A salutory tale for the disabled airline passenger

This was sent to me via email from a lady in America and it's rather harrowing. It serves as a warning for any disabled traveller to be very aware of what can happen to them across the pond!

By email
Dear Christine I think this may be useful for any disabled UK citizens thinking of coming here - be careful!

"I am a polio survivor and have been paralyzed since childhood which requires me to wear two long leg braces (KAFOs), walk with the aid of forearm crutches and always use a manual wheelchair whenever I travel. On Wednesday, August 2, 2006, I flew from Philadelphia to San Francisco on USAir with my husband and three (3) other couples on a business-related trip, which was arranged through Allstate Insurance Company, my husband’s employer. When I went through the security checkpoint in Philadelphia a female screener took me aside to manually do a body “pat-down” inspection and also checked my wheelchair. No problem whatsoever! This examination took less than fifteen minutes and there was no problem. This is routine procedure for me whenever I travel; I accept this. The screener couldn’t have been more polite and was very professional. I was treated in a dignified and professional manner and was cleared to proceed to the gate for our departure to San Francisco all in a timely manner.

After our business in San Francisco was completed, we all arrived together by limousine at the San Francisco Airport approximately one hour prior to the departure time of 10:30 a.m. for our five hour flight home to Philadelphia. This is when the nightmare began. At the security checkpoint I was taken aside and told to wait for a female security screener. My crutches and other personal belongings had been taken from me and given to my husband, Bill, to go through the metal detector separately. After being cleared, they were then brought over to a table where I was waiting. Again….all routine procedure and one I’ve come to accept and co-operate with fully. After cooperating fully with a very thorough and complete full body “pat-down” inspection by a female TSA security screener another one was called over to assist. For some reason I was told that they could not “clear” me to fly, nor would they “clear” my wheelchair. When asked why, I was given no reason. They wouldn’t tell me why. This wasn’t making any sense especially after coming through the Philadelphia security checkpoint just days before with absolutely no problem at all! I was then expected to submit to further inspection and examination of my legs and braces, but in order for me to do this I would have to drop my pants! The screeners said that to insure my privacy they would hold a sheet up to prevent onlookers from seeing what was going on! It was at this point I refused. I cannot physically stand and drop my pants while maintaining my precarious balance. Never mind the absurdity of disrobing in the terminal behind a sheet! This was definitely taking their authority to an unnecessary extreme and was not acceptable. I refused to be strip searched! I raised both my pant legs while seated in my wheelchair to reveal the braces I wear on my legs and explained that they continue up each leg to my thigh which they had already felt during the initial “pat-down” search. Apparently this still was not good enough and they would still not “clear” me to fly. I then offered to get up out of the wheelchair so they could do whatever it was they needed to do to “clear” my wheelchair, but to do this I needed my crutches in order to perform this miracle. When I reached to take my crutches off the table, (remember they had already been cleared) the TSA security screener grabbed them from me and threatened to have me arrested for assault! I freely admit that when the screener grabbed my crutches away from me I struggled momentarily with her because I was so upset and those crutches represent my mobility. Subsequently, I sustained a bruise on my arm and trauma to my shoulder from this exchange which has been documented by my physician along with photos. The TSA security officers would not allow me to have my crutches or my handbag because I hadn’t been “cleared” yet.

It was at this time that I was told I could not fly that day! My husband then asked if we were expected to rent a car and drive to Philadelphia. The senior TSA person at San Francisco told us that it might be an alternative solution. My husband, Bill, then asked her if she had the authority to make a common sense decision to clear me to fly. The TSA administrator replied that she had NO authority whatsoever to make any common sense decision.

I needed to use the bathroom before our long flight home, but they refused to allow me to do this until I was cleared. This was getting out of control. This was ridiculous! This was harassment! This was unbelievable! This was discrimination! By the time this horrific ordeal was over I was swelling with outrage and in tears. I had been treated like I was some criminal. Ultimately, if I wanted to be “cleared” to board that airplane for our scheduled flight back home to Philadelphia, I had no choice but to submit to the humiliating and demeaning strip search inspection by yet two more female security officers. At this point they reluctantly agreed to allow the search to be conducted in an adjoining ladies room. I then had to ask for permission to use the bathroom. This was the most humiliating experience I have ever encountered. This is how “the TSA trains their Security Officers to conduct effective, safe, comfortable, dignified and respectful screening at all checkpoints.”

My point in documenting this incident is not to protest the fact that it will take longer to “clear” me any time I fly. My dilemma is that I am not sure I will be cleared to fly at all at the time and date of any scheduled departure. TSA must inform me of exactly what I need to do to be able to fly. To have to conform to a higher standard of security just because I have a disability is clearly a violation of my civil rights. I would be happy to get a doctors certificate, have photos of my braces or do anything reasonable to avoid this situation again. I just need some sort of clarification!

Judith Templeton
Philadelphia PA

Post Office Woes Continued

We followed the arrow directing us to the disabled entrance. It led us past the building and into a forbidding looking alley (Jack the Ripper might have felt comfortable here - but we certainly didn't!). What's more it had a slope, we carried on up the alley until we came to the entrance, the door had a bell which Paul pushed as the door was locked. Inside there was a light on but no sign of anyone, it was then that I noticed a sign attached to the wall, the post office was telling us in its own inimitable way that we shouldn't come before 2 pm - silly us, it was only 11am - and not at all on Saturdays!

To say we were a little peeved was an understatement. Paul did no more than wheel me back to the front entrance, park me and storm inside. He was in there for about ten minutes before he returned with a rather embarrassed looking post office manager in tow. I felt a bit sorry for her, I know she doesn't make the rules, but they are pretty appalling just the same. She explained that they couldn't alter the main entrance at all because of the listed building status (I've forgotten how many times I've heard this excuse used in Stamford). apart from adding the two handles.I told her the handles were no use to me as I couldn't climb steps with or without them anyway.

She went on to say that the disabled entrance was actually in the mail sorting area, and as such was run by their staff, none of whom could work on the counter until 2 pm, because they had to sort the mail! She apologised like they all do, and said it was out of her hands like they all do. I agree about the listed building status actually as this is a lovely old building, but surely they could staff the disabled area for a few more hours a day. After all, how many other people in my situation come along before 2pm. - most of them I'll bet.

Royal Mail - look out - I'm coming!

Post Office Woes

The village post office near to us recently closed. This was a great shame for me as it was one of the few places that I could not only drive to, but could access by myself. The lady who owned the shop was also disabled, by arthritis, and was also on crutches. The post office was also the village shop, and it had been made easy for her to use, so this meant that I could use it on crutches as well. The Royal Mail in another of its brilliant decisions, closed the post office, this meant the shop had to close as well, because it just wasn't able to make enough as a village shop by itself - another nail in the coffin of rural business.

Our only alternative post office was now in Stamford, which is not a very good place for the disabled because of all the hills (more of Stamford at a later time). neither of us having ever been to Stamford post office before, Paul thought it best to come with me - just in case I encountered difficulties with getting in, which of course we did! We first drove past the post office to see how I would get inside. There were three steps - and surprisingly no ramp - so there was no way in at all for me there. Then we saw the sign for the wheelchair entrance
which appeared to be around the corner, we assumed I could get in there on crutches, but there was no disabled parking in the vicinity of the post office, so we'd have to park somewhere else (more on that at a later date too!) and Paul would have to push me in my chair to the PO. So this is what we did, but when we got there more surprises awaited us!

Why it's Morrisons Garage for me!

STRESS FREE FILL-UP!

I’m lucky in that I have a Morrisons petrol station near me in Stamford, and they look after me very well indeed! Morrisons has a policy of always having at least two staff on duty at any time, so there’s always someone on hand to fill up for me. All I have to do is make sure I get onto a pump close to the service window so that they can see my badge when I wave it. Although it’s nearly always busy, I never have to wait long. The staff are all very helpful in that they always check my oil and water as well, without asking. They’ll check my tyres too and fill them if they need air.

If I want to use the car wash, someone will come with me and enter the code into the machine, because of my brace I’m unable to lean out myself to press the buttons, and they’ll stay with me until the wash is finished just to be sure I’m okay.

With regards to paying: they still offer swiping which is a real bonus as they process the card and bring it out for me to sign, but they don’t take cheques anymore. The Morrisons card is worth having too, you get a £5.00 voucher after getting 5,000 points, which accrue with every litre you buy. Gary, the lovely station manager at Stamford says all Morrisons staff are trained to recognise the special needs of all disabled people, in the store as well as the garage. That may be so, but he and his petrol station staff certainly are a credit to the company, my hat is off to them!!

Disabled Parking Fiasco

We disabled drivers used to be able to park in Red Lion Square, then the council decided to 'improve' it. They removed all the parking spaces and gentrified the square by laying many thousands of small stones to create a uniform look for the area, which I must say looks very nice, but hang on a minute - what about us, where are we meant to go!

The council's official line was:

"We have created 20 free disabled parking spaces in the new Wharf Road car park, together with the existing spaces in the Bath Row and the North Street car parks, there are now over thirty free disabled spaces around the town, many more than were available previous to the Red Lion square development."

That may well be true, but the Red Lion Square places were on the same level and just 25 metres from the High Street shops. The new spaces are either at the top or bottom of a hill well away from the High St. Which means that whichever car park you use, you're faced with an uphill slog which I for one can't manage alone. So unless I can get someone to come with me, I can no longer shop in Stamford.

Get a scooter someone suggested, but why should I have to? I live five miles from town, too far and too dangerous to come on a scooter. My car takes my manual wheelchair and me, it certainly won't take a scooter, or am I supposed to buy a new vehicle too?

Stamford does well in enforcing the law for us Blue Badge holders, but what is the point of a Blue Badge if the disabled driver or owner can't use the spaces so 'thoughtfully' provided even if they are free?

Railway Misery

This is my local train station, I recently found out that it's a nightmare for disabled people. A disabled friend of mine recently came to stay with us. As she often travels by train she decided to this time, and I agreed to meet her at the station. The time came to meet her, and I drove alone to the station, something I rarely do because of my hearing difficulties. I physically can't travel by train so I'd never been to the station before. When I got there I discovered there were no disabled parking spaces allocated - let alone available. I was lucky in that I found a space on the street. I parked facing the wrong way so that I could get out onto the pavement, because it takes me a while to lift my legs out, lock my callipers and get organised onto my crutches. Luckily I'd found a spot fairly close to the station entrance, so didn't have far to walk. When I got onto the platform I was shocked to discover that my friend would arrive on the opposite platform and the only way across the track was by way of a very steep old bridge. Which my friend couldn't possibly manage as she wears two full callipers and uses crutches as well. She can manage a few stairs but certainly not that many. I was getting very concerned as the station was completely unmanned and there was no one I could ask for advice as to what to do. While I was pondering all this, my friend's train arrived. When the train pulled out it left this woman on crutches, with a bag on the platform looking around as perplexed as I was! She was stuck, it was awful. We started discussing what to do across the track between the platforms.

While we we trying to figure out what to do, two men came onto my platform they watched us for a minute or two and could see our predicament. Then one came over to me and asked which one of us wanted to be where, so I told him. They did no more than go across to my friend and then lifted her up step by step up and over then down the other side of the bridge.

One of them then carried her bag to my car - they were so kind!
We could have been there for hours otherwise. We decided to let the train company "have it" as soon as we got to my place.

CARS AND TRAINS AND PLANES

ANYTHING GOOD - BAD - INDIFFERENT - BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE REALLY HELPFUL TO THE DISABLED TRAVELER - CAN BE BLOGGED HERE!