(Dis)Abled Restrictions

     An airline is in hot water for telling a man he was too disabled to fly on one of their flights.

     This is obviously a touchy area...just when can society say the greater good requires an individual to give up some of his rights to move within society?

     I asked J.C., the executive blog editor, who has a hearing impairment is a Deaf Person, and who was once Assistant Director for the Minnesota State Council for the Handicapped for him thoughts:

     If this man has already flown half a million miles on various airlines, including US Airways, there is no reason to kick him off a flight. Every day thousands of persons with disabilities fly. Elderly people in wheelchairs are routinely brought onto planes and seated, usually in the bulkhead seats. Blind and even Deaf-blind persons are assisted by airline personnel as needed.



     There is a FAA restriction: persons seated in the emergency exit rows must be able to follow spoken instructions and to physically be able to operate the emergency doors. Other than that, there is absolutely no reason to ban this man from the privilege of flying.

     I do hope that he follows through with a hefty 504/ADA lawsuit.

Thanks J.C.!