10-22-2010, 09:22 AM | #1 |
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Small victories--one at a time
I'm attending a large sewing and quilting show at the Kansas City International Airport Expo Center. Apparently as soon as I rode my Segway in, someone notified security. I think the gentleman was show staff, not Expo staff. He asked if I had a medical condition that made it necessary, then said that he thought I would have to sign in or something.
A woman appeared with a waiver form absolving the show of liability. We visited a few minutes about how it worked. I read the form, we visited a bit more and then she said, "Ah, just go on it. Forget the form." I thought that a bit strange but didn't argue. <G> Later in the day, the first gentleman told me that I had been talking to the show owner and she was so impressed by how I used the Segway that it had convinced her it was not going to cause any liability issues. Small victories! Lily
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10-25-2010, 03:00 PM | #2 |
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Hi Lily-
Good job and if nobody else has mentioned it, you are a great warrior for segway acceptance. I love quilts (being from kentucky), but mostly to sleep under during a cold winter's night. I need to look around to find a good home-made one... my KMart special is getting pretty threadbare and wasn't that comfy in the first place. Bud |
10-25-2010, 03:13 PM | #3 | |
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Hmmm...there is no law that says you couldn't learn to create your own quilt. There is always a free beginner's class at Quilt University. <G> Lily
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10-25-2010, 04:56 PM | #4 | |
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I've never been accused of being artistic and barely have enough free time to ride the seg occasionally. Between that and being severly afflicted with the cheap gene, my options are pretty limited. Maybe I could get two 'inexpensive' quilts from Kmart and have somebody sew them together back to back? Ok- I'm officially un-hijacking this thread. |
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10-26-2010, 09:59 PM | #5 |
Glides a lot, talks more...
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I am not a quilter, but I can sew, and have made several garments over the years. I even had to make my Wife's Maid of Honor's dress to settle an argument between them years ago. I am more comfortable working with canvas and leather, repairing a backpack or boot, than with chiffon, but so be it.
I do also agree that the polite and success fight for access and acceptance is a valuable one, and complements to the OP. As far as the hijack, I did not mind at all, and it was nice to read a thread, even a short one, with nothing but polite banter. Kudos.
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Karl Ian Sagal To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin) Bene factum melior bene dictum Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well. |
10-27-2010, 09:33 AM | #6 | |
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I had not thought of it exactly in that way before, but they are absolutely right and I think that a total lack of understanding of this may be at the very core of much of the official apprehension about the disabled using a Segway. You ride in a wheelchair or scooter as a means of transportation. I'm guessing that only those athletic disabled who use a racing type wheelchair and play things like basket ball really use a wheel chair as an extension of their body. The intuitive factor in how a Segway responds to your body language does make it very different in this respect. I'm also guessing that those who use a Seg with a seat find it even more so. This is quite different than just making wheels turn or pushing a small handle to make it move. Because it can be used this way, the fact that it can also used as a recreational device where body awareness, emotion and "fun" become a part of the equation should make it even more acceptable for the disabled instead of its being lumped with other transportation devices such as ATVs, golf carts etc in the new ADA's OPDMD rules... I don't know of any other mobility device with this kind of intuitive capability and have never thought of it this way before. As I said, the problem is a total lack of understanding of its inherent capabilities beyond just transporting one from here to there. Now the really BIG question, how do we get officials who have no desire to learn or understand this to get that idea??? And how do we do that and get past and beyond the "expensive toy" or "mall cop" images? Hmmm....I still like the idea of a disabled segway dance team.... As far as the hijack, I did not mind at all, and it was nice to read a thread, even a short one, with nothing but polite banter. Amen to that!
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10-31-2010, 10:55 PM | #7 | |
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Always be a good ambassador of the machines as you demonstrated. It has always been my policy to never attract any undue attention with my machine. There have been guidelines published over the years but I can't tell one where to find them. It's just common sense to respect the other person in a manner you would like to be treated. Unfortunately not too many people acknowledge that courtesy.
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