Every once in a while, I have to shake my head in disbelief.
The recent removal of a passenger from a plane operated by US Airways because he was “too disabled” to fly alone is one of those “shake my head” moments. After helping the gentleman onto the plane and into his seat, an airport terminal employee returned to tell the passenger that he had to be removed. According to his interpretation of airline policy, individuals on US Air flights must be able to help themselves in the event of a safety issue. The employee then insisted that the passenger be removed from the plane because he did not have a traveling companion.
Ironically, the man ejected from the plane was Johnnie Tuitel. Tuitel is a speaker on disability issues and was on his way to be the keynote at a self-advocacy conference. As a person with cerebral palsy who uses a motorized wheelchair, he has flown, by his own estimation, more than a million miles unaccompanied. He was on his way to speak about the rights of people with disabilities. (He missed the speaking engagement because of the ruckus.)
We still have a long way to go in recognizing the civil rights of people with disabilities.
Most of my professional career has been spent advocating for people with disabilities, first in a variety of clinical settings and now in the university classroom. I’ve recently been a part of initiatives at Penn State to assist the military in its support of members who are wounded, ill or injured.
Our training focuses on inclusion. How can we make sure that programs and services offered are open and welcoming of individuals with disabilities?
When we ask people to talk about the “myths” about people with disabilities, the responses provide a glimpse into negative stereotypes.
People with disabilities are “different.” People with disabilities are dependent and needy. People with disabilities are frail and unhealthy. People with disabilities like to be with their own kind. People with disabilities are brave, heroic and have incredible interpersonal strength. They are better people than the rest of us.
The most common myth? Including people with disabilities in workplace, school or recreation settings, and in other aspects of society is difficult, expensive and time-consuming.
In truth, people with disabilities have more in common with “normal” people than they have differences. In most aspects of their lives, people with disabilities have the same feelings, reactions, fears, excitements, dreams and frustrations as the rest of us. They may just go about doing the day-to-day things a little differently.
Most people with disabilities would prefer to be integrated into society, not put in a special room or program that separates them from the rest of us. Who wants to be labeled and put away with people based solely on what we can’t do?
Although some disabilities put people at risk for secondary health concerns, a risk of injury or illness exists for people without disabilities, too—and it isn’t much higher.
With some creativity and a little modification, people with disabilities can usually be included in jobs, recreation, education and other settings without a whole lot of effort or extra expense.
The biggest hurdles and challenges facing people with disabilities are the negative attitudes that they face from others.
My brother-in-law has an MBA, is a licensed realtor and works as a research analyst for an investment firm. He also uses a wheelchair to get around. I’ve seen him be very gracious in restaurants when the waitress, clearly uncomfortable with the wheelchair, looks at one of us around the table and quietly asks what does he want?
Hmmm. Let’s see. He’ll start off with an appetizer of respect. He’d like to then try the entrée of being treated like everyone else and then he’ll finish off with a dessert of education, advocacy and exposure to people who are different from you so the next time you’ll be a little more enlightened. He’d also like me to stop speaking for him.
Oh, and by the way, he’s paying. Individuals with disabilities make up the largest minority group in this country – a group that can and does have incredible buying power in our economy.
Individuals with disabilities celebrated the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. While previous legislation mandated that federal buildings and federally funded programs be accessible to individuals with disabilities, the ADA expanded that to include private entities. It also extended accessibility to include public accommodations, transportation, communication and other aspects of our daily lives.
The ADA was not affirmative action; it did not say that individuals with disabilities get to have greater access to jobs or opportunities. It said that individuals with disabilities have rights to equal access.
In the case of Johnnie Tuitel, someone will ask is it an “essential function” of flying that individuals be able to help themselves in the event of a safety issue? Has US Airways ever let other people with disabilities fly alone? Do they allow other people who can’t potentially manage themselves – the elderly, children, individuals with mental illness – to fly without assistance? Or, did they look at Tuitel’s wheelchair and forget that they were dealing with a human being first and his disability somewhere after that?
In interviews since the incident, Tuitel has said he has no intention of suing US Airways. He said, “Suing people just makes them angry and less open to making positive changes.” He is sharing his story to advocate and educate and to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else.
An airline employee takes it upon himself to assess the functioning of an individual with a disability without including that person in the discussion. An advocate and national speaker for independence has choices and options taken from him—a clear violation of his rights. A person who was treated so disrespectfully responds without anger and with kindness and respect.
Unbelievable.
