I don't normally fly. but had to go to Hawaii on family matters. The TSA guy barked at me to come forward to walk thru the metal detector and then freaked out because I had on my wrist braces. "Step aside miss, you must remove those" I tossed them over at my bin, so that must have irked him. He barked at me again to step aside miss and remove my gloves, when he had failed to notice it was my sleeves. I said in the same tone he used on me " they are not gloves, they are sleeves and pulled them back so he could see my wrists. Rude asshole. This is why I never fly. If you have any kind of disability they mess with you.Yvonne
We receive story after story about TSA employees being rude or mean or insensitive to people with disabilities. Can’t these people be given some sensitivity training, John? Are you even aware of this problem, Janet?
10 Responses to Yvonne: “If you have any kind of disability they mess with you.”
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This is probably the quickest route to lawsuits…discrimination against people with disabilities.
Come on, you really didn’t think you needed to remove metal braces before going through the metal detector? If you were unable to go through without them that’s a different story, but you said yourself you are able to THROW them away and walk through. Don’t pick a fight for the hell of it.
All persons are deserving of dignity. Defending your dignity is not “picking a fight.” The persons who are attacking your dignity are picking the fight.
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Disabilities come in all forms, and there are many in our society, who are ambulatory, but also disabled. The TSA has, with malice of forethought, intentionally gone out of its way to harass, dehumanize, and do everything within their power to cause physical and emotional distress to disabled individuals solely because they are disabled.
For some reason, the TSA has an open policy of pure, unadulterated hatred of the weakest, and most vulnerable in our society. The TSA treats disabled Americans like the Nazis treated the Jews. It’s time for the TSA to get honest and finally admit that disabled individuals are not welcome in our airports, and they they don’t want disabled Americans to fly.
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Who are John and Janet? TSA bigwigs a presume?
While on vacation last month (March 2011), I sustained an injury to my ankle which required the use of a cane for me to walk. On my return home, I was preparing to go through the metal detector when I was asked if I could walk through without my cane; the ankle hurt enough that I could not do so without shoes (which were already off). So the TSA agents in Reno pulled me aside and told me that I had to go through a pat down. So, indeed, it sounds like anyone with an injury, disability or who is not otherwise able to follow the normal procedure will get a scan.
Based on what I am seeing, though, it seems to depend on where you are. My experience was in Reno and it was actually pretty decent. I had a nice conversation with the (male) agent who administered the pat down. We even joked a little about “touching junk” (he used the word “jewels”) and it felt like he exercised discretion and did only what he felt was absolutely necessary.
Although I still believe this whole circus is just for show, I do feel a little more relieved that at least one agent allowed a traveler to retain dignity while he performed his duties.
Jessica – do you think the braces are a fashion accessory? Expecting someone to remove a brace and then function with the same kind of precision and accuracy as a person who doesn’t need braces is a little “pie in the sky,” don’t you think?
These guys are supposed to be professionals. That means that they do their job and they don’t take it personally when someone get’s annoyed with procedure. PROFESSIONALISM. It’s key in a position like this.
And purposefully enforcing a person’s handicap is degrading. Would it be so hard to say “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to remove those?”
Abolish the TSA.
Sensitivity training – rubbish – lawsuits baby! The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 strictly forbids this kind of blatant discrimination and abuse against people with handicapps. They are being singled out because of their disability and forced to undergo these assaults every single time they fly. To me the way to eat this elephant is one bite at a time. Litigate TSA policy piece by piece, case by case, person by person – until it is obliterated. Any lawyers out there care to comment?
It’s even worse if the disability isn’t visible, whether it’s cardiac, mental, pulmonary, mobility, whatever the problem the TSA goons don’t believe you, don’t care, & don’t follow their own published (on their public website!) procedures.
I resorted to printing out the info from their website (saying that someone with a medical condition can carry fluids, but they will be tested) & wrapping it around my bottle of water. Some airports have drinking fountains inside the “secure” area, one I (used to) fly to/from doesn’t, & I’m not getting water from the bathroom!