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Tags: blind | couple | denied | bus | seats

Blind Couple Denied Bus Seats Because ADA-Compliant Seats Were Full

By    |   Tuesday, 30 December 2014 05:04 PM EST

A blind couple was denied seats on a bus in Seattle on Sunday when the driver insisted they wait for the next bus because the seats for people with disabilities were full.

"He was making an assumption that the only seats we could sit in were those designated as ADA seats," Michael Mello, who was trying to catch a bus with Cindy Bennett, told KOMO-TV. "We felt that it was a pretty clear indication that we were not welcome on that bus."

King County Metro Transit apologized to the couple.

"What happened is unacceptable and we apologize," spokesman Jeff Switzer said in a statement. "Blind passengers are not required to use the ADA priority seating area. We've identified the operator and his chief will be working with him on this issue and will take appropriate action."

Marci Carpenter, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington, filed a complaint over the incident, KIRO-TV reported.

Bennett described the driver’s behavior as demeaning.

"He was yelling at us. It was in public. It was really demeaning," she told KIRO-TV.

Twitter users seemed incredulous.









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TheWire
A blind couple was denied seats on a bus in Seattle on Sunday when the driver insisted they wait for the next bus because the seats for people with disabilities were full.
blind, couple, denied, bus, seats
291
2014-04-30
Tuesday, 30 December 2014 05:04 PM
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