 5, 2015 12:49 AM EDT Phil via Travelandtourism wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>>
>>>>> My name is Phil. Hope everyone is doing well. This is my first time
>>>>> posting to the Travel and Tourism list but certainly not my first
>>>>> time posting to nfbnet lists. smile I’d like to hear your opinion
>>>>> on this… I’m doing a research project on blind and visually
>>>>> impaired people’s air travel experience. In particular I’d am
>>>>> trying to compile a list of things that you consider would make an
>>>>> booking website, airline or airport “blind-friendly”. Besides
>>>>> obvious things like not barring a blind passenger from boarding,
>>>>> accessible kiosks and accessible apps, what other things are
>>>>> important for you as a blind or visually impaired traveler? It can
>>>>> be both things that are already being done or you wish someday they
>>>>> would do, and it can be both technology-related or staff or
>>>>> corporate policy or even marketing.
>>>>> I’m trying to look at this from all 360 degrees and compile a long
>>>>> list, so please feel free to list as many things as you can think
>>>>> of and as brief or detailed as you wish!
>>>>> Let’s share and see what each other think!
>>>>> Thanks everyone!
>>>>>
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Phil
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> e
>>>>> m
>>>>> 99%40yahoo.com
>>>>
>>>>
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