Delta Airlines: Inconsiderate Flight Attendant

                                                                           

On Christmas I was taking a flight home from Detroit.   They put me on one of those new planes with the Captioning Screens.  It was one of those rare moments that I experienced great joy for getting that.  Out of the 45 years I have flown on planes, this is the first time I have ever seen the safety demonstrations closed captioned.

This is something I could of really used in the past.  But that was never given to me.  It really does relieve a lot of stress for not having to understand what was being said over the microphone.  When I checked in the airport, I signed up for special assistance since I have a hearing problem.   It clearly said that on my boarding pass.

And when I stepped onto the plane, I even reminded one of the flight attendants about it.   But my needs got ignored for the hundredth time on Delta Airlines.  On board was Douglas my hearing dog with me.   So far my flight was amazing since I was able to watch the safety demonstrations in close captioning in front of me. 

 And it was one of the newer more attractive and bigger planes.  Even the overhead compartment had a ton of space for the luggage.  And the other two seats next to me were empty.  So it was nice to have more space to myself.  One of the complaints though was they didn't serve us any drinks or snacks during the flight and I got thirsty.   But they served drinks to the first class customers up front. 

 Anyway my Hearing dog first sat on the floor, then he jumped on the empty seat and fell assleep. What matters was he was very well behaved and was being very quiet.   But an ignorant flight attendant came over to me when the lights were off and started talking. 

Immediately I told her I was deaf thinking she would communicate in a way I could understand.   She was impossible to lipread.   She ignored what I said and started going off again and pointing at my service dog.   I had no idea what her problem was and again for the second and third time I reminded her I was deaf.

So why couldn't she write down what she was saying?   Or at least use a little sign language?  I thought I signed up for special assistance.  But nope it doesn't matter, they don't pay attention to  that. So after that the joy of my flight was ruined by that woman.   I got up and went to use the restroom and she gave me a dirty look when I passed her.

Before I opened the door that same woman started going off with her mouth again on me. For the fourth time I told her I was deaf. I couldn't hear a word she said.  Then she looked at me like I was the rude one.  As I was leaving the restroom, the other flight attendant next to her barged into there and pushed the door in on me.  

 I couldn't believe it as she knew I was in there when I walked by her.  That was when I've had it and a complaint should be made.  Just because I'm deaf it doesn't mean they had any rights to mistreat me or my hearing dog.  That woman made no effort to communicate with me the proper way to where I could understand her.

Read The Vest First Before Asking

In the past year I have taken my hearing dog into airports, malls, restaurants and to many more places.    Rarely I was ever questioned on what he was doing inside a public place.   Most people are aware that he is a service animal by looking at that orange vest that he wears.

Because I was born deaf, this hearing dog helps to notify me of sounds I can't hear around my home.   He was trained to do that from trainers at I.H.D.I. in Colorado.   He goes to work with me everyday. So people are getting used to seeing him wherever I go.

Last weekend I decided to go shopping at J.C.Penny's at the Eastern Hills Mall.   An old sales lady followed me like a security guard around the store.   When I turned around she was right behind me and scared me.   Before I knew it she was asking me if he was a service animal.   Then she looked at his vest and I said yes and she went away.

If she had a problem with this dog being in the store she should of just read his vest and moved on.   Nobody else has questioned me about this dog being in a store in a year.  That is simply because they could read his vest.   She did have a right to ask that question, but it was unnecessary since he had his Hearing Dog vest on.  And it was rude.  Unless she couldn't read.
 

Delta Airlines: Use Some Common Sense For The Deaf Passengers

                               Last summer I had to do a lot of flying to see my father.  He was close to dying.   Everytime I go to the airport I always sign up for Special Services.  So I expect to get the kind of help I need with my hearing loss.   Luckily my dad is ok now.

                               When I was at the gate I asked the attendant to wave to me when it was time to board.   And then after I was on the plane they did the safety demonstations like usual.  But it was not done in sign language and it was not captioned.   It's always done the same old way year after year.

                                I'm a very good lipreader but the demonstrations are usually done over the speakers.  So I can't hear or understand a word being said.  This has been nothing new.  When we landed I walked off with my hearing dog.   There was a young man waiting with a wheelchair with my name on a sign.

                                At first I didn't get why that was for me, I thought maybe it was for my dog. But yet both me and Douglas have no trouble walking though the airport.  I actually found it quite insulting that the airline would send me a wheelchair when I didn't need one.   Did they actually think if you were deaf you needed to use a wheelchair?

                                No really, someone needs to educate the staff on this airline on what the needs of the deaf passengers are. And by the way I felt very sorry for the young boy wasting his time waiting for me with the wheelchair. I had to decline it.



                                                                       

Delta Airlines Failed To Satisfy Deaf Passenger Again

                                   When I printed my boarding pass for a flight on Christmas I checked the box for special services.   It said I was hard of hearing on the screen by my pass.   Also I had a hearing dog going with me, but there was no option in there for service animals.   All I saw on it were pets.  After I got done filling it out, I figured I was all set for my flight with no problems.

                                   After I arrived at the gate in the Buffalo airport , I sat down and waited.   A lady was constantly making announcements over a microphone in the boarding area.   Of course I didn't understand a word she said.  Even though I was sitting right in the front, the microphone covered her mouth.  Then all of a sudden everyone lined up by the door but it was closed.  I didn't know what to do.   

                                    So I got up and told her I was deaf and to tell me what was going on.  All she said was we were going to be boarding in seven minutes.  But after I sat back down, I thought I was supposed to be standing in line with the others.   It looked like she was checking in everyone's baggage or something.   Like a fool I stood in the end and waited about 15 minutes.  When it was finally my turn, she told me I already got my seat number.

                                   Feeling like an idiot I sat back down, knowing I never had to stand in line the first place.   Finally it was time to board and she saw my dog, so I was one of the people that went on the plane first.  As I dragged my suitcase onto the plane the flight attendant told me it was too small to put in the cabinet.   Then again I felt like a fool, little did I know the lady had announced over the microphone for people to leave their bags outside the door of the plane. 

                                   The flight attendant took my suitcase from me and  pushed it off the plane. Seriously I felt stupid.   If the lady at the gate would of told me, I would of left it where it was supposed to be outside the plane.  It's not my fault I can't hear.  But they should of notified me when I was boarding the plane.   After all I requested for Special Services.  Didn't anyone know how to sign?

                                   I got in my seat and buckled up.   Then the plane started to take off.   I was wondering if they even gave a Safety Demonstration because I was sitting way in the back.   If they did, well I couldn't hear it or see it.   The flight attendant came over to my seat several times to check on me.   Of course I let her know I was deaf.   She smiled a lot and was very friendly, but I didn't ever understand a word she said.  She spoke very fast and had an accent.

                                  My experience flying with Delta for the hundredth time was very disappointing.  They made me feel humilated and embarrassed as a deaf passenger.  The worst times were when they had a wheelchair waiting for me the last few times I flew from North Carolina.   I don't know why they think I would need one if I am just deaf.  That makes no sense to me.   Though I felt sorry for the kid that came all the way to the gate with a wheelchair that wasn't needed.

                                 Come on Delta Airlines!  Please start showing more respect for your deaf customers!

Hearing Dog Wakes Me Up In The Morning

Before I got Douglas from the International Hearing Dog Institute I would rely on certain alarms for deaf people to wake me up.   I am profound deaf with a 90 percent hearing loss.  So there's no way I am going to hear a regular alarm clock going off.

Usually I would use the flashing light together with the bed shaker vibrator.   Using both did wake me up but there was one problem.   The bed vibrator would stop working after 2 years.   Then I would go and buy another one, and that would break too after a period of time.

I was tired of having to buy one alarm clock after another just to find out they didn't work for long.  And these special alarm clocks were expensive.   Now I have my hearing dog that is trained to wake me up when a regular alarm clock goes off.  He was trained to respond when it either beeps or plays music.

He is the most reliable one I can depend on to get me up each morning.

Deaf Lady Gets No Assistance On Plane For 40 Years

Just recently I flew home on Delta Airlines from Detroit on Christmas. Before I left I had notified the airlines that I was deaf. But once I boarded the plane it was all forgotten. Again I didn't understand a word being said on the microphone. This time I called the flight attendant over and we had a talk. I told her that I didn't understand a word she said during the safety demonstration. She said just follow the book.

Well I told her that is not the only issue. There were a lot of announcements being made over the microphone. And not all of them was about the safety demonstration. And I explained to her that deaf people have a rights to know every word that was said on the plane. We shouldn't be left out and ignored when announcements are being made.

She apologized about what I was going through. Though she didn't have to do that. I explained to her if they would close caption every announcement for the deaf passengers it would be more fair. Or they could have an interpreter on the plane when there's a deaf passenger. I have never been offered either option in forty years.

Hearing Dog Goes To Church

My hearing dog has been attending church with me quite often.

ASL Group At Spot Coffee In February

Tonight was the second time I attended the ASL group at Spot Coffee. This time I was looking forward to going. I have only been there once before, as I just learned about it on facebook. It is for people that know how to speak in sign language or that want to learn more of it. It doesn't matter if you are deaf or hearing.

The only deaf people that was there this time was the other two guys and me. Hopefully more deaf people will show up in the next few weeks at this event. It's a good thing a lot of hearing people want to learn sign language. It impresses me they care to know how to communicate with those that can't hear. I enjoyed meeting new people tonight and I am going back on February 22nd. The group is meeting every two weeks for now at the coffee shop at 7pm.

My sign language skills are improving. Long time ago I knew how to sign very well. That's because I went to N.T.I.D. in the past. Over the years I have forgotten how to speak fluently in sign language. Now it's all coming back to me and I'm catching up. Sooner or later I'll remember how to sign most of the words that I have forgotten. This is a good social even to go to.

ASL Buffalo Social Group Event

Tim Horton's Drive-Thru Lacks Assistance For The Deaf

Tonight I stopped at the Tim Horton's drive-thru to see what kind of services they had available for deaf people. As I pulled up to the speakers, I was hoping to see some kind of sign directing deaf people where to put in their orders. Well there was absolutely nothing there for those with hearing and speech difficulties. I stared blankly at the speakers and put in my order the best as I could. Then someone said something back to me through the speakers and I didn't understand a word being said over it.

I looked at the screen hoping they would close caption everything being said from the speakers. There was nothing captioned at all. I looked blankly at the big menu on the screen and saw nothing indicating to me what the person said. The world needs to understand that deaf people have no use for speakers. Please make it fair to everyone in this world and provide assistance for deaf people at all drive-thru's. I spoke to the supervisor there and I asked her to put up a sign directing deaf people to skip the speakers and to pull up to the window. Then I suggested to her to inform the manager that providing touch screens there would help millions of people and not just the deaf.


You can read more about what happened at Tim Horton's here at:
Tim Hortons Drive-Thru Does Not Provide Assistance For The Deaf

Arby's Drive-Thru Doesn't Provide Any Assistance For Deaf People

Today I decided to stop at Arby's after church to get a roast beef sandwich. When I pulled up to the screen with the menu on it, I didn't see any sticker or sign directing deaf people where to put in their orders. Therefore I was very disappointed. I have been deaf all my life for 49 years and some of the drive-thru restaurants still don't meet deaf people's communication needs. It doesn't look like anybody out there is doing anything to change this.

Number one I would recommend that Arby's put up a sign or a sticker directing those with speech and hearing difficulties where to go. They certainly won't feel comfortable ordering from a speaker when they can't hear or speak well. It is unfair for some people have to go inside to put in their order when they could do it outside from their car. So please make things fair for everyone. Consider putting up touch screens for all your customers. For now I would advise Arby's to put up a sticker like what McDonald's has giving assistance for those with speech and hearing difficulties. That shouldn't be hard to do, nor it shouldn't be expensive.

For your information I received a letter from the VP of Arby's. He is going to see what they can do to make a better experience for all their guests as a result from reading my article below.

Arby's Drive-Thru Needs Assistance For Deaf People

All Drive-Thru Places Should Have Touch Screens For Everybody

Have you ever had difficulties ordering from a drive-thru? Do the words come out unclear and broken up through the speakers? Do the person understand or hear you when you talk into the speakers? Do you have to speak up for them to hear your order? Do they ever take your order wrong due not to hearing you right? This can be a major problem when ordering food at any drive-thru restaurant.

In order to solve this problem throughout the world, every drive-thru should consider installing touch screens to order from. This would solve the major problem in the deaf society when using a drive-thru. It would also help those with speech difficulties that can't talk through a speaker. Most deaf and hard of hearing people would really like to use a touch screen at the drive-thru's to make their orders. For now they either have to pull up to the window or go inside. This is very unfair to those with hearing difficulties. Please be fair to everyone in this world and treat us all equally.

I have been deaf for 49 years and not much has improved for me when it comes to ordering out at restaurants. Please to those who manage the drive-thru restaurants to consider installing touch screen menus. This would benefit everyone in the world, not just those with speech and hearing difficulties. Most people want this so why not put them in now and make everyone happier. The speakers at the drive-thru's are quite a nuisance. Please make the changes now for all of us. We want touch screens.

To the managers and owners of all drive-thru restaurants please take this into consideration. This includes Burger king, Arby's, Tim Horton's, KFC, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, Mighty Taco's, and all other drive thru's out there.

Related articles:

Drive-Thru Places Needs Touch Screens

Burger King Drive-Thru Needs Assistance For The Deaf

Drive-Thru Restaurants Should Provide Touch Screens For The Deaf

It seems like nothing much changed in terms of providing assistance for the deaf at drive-thru restaurants. Yesterday I noticed one of them had a small sticker on the bottom of the ordering menu screen outside. You can barely see it unless you look at it closely. All it said was those who have speech or hearing difficulties should drive up to the window to put in an order.

For those who are completely deaf that can't speak I'm assuming they write everything down on a piece of paper and hand it over to the person at the window. As far as them signing, I don't think many people that work at these fast food restaurants know any sign language. I have been to many drive-thru restaurants and not one person used sign language for me when I told them I was deaf. It must be pretty difficult for deaf people that can't talk to order at a drive-thru window. Number one they can't hear over a speaker. Number two they can't speak very well therefore how do they know if the other person understands them? Number three this is unfair to the deaf customers. We all should be treated equally and not be put through a hassle as a customer when making an order.

I would advise that all drive-thru restaurants start putting up touch screen machines for everyone. That way when those with speech and hearing difficulties want to make an order they can do it easily. Many people with hearing problems avoid going to drive-thru restaurants knowing they will have a difficult time making an order. Most people that work at these restaurants have not been trained to communicate with deaf people in sign language. Not one of them has done that for me in 40 years.

So why not place some touch screens in front of each drive-thru restaurant for the deaf customers and for everyone else as well? That way you will get more orders and people will stop avoiding drive-thru restaurants due to speech and hearing problems. Please treat your deaf customers equally and not differently to others. It's only fair. What do you think?

You can read more about this below by clicking on the link.
Touch Screens At Drive-Thru Restaurants

The McDonald's Drive-Thru Provides Assistance For The Deaf

Sometimes when I am on the road and feeling hungry, I like to stop at a drive-thru restaurant. When it is cold outside, I'd prefer to order from my car than to go inside. In the past I've had some very unpleasant experiences at drive-thru restaurants. So I have tried to avoid them as much as possible.

One time I went to a MacDonald's many years ago and I couldn't understand what they said over the speaker. At the time I had no idea you could just pull up to the window and order if you couldn't hear them due to a sticker on their screen. It says that if you have a hearing or speech problem you should drive up to the window and order from there. For some reason I have never noticed or seen these stickers before on the menu at the McDonald's drive-thru restaurants.

One time when I put in an order I couldn't hear them and I had no idea if they understood me. When I pulled up to the window they gave me the wrong order. I wasn't happy because I waited a long time for it. Also I was feeling very uncomfortable putting in an order at the drive-thru because I had no idea what they said. Really they should start providing closed captioning screens and caption everything being said over the speakers. This would help the deaf people a lot and also the elderly who are losing their hearing.

Deaf Girl Grows Up by Susana the Deaf Lady http://deaf47.blogspot.com

Pictures of me during my childhood days by Susana the Deaf Lady

Regal Access -- Glasses with Open Captions [HD]

Suny Subtitle Glasses

 http://www.digitaltrends.com/lifestyle/sony-subtitle-glasses/

Interesting Article

http://www.hearinglossweb.com/Issues/Access/Captioning/Movies/movies.htm

How Deaf People Enjoy Music

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/11/011128035455.htm