Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!810!Phil.Scovell From: Phil.Scovell@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Phil Scovell) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: EMERGENCY EXITS Message-ID: <12986@bunker.UUCP> Date: 20 Jul 90 20:21:06 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Phil.Scovell@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:104/810 - Electronic Library, Denver CO Lines: 64 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 9376 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] I've faithfully read all the messages over the past few weeks/months on the subject of the blind being seated in emergency exits. I have gotten lost. Are we talking about the safety of everyone on the plane or just the safety of one blind person? I have suggested, through my illustration of my sighted friend who was in a Denver plane crash, that it appears in such a crash, it's every man for himself. If such is the case, I again repeat, I don't want to sit on an exit row. Near one perhaps, but not on one. Why? I think I'd be safer. Of course we know the shutes deploy automatically when the plane is downed. I want to know, when I dive head first down the shute, what's at the bottom. The last thing I want to do is dive head first into a burning kerosine fire from a ruptured fuel tank. Blind people helping sighted people from a burning smoke filled building is a far cry from a broken and shattered air liner that's just pan caked on to the runway at 200 miles an hour. If you are still alive and know what in the sam hill is going on, and if you can help others, then do so. Now let's be honest about this debate. Aren't you mad because, as a blind person, the real issue here is that some sighted dude is telling you, a blind person, that you just aren't as capable as the sighted person? We know that in most cases, we can function as normally as a sighted person. If someone has a law, or rule, which says otherwise, we get mad and, I might add, rightfully so. When my wife and i, along with our three children, were told we couldn't sit in the exit row, although that's where they had already seated us, I knew why. When the lady was asked by my wife why, she finally admitted it was an FAA regulation that the blind, or otherwise handicapped, as well as children under twelve could not be allow to sit in an emergency exit row. What did I then say you might ask? Nothing! My NFB training, however, surfaced immediately and I was tempted to sit back down and tell the air lines to jump in a lake. I'm a father of three, however, and I knew I and my three children would be safer away from an emergency exit. Are all blind people alike? You might be able to get out of a burning plane but would every other blind person be able to do the same? I don't think those who drink, and get drunk, should be allowed in exit rows either. I sure shootin don't think small children should be allowed there, do you? The real question is, therefore, is there a safety hazzard in allowing blind people to sit in emergency rows? Is there a safety hazzard allowing children under twelve to sit in those rows? Is it discrimination? The answer is, yes! Is it, however, just discrimination? As a father, I think it is just not to allow children in those rows, although I bet my fourteen year old is just as capable and my eleven year old is just as capable of getting out as I am; perhaps more so? What should be done about it? I think an organized effort should be conducted with one air line company in an orderly and fair manner to solve the problem. I think blind people should be allowed to sit anywhere they desire on a plane. No matter how it comes down in the end, I still don't wanna sit on the emergency row. In fact, I don't even like to fly unless I have to. Now, if you disagree with me, don't write me a message, cuz I hate it when people think I'm wrong, especially when I think I'm right. By the way, my sighted friend to whom I referred in my earlier message who was in the Denver plane crash is now on blinktalk. His name is Scott Stockton and he reads our mail once and awhile. You might ask his opinion but remember, he's sighted so he might not see it as we do who are blind. Phil. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!810!Phil.Scovell Internet: Phil.Scovell@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org