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From: Beth.Hatch-Alleyne@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Beth Hatch-Alleyne)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Exit Row Survey
Message-ID: <16095@handicap.news>
Date: 17 Jun 91 20:22:45 GMT
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Index Number: 16095

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Margo; to reinterate my last message to you.  Economics play a part
in why they, the airlines won't have trained personel sit in exit
rows.  I also believe, however, that a compitent blind person could
sit in exit rows, and I reapeat compitent blind person, just as a
compitent sighted person can sit in the exit rows.  The problem, as
you probably know, is serving liquor to people in exit rows.  People
who are intoxicated are equated, by the airlines at least, with a
perfectly sane sane, capable, and most not intoxicated blind person.
 We have tried to get the airlines to put trained personel in exit
rows, but they will not do this because of money.  A survey, as you
mentioned, would show that most people would not want to sit in an
exit row.  However, I am not going to say that I am not capable of
sitting in an exit row solely on the basis of my visual acuity.  I
am a capable blind adult who flies quite frequently, and I always
take the time to ask where the nearest exits are.  If you fly a lot
as I do, you'll begin to realize where the exits are because each
type of aircraft is set up differently and if you know the type of
aircraft you're on, you know what exit you're in.  Note that the
flight attendants won't say which row the exits are in over the loud
speakers, when asked why, they said it would frighten passengers.
Margo; you and I, as well as everyone else, could debate this issue
forever.  The real question for me is whether the airlines treat me
as a compitent human being, regardless of whether or not I am blind.
 Take care, and thanks for your always enjoyable messages, Beth.

--
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