Because I'm blind, an airline is saying I have to sit alone. We booked side-by-side seats. But when they found out I'm blind, they separated us. They're claiming it's their policy 1/7 #RightsOnFlights
that if a person has a service dog over 55 pounds, they need a separate extra seat because they assume the dog won't fit. Weight is just a number. #GuideDogs are trained to tuck themselves under seats and I can use my feet as a barrier, 2/7
keeping my dog confined to the floor space by my feet. (Photo of a German Shepherd dog sweetly looking up at the camera while curled up on the floor by my feet. We’re both within the designated space for a single plane seat.) 3/7
And that extra empty seat, they want me to pay for it! Charging disabled people double for tickets, telling us we can't sit next to family or friends, and, guide dog fat-shaming. My trip is in a few weeks and I don't know exactly what will happen, 4/7
but I know I'm going to do everything I can to make sure other disabled travelers never have to deal with this. I filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation. @USDOT The airline is @_azoresAirlines from Portugal, but because they fly to the US, they're still 5/7
subject to our anti-discrimination laws. Filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation is free, fairly straightforward, & it can be done online. Please help share this video so more people know they can file complaints when experiencing airline access issues 6/7
Let's remove barriers all over the world. 7/7
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It’s #HelenKeller’s birthday & the start of #Deafblind Awareness Week! Deafblind people face higher levels of depression in part because ableist barriers often exclude us from conversations. Today, and every day, practice these steps to help make your stories more accessible. 1/5
1. If you post a photo, add image descriptions, also called alt text. Describe the key details in the image so someone who can’t see it can receive the emotional message through words. If there is text in the image, include that, too. Tap “Alt” on my photo for a sample. 2/5
2. Videos should have captions, on-screen text that captures the video’s audio. Bold, large font that contrasts with the background is easier for people with low vision. 3/5
My eyes move involuntarily, each one swinging to its own music. They’ve danced this way for as long as I can remember. I can’t see it myself, but the jeering kids let me know. The adults nudging me to wear sunglasses let me know. And trolls certainly let me know. Thread 1/5
Our society criminalizes #disability. Countless books & films allege eyes reveal a person’s soul, then deliberately give the evil characters abnormal eyes. Not all of them, of course, but enough to influence the public’s perception of eyes like mine. #Ableism 2/5
The #blind community has many stories of police glancing at our eyes & immediately assuming intoxication, illegal substance use, or criminal intent. Those of us who are blind and Black face the dual forces of #ableism and racism. #BlackDisabledLivesMatter 3/5
Helen Keller’s birthday is June 27 & it’s #Deafblind Awareness Week. Helen knew she benefited from white privilege. A fierce activist, she protested, wrote articles & donated to orgs working to end racism. I'm confident #HelenKeller would emphatically affirm #BlackLivesMatter
Video Transcript (I’m speaking): June 27 is #HelenKeller's birthday & all week is #Deafblind Awareness Week. Helen Keller was a fierce activist working to end racism. 1/x
Video transcript continued: She was a white woman who recognized white privilege & worked to help end all the racism that exists in our country. There's still a lot of work to do. 2/x