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Sharon Leonard waiting on a nearly empty airplaneSharon Leonard

First On Last Off

I can’t complain about any one airline, because this is something that happens on all on which I’ve ever flown. I am an amputee of my entire left arm and right leg due electrocution by a downed powerline in an act as a Good Samaritan at age 19. I use only a manual chair at age 56 to fly because even this $1200 piece of equipment consistently gets tossed. Last spring break (I teach) I flew–just after having the arm rests replaced. I get it back and one has a big tear on it. But the biggest complaint I have is that I am always the first on and the last off. Because it never seems anyone else thinks of it, wheelchair users also need to pee–and just as badly as the 200 able-bodied people streaming past us and out the door! Not all of us have a catheter! How hard can it be to have an area at the front of the plane for those of us with disabilities who, in my personal case, find it difficult to hop forward on a full bladder–which is STILL better than waiting an eternity for the aisle chair people who by the way usually lack skills for strapping me in? My chair is around 20 lbs and folds very compactly. There was ONE time that they were able to put it into a small closet-like compartment. Let’s fight for more of those, priority seating at the front and at least last loading OR first off–it’s only fair and equitable!

Ms. Sharon Leonard, IA