[nfbwatlk] FW: Correction: opportunity to explore an Alaska Airlines plane!

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Tue Nov 5 22:29:28 UTC 2013


Ben, Mary Ellen and fellow listers:

I, too, wondered about the flushing toilets; there are only three or four
places the flush lever can be placed in the miniscule lavatory in easy reach
of a person ensconced in it. (smile) But common sense appears exceeding
scarce these days. And I, too, bridle a bit at wheelchairs always being sent
when one asks for assistance. But I don't think it's usually a case of
people presuming blind folks can't walk although I grant you that some may
think so. Rather, I think it's a case of airlines thinking that those
providing the assistance should be ready for any and all circumstances and
it's apparently easier (read less thought and/or planning involved) to just
equip *all* those providing assistance with wheelchairs than it is to
differentiate between differing needs and/or requirements for assistance.
And these days (yes, even for sighted persons requesting a bit of help),
it's presumed that naturally *anyone* would use a wheelchair if offered it.
So I'm beginning to believe that it's more a case of Tab A always being
presumed to fit into Slot B than it is an active assumption that the blind
are incompetent.

Put another way, I'm beginning to figure the presumption to be that *anyone*
requiring assistance is incompetent. It's just another case of people
presuming to live in little boxes all made out of ticky-tacky and all just
the same.

But in my recent trip to Las Wages, I lucked out and went through expedited
screening three times and was left alone to walk by myself and also
encountered Alaska air flight attendants going the same way I was so didn't
need special assistance (I was on the right track and all the flight
attendants had to do was tell me when I got to my gate).

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Prows,
Bennett (HHS/OCR)
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2013 12:15 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] FW: Correction: opportunity to explore an Alaska
Airlines plane!

Mary ellen and listers,

I agree about the flushing toilets issue. When I read that, I wondered whom
was thought to have flused the toilet for me when I have been in the rest
room. (Grin.) Awkward!



-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary ellen
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2013 11:05 AM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] FW: Correction: opportunity to explore an Alaska
Airlines plane!

That's a relief!  My earlier interpretation of the announcement fits with my
experience of Alaska airlines.  They routinely meet me with a wheelchair in
the Seattle airport if I ask for any assistance whatever.  I'm glad they
don't assume blind adults need minders.

Now they need to deal with that bit about flushing airplane toilets!  Have
any of you noticed how frequently toilets and related paraphernalia have
appeared in NFB banquet speeches?  I'm sure Dr. Freud could make something
of that preoccupation.



-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mello,
Michael (DSB)
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2013 10:13 AM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbwatlk] FW: Correction: opportunity to explore an Alaska
Airlines plane!

FYI, updated announcement.

Michael J. Mello | Adaptive Technology Specialist Washington State
Department of Services for the Blind
Direct: 206-906-5552
Toll Free: 800-552-7103
Mobile: 206-605-7332
Fax: 206-721-4103
Michael.Mello at dsb.wa.gov
3411 South Alaska Street
Seattle, WA 98118


-----Original Message-----
From: MacKillop, Michael (DSB)
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2013 10:05 AM
To: Cho, Yang-su (DSB); Namekata, Keiko (DSB); George, Janet (DSB); Pat
Copeland (pattcopeland at mac.com); Mello, Michael (DSB); Fitts, Annabelle;
Bonnie Roth (bg.roth at comcast.net); Linda Wilder (lindasuewilder at msn.com);
Pugh, Elise (DSB); Garrels, Liz (DSB); Reggie, Maureen (DSB); Richmond,
Jennifer (DSB)
Cc: Durand, LouOma (DSB)
Subject: RE: Correction: opportunity to explore an Alaska Airlines plane!

Hello all:

The announcement for the hands-on Alaska airplane exploration that went out
yesterday had editing errors in it, and I apologize for the
misunderstanding.  

 

We are excited to invite Blind adults and children who would like to attend.
Only children under age 16 are being requested to be accompanied by an
adult.

 

Again, I am sorry for the confusion and thank you for your feedback alerting
me to the error.  I am pasting the revised announcement below my signature.
Please do distribute widely; this is a great and unique opportunity!

 

Michael MacKillop

DSB Assistant Director - Customer Services Unit

3411 S Alaska Street

Seattle, WA 98118

206-906-5520

Michael.mackillop at dsb.wa.gov <mailto:Michael.mackillop at dsb.wa.gov> 

www.dsb.wa.gov <http://www.dsb.wa.gov/>  

 

Have you ever wanted to have an airplane to explore in your own time and own
way? 

 

Have you ever wondered where the airplane exit doors are located, and how to
operate them in an emergency? 

 

Have you ever wished you could explore how an airline emergency oxygen mask
actually works?  Or how to locate and utilize the airplane flotation device
under the seat?

 

Have you ever wished that you could go into the airplane restroom and know
how features in that unique setting are laid out? 

 

Don't I have an opportunity for you!!!

 

Alaska Airlines is offering the opportunity to explore one of their
airplanes before the holiday season begins. 

 

Date: November 19th, 2013

 

Time: 6:00-8:00  PM

 

Where: SeaTac Airport

 

Transportation: Because this event will take place at the Alaska Airlines
hanger in a secure part of the airport, Alaska Airlines has requested that
we limit to only 2 or 3 vehicles on the tarmac. DSB and VLC (Vision Loss
Connections) will be providing transportation to and from this event. Please
watch for further information on times and locations to meet a bus that will
transport you to this event. 

 

Who is invited? Anyone who is blind or visually impaired!  

All children under age 16 will need to come with an accompanying adult.

 

RSVP: Space is limited! Please RSVP to Janet or Yang-su no later than
November 10th. 

 

Note: The airplane we will be exploring could be called into the field to
replace one that is unable to fly. For this reason we may have to reschedule
at short notice. Alaska Airlines assures us that this is not likely, but
they would like us to be aware of the possibility.

 

For questions call or email:

Janet George - 206-906-5530

Janet.george at dsb.wa.gov

 

Or

 

Yang-su Cho - 206-906-5518

Yangsu.cho at dsb.wa.gov

 

Yang-su Cho, Adaptive Technology Specialist
 
Washington State Department of Services for the Blind
3411 South Alaska Street
Seattle, WA 98118
206-906-5518
1-800-552-7103
TTY: 206-721-4059
Fax: 206-721-4103

http://www.dsb.wa.gov

 

Have questions about the affordable healthcare act? Check out the Washington
Health Benefit Exchange Info
<http://www.wahbexchange.org/news-resources/press-room/fact-sheets/> , go to
wahbexchange.org, or call 1-855-923-4633.

 


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