Airports

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone.....this is a very sore subject for me, too, since last Nov.

For those of you who don't know Gareth and I that well, Gareth has grown up

traveling on airplanes and crossing the US with moves every 2-4 yrs. He knows

what to do and what to expect. We have used a wheelchair for over 5 yrs now

and he knows that he goes through security and gets 'waned' down.

We have never had a bad experience till last Nov on a USAir flight from

Philly to Phoenix. We were seated in 3 seats across next to the emergency

doors

mid plane....something we have done for yrs. Well, right before the plane

was to depart, two of the front stewards (ess) came back and talked to the

people 3 rows behind us. DH had his nose in a book and G was just sitting

there. I glanced around to notice that they were talking about us. I said to

Ter

" they are going to have us move. " The next thing I know is that the family

of 3 was standing up to come to our spots. The head lady said " we want you

to move. This is an emergency door and your son has special needs. " I said

" no way. What is the problem? " " Well, if there is an emergency, can he open

the door? " " Yes....he's been on planes and knows the procedure. "

Well.......that didn't cut it with her. She and the guy started throwing out

questions,

bam, bam, bam, to Gareth and he just sat there totally flabbergasted. We

ended up having to move so the plane could take off. Man............I was so

pissed I couldn't see straight!!!

Sooooooooooooooo, at the end of the flight, I take Gareth's PSU ID card.

When we get to the door way, I go to the two SOB's and show it to them right in

front of their faces. Very calmly, I said, so everyone could hear " See

this. This is my son's PSU ID card. He is a freshman at Penn State University

this fall. My son has DS and Autism. He stutters badly and you two never

gave him a chance to respond to your questions. You insisted we move because

he couldn't respond to you fast enough. You took one look at him and ASSUMED

he was brainless. " I turned and walked away.

The next thing really surprised me......... I hear the USAir lady YELLING at

me down the ramp " Don't you talk to me like that. My boyfriends' son has

DS. " I never turned around to respond to her because I would have said " then,

I feel sorry for that kid. " The whole time we were in Phoenix I figured we

would be banned from flying home, but we didn't. If nothing else, the

airlines definitely need some education on developmentally delayed individuals.

Sorry this got so long. I usually don't write long letters.

Take care, Everyone.

Margaret

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