[Travelandtourism] Member and non-member information and updates
Cheryl Echevarria
cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Wed May 6 14:37:52 UTC 2015
Good morning all:
All Officers you need to do this as well. Thank you.
I would love if you all would introduce yourselves, especially if you are new. This is something new we are doing to help grow the division. The lists on the NFBnet.org are welcome to anyone blind or sighted, NFB Members or Not, Travel & Tourism members or not.
We also have on our list those that work in the industry as suppliers, they do not post or respond, they read here, and get ideas on how to help you the blind, whether you are blind or a friend or family member of a blind person.
We talk all forms of travel and mobility. Mobility will help in all forms of travel. Ideas come from those who have experienced travel in all forms. Whether you are traveling independently, sighted guide, cane travel, guide dog, etc.
The only one of the officers that actually work as a travel professional, is myself. Been doing this now since 2009. We have brought to our teleconference calls in the past and our meetings, those that work in the travel industry from Disney to Norwegian Cruise Lines, to Special Needs Group (provides guide dog relief boxes for cruise lines, braille menus, wheelchair & scooter rentals, dedicated special foods and more)
So if you can indulge us in answering the survey below, and Secretary Margo Downey or interim Secretary John Tebockhorst will be taking this information down to help us in the future.
Again, you don't have to be a member, but again, this is our 75th Anniversary and all State Affiliates, Chapters and Divisions are looking to seek to grow in our 75th year and beyond. Thank you.
I will go first.
What is your name?
Cheryl Echevarria
Are you an NFB member? Yes, I have been a member since 2006, currently the President of the NFB Travel & Tourism Division (since 2011),
If so what state & chapter - NFB of New York State, and Vice President of the Greater Long Island Chapter
Are you attending the National Convention? Yes, this will be my 8th convention. My first one was in Atlanta in 2007, only missed the Detroit Convention in 2009
Have you attended one of our teleconferences, we have one at least once a month? Yes - We are also looking to use nfblive.org to have meetings in the future
Have you attended the Meeting at National Convention in the past.
Yes been a member of the division since 2010
Do you belong to a committee in your state, whether locally or throughout your state? Yes I am on a committee here in the town of Brentwood, NY where I live that works with my local town Legislator about improving the able ride program, and also other issues within our town.
Are you on a committee or advisory board with the bus, airlines, train, cruise lines? I have been on the Norwegian Cruise Lines Travel Agent University Board from 2012-2014. It is a 2 year term. Where I helped implement Braille and other services with the cruise lines.
Currently working with Sandals Resorts (Sandals for couples only, Beaches for everyone by Sandals, and Grand Pineapple Resort (economy product from Sandals Resorts) travel agent committee on improving accessibility and training their employees.
Actively work with the country of Bermuda with Lions International of New York State to improve services for the blind.
Do you want to know more about the Travel & Tourism Division?
I learn from all of you. Remember there is no I in the word team, and NFB is a family we work together. You do not have to be a travel professional to change things in travel.
Here is information about the division below.
http://nfbtravel.org/home-page/
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 Phil via Travelandtourism
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 11:17 PM
To: NFB Travel and Tourism Division List
Cc: Phil
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] What's important to you as a blind air traveler?
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
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Travelandtourism mailing list
>>>>> Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
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>>>>> for
>>>>> Travelandtourism:
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org/ivon
>>>>> n
>>>>> e
>>>>> m
>>>>> 99%40yahoo.com
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
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>
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