Oh yeah, I can relate! I don't yet use an indicator cane to travel in unfamiliar places, but am seriously condsidering one soon. I have known since I had orientation and mobility in high school--over thirty years ago, that I was eligible for one, but really haven't needed one. Until now!
Last month, I took a Tip via Amtrak from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Orlando, Florida with my thirteen year old daughter. We went to visit my 19 uear old daughter. This trip involved two transfers each way, not a problem, I was really up0 for it, and visually I had no navigation problems at all. I use a monocular all of the time, it is almost a part of my left hand!
Amtrak is very accomodating to persons with disabilities. They offr a discount, and whatever help you request mis usually put right on your ticket--accessible space for wheelchairs, help finding your gate, whatever. I just had mine stamped disabled, as I didn't think I would need any help other than to ask which direction to go, which lots of normally sighted people do. It did allow me to wait in the senior/disabled area up front if I wanted to, and I did, oncec. That is when I had the issue--and it wan't from an Amtrak employee.
Chicago is probably the busiest train station there is--everything goes through there! It isn't hard to get around, just very crowded. On the way home, we went to wait at our gate very early, as we had nothing better to do. As there is always such a crowd and much jostling, I decided to take advantage of the special waiting area, which I was entitled to do. It is basically up front, in fornt of everyone else. Now, while there were many people there legitimately, I will wager that more than half were not, they just wanted to get on first. I don't say anything, because you do never know what a person's disability is, after all many are 'hidden disabilities', even ours isn't always apparent. Well, as the time for the train came, it got very crowded, we were very near the front, and some lady with another woman and two kids pushed her way to the front and very loudly proclaimed that this was the waiting area for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. I just turned to her and said, "Excuse me, I AM disabled would you like to see my ticket and the proof! I had them in my hand at the time. Amtrak requires you provide proof of your disability, either in the form of an ID from a disability organization, a transit disability discount card (Like the CNIB one), or a letter from your DR. You need to carry it with you, present it when purchasing tickets with the disability discount, and be prepared to show it on the train when tickets are collected. (My letter is hilarious--the top says "Certificate of Legal Blindness and proceeds to not only tell that I am but quote the section of the law!). I have absolutely no problem with this policy, in fact I am wholeheartedly in favor of it. The lady just looked at me, and then tried to cover for herself saying she just needed to get her disabled aunt and her kids on the train, blah, blah, blah. OK, fine, I believe her, but it is reather rude to assume someone is or isn't disabled. I do not mind proving it to the peole who need it, the employees, etc. Like showing an ID card on the bus for reduced fares. That is perfectly legit--but I HATE when other passengers who don't really know me ask why I get to use half fare tickets on the public transit here. nIt is none of their business.
I think the situation at the train station could hav been avoided if there was an Amtrak employee stationed to check who went into the special waiting area, but of course that is wishful thinking, and not really econmically feasible. With multiple gates with multiple waiting areas and trains only leaving at certain times it doesn't really make sense. People just need to be honest. I don't even always take advantage of waitng there, it depends on the crowd usually. I sometimes get nervous about getting jostled off track and going the wrong way when there are so many people pushing and shoving to be first! Let's just put it this way, there wer multiple signs stating that the waiting area was for the disabled and seniors. And I could read them from a short distance away, even without my monocular--and I am 20/200 in my bettter eye, corrected! A cane might have helped in my case, but then again, this woman was alittle rude. Go figure.
As for the idiots who think we are deaf as well as blind. I usually do make a smart remark in those rare instances that that happens. Not rude, necessarily, but something so they know that I am aware of their poor manners.
Unfortunately, these situations will always happen. Hopefully, less and less, but it isn't just a them being rude to persons with disabilities. I find peole like that are just rude and unthinking in general. Hang in there--and next time, say something, politely but to the point! Maybe it will help one person to think before they speak the next time.
Joni