Hey folks,
Last week's news roundup was pretty weighty, with the Arc's disability supports report, and the WHO's report on international incidence of disability (still plowing through that one myself!). Nothing quite as big this week, but just one story that reminds me of how much further we have to go in our collective respect for those with disabilities.
Frontier Flight Gone Wrong. This past Sunday, a young man named John Morris who is quadriplegic was not permitted to stay on a Frontier flight from Dallas to Denver because the pilot thought it "unsafe" to permit him to stay. The excuse was that since he had limited upper body control, it would be unsafe for him to fly. Nevermind that there was no problem with his flight from Denver to Dallas two days earlier - John had simply used the seat belt extension that the airline carries to secure his chest, and he was traveling with two companions who were quite familiar with his needs.
In the discussion that followed, several passengers overheard Frontier employees saying that company products couldn't be used as medical devices. (Wha?) And so these passengers volunteered their own belts or whatever they could to help John. That was rejected. Instead, the pilot called the local police! No really! The police talked to everyone, concluded it was not a police matter, and told the pilot. Pilot still refused to take off with John on the plane. Finally, John and his family left the plane and boarded a later flight.
Repercussions for the pilot? Zero. Repercussions for Frontier (so far)? Zero.
This kind of intolerance is unacceptable. If you agree, let Frontier know, and vote with your feet. You can file a complaint here.
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