[Cagdu] twice shafted
Michael Peterson
its_mike at sbcglobal.net
Sat Aug 25 22:19:27 PDT 2007
Here's what I would do. Don't know if it would work but it's an idea.
You need several guide dog users and yu need an event at this venue. You
begin by working with a local Television station hopefully an investigative
show if possible.
You tell them what will occurand why it shouldn't. Than you buy the good
seats in some cases the news show might even get the tickets but I wouldn't
push for that.
When the camera's are there they may or may not repeat their action but
either way you discuss with the investigative reporters. what the problem
is.
In fact we did a similar thing many years ago with the sheltered workshops
on 60 minutes.
Without a guide dog I had a similar humuliating thing happen when Terra and
I went to the Hollywood bowl to see Trisha Yearwood. Terra was new to the
area and her site isn't that good. We went to the box office and ask them
to help us find our seats. They said they could do that but in order for
them to do it I was required to sit in a wheelchair. No problems with the
legs I had my cane so did Terra. It was an alumni event where California
State Northridge had a section reserved, It was hot I'd been traveling all
day to get from Rosamond to the Bowl and just didn't feel like pursuing
confrontation on that particular night. The only silent protest I did was
put all my weight in the wheelchair and totally relax so the "guide was
pushing a lot more weight up that hill than he had bargained for. He was out
of breath by the time of our arrival and even had me walk up to our seats
once we got to the section. Only sad part is it really wasn't his fault he
was just doing what he was told by the "handicapped help desk or whatever
they call it.
When we left we decided to just try and find our way out on our own and we
did get out and find the buses with no problem as fast as the other patrons
maybe even faster.
Back to the current situation.
Perhaps the National guide dog division could begin courting the media and
informing them a piece needs to be done Nationally.It would probably be easy
enough to get the national organization as a whole to use it's resources to
help this come about.
We all ready have representatives from two states Texas and california who
are currently experiencing the problem. I'm sure it would take very little
effort to find other guide dog users in other states this happens too.
And if at even one venue they are caught in the act wonderful.
But it has to be done right and the reporters need to clearly understand the
law is on your side and it's being violated for no good reason.
Another posability is the State might consider a picket of the San Jose
venue. I don't know what kind of entertainment happens their but if a
performer that does shows their were to get involved and express sympathy
for the marchers that too would get press.
I wish we had more time this would be a great white cane safety day event
because we could explain how dogs and canes are important mobility aides and
that the important thing about white cane legislation is it helps the blind
as they mainstream in to society on a daily basis.
Militancy isn't always a good thing but sometimes you have to refuse to sit
at the back of the bus, and you can't do it alone. Well you can but if you
do it's futile anger and fails to accomplish the desired affect.
You need the support of the Blind community like when Guide dog users and
cane users were thrown off of planes because they wouldn't change seating.
This sounds to me like one of those times.
But it needs thoughtful planning and execution.
God bless:
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Juliett Cody" <julietcody at cox.net>
To: <kmathe at tamu.edu>; <cagdu at nfbcal.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 6:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Cagdu] twice shafted
> Good point Kristin,
>
> Did you say safety????
> , We must not forget I ( apology if misspelled) she was a hero during the
> 9
> 11 tragedy. We really need to defend our position and insist on our
> assigned
> seats. One thing to remember that has helped me, is to let them know that
> you have a guide dog before hand.
>
> JC and M
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kristin Mathe" <mathekristin at hotmail.com>
> To: <cagdu at nfbcal.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 4:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [Cagdu] twice shafted
>
>
>> Hi Ken and community,
>>
>> Beatrice and I are in Texas, but this topic speaks to me. I have been
>> relocated for at best questionable reasons in event venues as well.
>> Sometimes the excuse has been: "She'll be blocking access to the isle" as
>> if
>> everyone's knees arent. Other times the staff seem concerned that
>> Beatrice
>> would just be better off somewhere else, or it would be easier to get to
>> some seets off in a corner. It's reached the point that I've politely
>> thanked the staff and proceeded to my seat that was originally assigned
>> when
>> their concern is a matter of convenience. It's harder with the safety
>> claims, which quite frankly I think are contrived because the dog wants
>> to
>> evacuate a burning building just as much as the other theater goers. We
>> still have a ways to go in changing the custodial mindset of many people.
>> So, while I don't have any sage advice, Ken is not alone in this
>> frustration.
>>
>> KM
>>
>>
>>>From: "Juliett Cody" <julietcody at cox.net>
>>>Reply-To: cagdu at nfbcal.org
>>>To: <cagdu at nfbcal.org>
>>>Subject: Re: [Cagdu] twice shafted
>>>Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:06:59 -0700
>>>
>>>Hello Ken and family,
>>>Wow, I am very sorry the three of you had a bad experience. Loosing it
>>>was
>>>wrong, but I understand. There are times that it happens. Please let us
>>>know what happens and if anyone knows anything that can vbe of some help
>>>to Ken and Velvet an Gulliver, please post it.
>>>
>>>JC and M
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Ken Volonte
>>> To: Cagdu
>>> Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 3:43 PM
>>> Subject: [Cagdu] twice shafted
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all. Last night, Velvet and I went to a Josh Groban concert at the
>>>Stockton Arena. We had bought tickets well in advance because Velvet
>>>can't
>>>climb steps. We had seats at floor level 1 section 9.
>>>
>>> When we showed our tickets to the arena staff, we were repeatedly
>>>told, "You're up front on the floor". We walked through accompanied by
>>>an
>>>usher, but when he realized who we were: a blind man with a guide dog and
>>>a
>>>lady with a cane, our section magically didn't exist any more. "I can't
>>>tell if that's... see how this here is underlined... Kathie will take
>>>care
>>>of you. She's a supervisor", and off he went into the crowd.
>>>
>>> Kathie instructed us to follow her back the way we'd just come.
>>> She
>>>just left us standing and took off with our tickets.
>>>
>>> Finally, Velvet couldn't stand any more and I was getting more
>>>irritated by the minute. There were six chairs near to where we were,
>>>and
>>>we sat down. After maybe fifteen minutes, six women approached us and
>>>demanded that we move. Kathie was with them, and she insisted that we
>>>again follow her. We were seated on the far right of the arena sitting
>>>sideways to the stage. Velvet kept insisting that this wasn't right,
>>>that
>>>we had paid for floor tickets and that they had been taken from us.
>>>
>>> Finally, Josh Groban's security man came up to us and demanded to
>>>see our tickets. "This is where you're supposed to be. What's the
>>>problem"?
>>>
>>> Velvet explained that these were not our assigned seats, that our
>>>tickets had been traded out for these seats. The security man then
>>>questioned me. "You bought two seats? With the dog you didn't buy
>>>three?"
>>>
>>> A reasonable man would have just pulled out his law card, but to
>>> my
>>>shame, I lost it. I really lost it. His question cast me right back to
>>>the 70s. I think that the reason it had such an effect on me was that
>>>all
>>>control and hope for what should have been an orderly entrance and
>>>enjoyable evening were dashed. "If you want to enjoy the rest of the
>>>show", Mr. Security went on, "then you're going to have to speak to me
>>>with
>>>the respect I've shown you".
>>>
>>> "I'm sorry", I said.
>>>
>>> "What was that, I didn't hear you."
>>>
>>> "I will enjoy the show", but the experience was just wrong.
>>>
>>> Velvet and I have been to many venues and we've always had a good
>>>time. Where accommodations have had to be made, they have been
>>>undertaken
>>>with grace and good will on both sides. All we wanted was to be shown to
>>>the seats to which we were assigned. Instead, we were marginalized. I
>>>admit some responsibility for this because I lost my temper; but
>>>sometimes,
>>>when you have been warn down, all you can do is yell.
>>>
>>> On Monday, Velvet and I shall attempt to talk to the management of
>>>the Stockton Arena. We will present our arguments in a reasonable
>>>fashion.
>>>
>>> This is not the first time something like this has happened to us
>>> at
>>>this venue. The first time, Velvet fell amid a whole scrum of people and
>>>nobody helped at all.
>>>
>>> Progress can be hard even when the law and common sense are on
>>> your
>>>side.
>>>
>>>
>>>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> Cagdu at nfbcal.org
>>> https://www.nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/cagdu
>>
>>
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