Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Jeff.Salzberg
From: Jeff.Salzberg@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jeff Salzberg)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: DOT & Disabled
Message-ID: <10714@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 20 Mar 90 04:44:44 GMT
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Index Number: 7216

 GS> The following is an excert from a local news paper, that was 
 GS> published by The Associated Press:

 GS> Another provision would give both manual and 
 GS> electric wheel chairs priority in main cabin storage areas. The 
 GS> ATA said that would " seriously diminish storage space for 
 GS> carry on items of other passengers."

My heart bleeds.

 GS> among others prohibited from exit rows would be parrents with 
 GS> small children , people who are too frail to operate the door , 
 GS> passengers with broken legs or other disabilities that would 
 GS> inhibit movement , obese people and children under 15.  Marc 
 GS> Maurer , spokesman for the federation representing blind 
 GS> people, said the FAA rule " contenues  a pattern of 
 GS> discrimination the Department of Transportation has permitted 
 GS> airlines to carry on for some time 

Actually, if we strip away the emotion from this part of the rule and
look at it from a safety point-of-view, it might make sense...but I
think a more practical (and fair) option might be to allow blind people
to sit next to the emergency exits (or anywhere else they please) while
making sure they know how to operate said exits.

--
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