My Friends,
Yesterday is the first time I have been scared when travelling as an unaccompanied female with multiple disabilities.
I had to return from Netroots Nation on Friday, (more in seveal more diaries to come) because my housemate's funeral was yesterday. Well, I was SUPPOSED to arrive home very late Friday/early Saturday, but I missed the funeral because United Airline's computers went down and my flight was cancelled. Eventually, a United Airlines supervisor took responsibility for helping me with the phone calls (I use hearing aids and can't use a conventional phone) and booked me into a hotel promising them that United would take responsibility for the bill.
It took quite a while for me to find and get to the shuttle to the hotel, so it was about 1:30am -2am when I arrived. There was a problem with a snafu in getting me checked in, during which it was made clear to the night manager that I could not use the phone, that I use hearing aids, and that I have mobility disabilities too.
I finally reached my room at about 2:45am, took multiple pain meds, and fell asleep. I had been told to return to the airport in the morning and I would be rebooked.
At 7am, four hours later, I was awakened by the night manager and the security person standing beside my bed. Did I mentioned that these were two men, strangers, male strangers.
I was scared and startled and disoriented.
The night manager started talking with me, but, of course, I couldn't understand him. When I tried to explain. He continued. I finally had to order them out of my room three times. They continued to knock on the door, even though I had told them I would meet them downstairs when I was dressed. (I should say that the airline has/still has all of my clothing, so I just had a regular tshirt on.)
When I got downstairs, neither of them took my complaint seriously, so I had the police called and made an official report. The night manager told the officers that the airline had called him because they had rebooked me for a flight at 9am. I had been told to go back to the airport in the morning and I would be rebooked then. Since I would be missing the funeral regardless, I was content with that.
I will be following up with the night manager's supervisor on Monday.
I know I should have put the latch on. It was 2:30 - 3am and I was exhausted and in massive pain.
Should I have been subjected to an outrageous invasion of privacy because of having a disability and because of forgetting to put the latch on the door ?
What would you have done if it had been you ? If it had been your daughter, or your wife or your sister or your mother ?
This has really freeked me out, as a woman with disabilities someone who travels alone a lot.
Feeling very vulnerable,
Heather