I wish I could say that I created the phrase, “Bellies and butts,” but my brother gets the credit. My brother had a stroke and, as a result of his stroke, spends most of his time in a wheelchair. Unfortunately, I’ve joined the wheelchair brigade; and, as my brother says, the view from the wheelchair is, in fact, bellies and butts. Unfortunately, ambulatory humans don’t get it and, as a consequence, talk down to the handicapped rather than sitting down to carry on the conversation eye to eye.
No place is the belly and butt phenomenon more prevalent than in the airport which brings me to my topic of the day/year. As my readers know, the treatment of the handicapped in the airport is atrocious! My two latest visits to airports were so bad that I won’t fly again. Both United Airlines and American airlines took the brunt of my anger after I was dumped in the handicapped scrap yard awaiting service.
The gentleman who eventually became my pusher (pushing me through the airport) worked for Prospect (company contracted to provide services to handicapped) and educated my wife and I about how the system works. The night I arrived in Dallas, my pusher was responsible for 4 handicapped passengers on my flight. He had 3 working wheelchairs for 4 individuals and had us sit and wait while he found a fourth. He had to get all four of us through customs, baggage and, in my case, to a connecting flight.
He pushed my chair with his right hand and pulled another chair with his left. He changed lanes frequently once while we were waiting for the customs agent. The customs agent was right out of a Saturday Night skit. His disposition was nasty. He shouted, “get behind the line” frequently. It was the first time I’d ever seen someone snarl. Once out of customs, we needed to go back through security. Since I can’t be scanned due to the generator in my chest wall, I now get a massage from a male TSA agent. If he had taken a few more minutes checking my groin, I might have surprised him.
All told, it was horrible. In talking to other handicapped individuals, I’ve learned that my experience was common. Something has to be done. The airlines blame the airport and Prospect. Prospect blames the airport and airlines. I’ll tell you it’s all three. By blaming a third party, they all avoid taking responsibility. I can’t take them on alone. I need you to to make this blog go viral. We need the producers of 60 Minutes or 20/20 to take an interest in the plight of the handicapped when traveling by air. Consider sending a letter outlining your experience to them as well. Let me know your story and I’ll publish it.
