Mute woman denied flight because ... she's mute.

[AthenaAwakened]

No kidding

Check this out

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=9492805

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A woman left disabled after a stroke was denied a flight out of Los Angeles International Airport due to an expired driver's license.


Sherry Wright, of Canyon Country, is still upset about the way she and her disabled sister, Heidi Wright, were treated by a Transportation Security Administration official at LAX.

Heidi, 58, suffered a stroke 10 years ago. She is wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.

"He just wanted me to make my sister talk, and I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'Wow, we're going to make a miracle right now,'" said Wright.

Sherry took Heidi to the airport Wednesday for a flight to Phoenix, but they were stopped by the TSA because of the expired license.

"I showed her ID, her social and her DMV papers," said Sherry.

Sherry said the agent was extremely rude.

"I was shocked. I was just standing there, tears were coming out and I was like, 'Are you serious? We can't get her to talk.'"

The family is frustrated because an older sister waiting to begin caring for Heidi in Arizona said she had called the TSA beforehand to find out what was needed

 

[fromderinside]

Hey. She's human. She talks!

 

[SimpleDon]

I am a mute also. But I have an app on my iPad that I can use for situations like this. It is called Proloquo2Go. It is pretty expensive, a couple of hundred dollars but the company can sometimes find funding sources for people who need the app.

You can pick out symbols for common situations.

I have another program that runs on my PC at home. It lets me talk on the phone using the free Google Voice. It is called "Etriloquist" and it is free to disabled people. Anything that you can write it can say. You can store common phases in it to use it at the proper time.

I want to get a Windows 8 tablet. The operating system of the iPad doesn't allow for true multitasking which is needed to run some of the more useful combinations of programs like talking on the phone.

Also I learned about one hundred signs in American Sign Language. It is easy to do. Just learn three signs a day. In a month you will know enough to start using it.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

I am a mute also. But I have an app on my iPad that I can use for situations like this. It is called Proloquo2Go. It is pretty expensive, a couple of hundred dollars but the company can sometimes find funding sources for people who need the app.

You can pick out symbols for common situations.

I have another program that runs on my PC at home. It lets me talk on the phone using the free Google Voice. It is called "Etriloquist" and it is free to disabled people. Anything that you can write it can say. You can store common phases in it to use it at the proper time.

I want to get a Windows 8 tablet. The operating system of the iPad doesn't allow for true multitasking which is needed to run some of the more useful combinations of programs like talking on the phone.

Also I learned about one hundred signs in American Sign Language. It is easy to do. Just learn three signs a day. In a month you will know enough to start using it.

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

 

[dismal]

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

So, your point is government bureaucrats tend to be insensitive and autocratic and we don't want them running our lives.

Got it.

 

[Keith&Co.]

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

So, your point is government bureaucrats tend to be insensitive and autocratic and we don't want them running our lives.

Got it.

Wow. It takes some work to get that out of what she posted. Kind of like creationists and the science they find in scripture....

I do notice that this incident has drawn headlines. If they TEND to be this insensitive and autocratic, it would be odd for something so normal to draw headlines, wouldn't it?
No one gets national attention for spending three hours at the DMV. So of the face of it, this seems to be more of an unusual event...

 

[dismal]

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

So, your point is government bureaucrats tend to be insensitive and autocratic and we don't want them running our lives.

Got it.

Wow. It takes some work to get that out of what she posted.

What do you imagine the political issue is here?

 

[AthenaAwakened]

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

So, your point is government bureaucrats tend to be insensitive and autocratic and we don't want them running our lives.

Got it.

no, that's your point and as usual it is pointless.

 

[dismal]

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

So, your point is government bureaucrats tend to be insensitive and autocratic and we don't want them running our lives.

Got it.

no, that's your point and as usual it is pointless.

So, what is the political point?

Or, are you suggesting this government official was not insensitive and autocratic?

 

[credoconsolans]

No kidding

Check this out

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=9492805

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A woman left disabled after a stroke was denied a flight out of Los Angeles International Airport due to an expired driver's license.


Sherry Wright, of Canyon Country, is still upset about the way she and her disabled sister, Heidi Wright, were treated by a Transportation Security Administration official at LAX.

Heidi, 58, suffered a stroke 10 years ago. She is wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.

"He just wanted me to make my sister talk, and I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'Wow, we're going to make a miracle right now,'" said Wright.

Sherry took Heidi to the airport Wednesday for a flight to Phoenix, but they were stopped by the TSA because of the expired license.

"I showed her ID, her social and her DMV papers," said Sherry.

Sherry said the agent was extremely rude.

"I was shocked. I was just standing there, tears were coming out and I was like, 'Are you serious? We can't get her to talk.'"

The family is frustrated because an older sister waiting to begin caring for Heidi in Arizona said she had called the TSA beforehand to find out what was needed

Seems to me this whole ball of wax was started because the woman's sister did not have her sister's DL/ID renewed.

The airline industry is still a private industry and they can and do make those who want their services cowtow to their rules.

I was once forced by a car rental agency to renew my DL to reflect my new address before they would loan me a car. I could show them utility bills, bank statements, payroll check stubs with my new address (I had just recently moved) but that wasn't good enough. They drove me to the DMV and after assuring me that it would only take a few minutes I said sure, if you will wait to give me a ride back. They agreed. Then they got pissed when the wait didn't take a few minutes but 3 hours.

But they were not as pissed as I was.

 

[laughing dog]

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

So, your point is government bureaucrats tend to be insensitive and autocratic and we don't want them running our lives.

Got it.

no, that's your point and as usual it is pointless.

So, what is the political point?

Or, are you suggesting this government official was not insensitive and autocratic?

Until you present a reality-based rationale for drawing a conclusion about a tendency among government officials from the actions of one gov't official, your response is a kneejerk rightwing meme and nothing more.

 

[Keith&Co.]

the thing is, this woman was made mute by a stroke and we don't know who debilitating that stroke was overall. We do know Ms. Wright was going to Phoenix for her sister to take care of her.

So, your point is government bureaucrats tend to be insensitive and autocratic and we don't want them running our lives.

Got it.

no, that's your point and as usual it is pointless.

So, what is the political point?

Or, are you suggesting this government official was not insensitive and autocratic?

It's just kind of a leap to go from 'this guy was insensitive and autocratic' or even 'everyone in this airport was insensitive and autocratic' to think she was stating 'they tend to be.' And then entirely an invention of yours to add the 'running our lives' bit.

If YOU want to say that is YOUR point, or your takeaway from this thread, that's fine. Saying she said it is a fiction.

 

[dismal]

Then they got pissed when the wait didn't take a few minutes but 3 hours.

So, the you're saying the DMV was inefficient and bureaucratic?

Shocking.

 

[Toni]

No kidding

Check this out

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=9492805

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A woman left disabled after a stroke was denied a flight out of Los Angeles International Airport due to an expired driver's license.


Sherry Wright, of Canyon Country, is still upset about the way she and her disabled sister, Heidi Wright, were treated by a Transportation Security Administration official at LAX.

Heidi, 58, suffered a stroke 10 years ago. She is wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.

"He just wanted me to make my sister talk, and I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'Wow, we're going to make a miracle right now,'" said Wright.

Sherry took Heidi to the airport Wednesday for a flight to Phoenix, but they were stopped by the TSA because of the expired license.

"I showed her ID, her social and her DMV papers," said Sherry.

Sherry said the agent was extremely rude.

"I was shocked. I was just standing there, tears were coming out and I was like, 'Are you serious? We can't get her to talk.'"

The family is frustrated because an older sister waiting to begin caring for Heidi in Arizona said she had called the TSA beforehand to find out what was needed

Seems to me this whole ball of wax was started because the woman's sister did not have her sister's DL/ID renewed.

The airline industry is still a private industry and they can and do make those who want their services cowtow to their rules.

I was once forced by a car rental agency to renew my DL to reflect my new address before they would loan me a car. I could show them utility bills, bank statements, payroll check stubs with my new address (I had just recently moved) but that wasn't good enough. They drove me to the DMV and after assuring me that it would only take a few minutes I said sure, if you will wait to give me a ride back. They agreed. Then they got pissed when the wait didn't take a few minutes but 3 hours.

But they were not as pissed as I was.

In the case of the OP, it was the TSA agent, not an airline employee, who was behaving abominably. Especially egregious since the sister was complying with what the TSA told her was required. Of course the disabled woman would not have a current driver's license. She no longer drives and should not be licensed. I am not certain of the process for renewing photo ID for another individual who is unable to do this task for herself.

 

[credoconsolans]

Of course the disabled woman would not have a current driver's license. She no longer drives and should not be licensed. I am not certain of the process for renewing photo ID for another individual who is unable to do this task for herself.

Even if you don't drive, you should still get an official state ID. It's for identification purposes and even if you are in this woman's situation you should have one. Several of my relatives don't drive for various reasons, they still have an updated state ID.

In the case of the OP, it was the TSA agent, not an airline employee, who was behaving abominably

A fine example here of why you should. You want to use the services of a transportation company that is highly monitored by government agents, you'd better damn well have one.

 

[Toni]

Even if you don't drive, you should still get an official state ID. It's for identification purposes and even if you are in this woman's situation you should have one. Several of my relatives don't drive for various reasons, they still have an updated state ID.

In the case of the OP, it was the TSA agent, not an airline employee, who was behaving abominably

A fine example here of why you should. You want to use the services of a transportation company that is highly monitored by government agents, you'd better damn well have one.

How frequently do you suppose the disabled woman in the OP flies? How many times since her stroke 10 years ago? How much agency do you suppose she has since we know that at a minimum, she is wheel chair bound and mute? How up to date with current travel requirements would you expect her to be? How much more do you suppose a sibling, likely not very young herself, should do beyond calling the TSA and following the directions given BY THE TSA?

In what world does the lack of a current DL for a disabled, wheel chair bound mute person make it ok to treat that person with disrespect and intimidation?

 

[credoconsolans]

Even if you don't drive, you should still get an official state ID. It's for identification purposes and even if you are in this woman's situation you should have one. Several of my relatives don't drive for various reasons, they still have an updated state ID.

In the case of the OP, it was the TSA agent, not an airline employee, who was behaving abominably

A fine example here of why you should. You want to use the services of a transportation company that is highly monitored by government agents, you'd better damn well have one.

How frequently do you suppose the disabled woman in the OP flies? How many times since her stroke 10 years ago? How much agency do you suppose she has since we know that at a minimum, she is wheel chair bound and mute? How up to date with current travel requirements would you expect her to be? How much more do you suppose a sibling, likely not very young herself, should do beyond calling the TSA and following the directions given BY THE TSA?

In what world does the lack of a current DL for a disabled, wheel chair bound mute person make it ok to treat that person with disrespect and intimidation?

If you're going to care for a special needs person, you have to keep up with this sort of thing. Perhaps driving was a better option than flying since there are tons of things that someone needs to be aware of before they fly these days?

 

[Toni]

Even if you don't drive, you should still get an official state ID. It's for identification purposes and even if you are in this woman's situation you should have one. Several of my relatives don't drive for various reasons, they still have an updated state ID.

In the case of the OP, it was the TSA agent, not an airline employee, who was behaving abominably

A fine example here of why you should. You want to use the services of a transportation company that is highly monitored by government agents, you'd better damn well have one.

How frequently do you suppose the disabled woman in the OP flies? How many times since her stroke 10 years ago? How much agency do you suppose she has since we know that at a minimum, she is wheel chair bound and mute? How up to date with current travel requirements would you expect her to be? How much more do you suppose a sibling, likely not very young herself, should do beyond calling the TSA and following the directions given BY THE TSA?

In what world does the lack of a current DL for a disabled, wheel chair bound mute person make it ok to treat that person with disrespect and intimidation?

If you're going to care for a special needs person, you have to keep up with this sort of thing. Perhaps driving was a better option than flying since there are tons of things that someone needs to be aware of before they fly these days?

Having spent about 30 years of my life helping to care for my disabled mother before she passed away, I can tell you that you must be able to rely on the information conveyed to you by those who have authority to make and enforce rules. Which the sister did do, btw. She was misinformed. By the TSA. Who then abused the disabled woman for BEING DISABLED.

The behavior of the TSA agent was inexcusable.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Even if you don't drive, you should still get an official state ID. It's for identification purposes and even if you are in this woman's situation you should have one. Several of my relatives don't drive for various reasons, they still have an updated state ID.

In the case of the OP, it was the TSA agent, not an airline employee, who was behaving abominably

A fine example here of why you should. You want to use the services of a transportation company that is highly monitored by government agents, you'd better damn well have one.

How frequently do you suppose the disabled woman in the OP flies? How many times since her stroke 10 years ago? How much agency do you suppose she has since we know that at a minimum, she is wheel chair bound and mute? How up to date with current travel requirements would you expect her to be? How much more do you suppose a sibling, likely not very young herself, should do beyond calling the TSA and following the directions given BY THE TSA?

In what world does the lack of a current DL for a disabled, wheel chair bound mute person make it ok to treat that person with disrespect and intimidation?

While I agree obtaining a current ID could be a problem for her I think the real problem here is the TSA hires morons. There's a procedure for traveling without an ID--and she couldn't comply with it. When faced with a situation the rules didn't cover they tried to apply the rules anyway.

Furthermore, they encounter a lot more people who are unwilling to comply with their crap than who are actually unable to. Claiming disability is commonly used to avoid the nude scanners.

 

[Toni]

Even if you don't drive, you should still get an official state ID. It's for identification purposes and even if you are in this woman's situation you should have one. Several of my relatives don't drive for various reasons, they still have an updated state ID.

In the case of the OP, it was the TSA agent, not an airline employee, who was behaving abominably

A fine example here of why you should. You want to use the services of a transportation company that is highly monitored by government agents, you'd better damn well have one.

How frequently do you suppose the disabled woman in the OP flies? How many times since her stroke 10 years ago? How much agency do you suppose she has since we know that at a minimum, she is wheel chair bound and mute? How up to date with current travel requirements would you expect her to be? How much more do you suppose a sibling, likely not very young herself, should do beyond calling the TSA and following the directions given BY THE TSA?

In what world does the lack of a current DL for a disabled, wheel chair bound mute person make it ok to treat that person with disrespect and intimidation?

While I agree obtaining a current ID could be a problem for her I think the real problem here is the TSA hires morons. There's a procedure for traveling without an ID--and she couldn't comply with it. When faced with a situation the rules didn't cover they tried to apply the rules anyway.

Furthermore, they encounter a lot more people who are unwilling to comply with their crap than who are actually unable to. Claiming disability is commonly used to avoid the nude scanners.

Yes, of course many TSA hires for airport security are morons and worse: mean spirited morons who are poorly trained and very poorly paid. Yes, the job is difficult and yes, there are plenty of people who are unwilling to comply with regulations when they easily can do so. But then there is a record that extends beyond this one case where the TSA has abused and humiliated an elderly individual for no good reason. And in fact, this is the primary reason that the last time my very frail mother in law who uses a walker and has diminished hearing visited us, it was decided that the 8 hr each way car ride would be easier for her to tolerate than the 1.5 hr flight plus who knows how many hours of BS at two different airports. The other thing to note is that many older individuals and also individuals who have some disabilities are not likely to be on the internet: money and age are factors. Yet the internet is the primary source for such information about rules, regulations, etc. Certainly there are plenty of older adults and persons with disabilities who are quite tech savvy but certainly many are not. Throw in individuals living in rural areas which are less likely to have easy access to the internet and traveling is a nightmare. Daily, I am shocked that the airline industry is still operating.