Here's the thing people......
There are those out there, who will say they have a disability, or that their child has a 'hidden' disability, in order to get something they are not entitled to. In all reality, it is this type of behaviour that ruins things for those who are truly entitled. No, I don't think there is a need for 'proof' of a disability, the laws being what they are. But, it is really annoying to overhear someone saying they can preboard with their group because the law says they don't need to prove anything. And that's just not right. With this type of behaviour out there, everyone is going to suffer.
Just advocates devil here, but how do you know you heard what you heard in the right context? I'm one of those folks that will "play along" if I notice others around me getting too huffed and puffed about whatever service I might or might not get provided. I have been known to go on my sarcasm moods and am able to say literally what you just posted. Rubbing it in. Or playing around with the "this chair gets me nice perks, should've thought about buying that one for this earlier". Now it might not be "directed" at you or your family but somebody totally different. Heck, it can even be part of just a conversation between me and a friend or loved one as we all have the same nutcase humor. But you might very well overhear it if you are hanging around us.
You might never know in what context things are said when they're being said. I personally rather go with that myself. Not just because I am such a, well, bittofa nutcase, but because it does me no good annoying myself over something somebody else says, if they are faking/abusing or not as I have no influence over it. On the other hand, if I see it as some playing around, I get some of my own fun out of it. Whatever it was, I'll never know, but my experience is totally different from believing all things said.
I have to wonder about the laws of privacy. On the one hand, someone says...'Oh, I don't need to prove anything. It's my business and I am entitled to that special treatment. The privacy laws say I don't have to prove anything'. But, on the other hand, now anyone at all can 'say' they have an issue that allows them some type of special thing. Where does it stop??
Obviously US gouvernment has decided where it stops. AACA and ADA are rather clear in what is to be expected and what is not. I can see where enough folks will not agree. So many people, so many opinions. Those folks are entitled to them in my book. But with opinions like these, the only thing that will work is to actually not just have an opinion but standing up for it.
Those who want the special treatment say that they shouldn't have to prove it, and their privacy needs to be respected, but they have no issue at all letting everyone know that they are entitled to that special treatment. Anyone else see the contradictions here???
No issue? I've seen more issues on here than I'ld personally would really understand. I can only speak for myself, but for me it's always a pro versus con. What is more important and what will giving X amount of info result into versus giving Y amount of info. For me, handing out a rather large amount of medical info works better than just giving airlines a "I need such and such". My needs are only truely understandable when you understand the why. For that 'why', they'll need some info. If I tell them I dislocate anything by the smallest bumps or touches, it's easier to understand how important a bulkhead seat is on my kneecaps (ahhhhhhh, so no dislocations). And lo and behold; the airline employee 'working on' my flight for next week going as smooth as can be is very pro-active in that. If she'ld only known about bulkhead, she would've let me sit where somebody assigned me. She knew the reasons why and pro-actively contacted me, warning that the seat assigned to me was bulkhead but in practice used constantly by crew and customers to cross from one aisle to another. She was suspecting it didn't fit my needs and she was right. So we changed things around.
I'm a true advocate when it comes to providing airlines/companies/whatever the info they need to truely understand and cater to ones needs, even if that does mean giving some info that you aren't required to hand over by law. However, if my needs are as basic as needing an aislechair to board, I'm not going to inform any airline of more than that and the fact that I'm a wheelchairuser (and info related to that), not giving them my medical background.
I would think, that if someone wants some kind of special treatment, they need to show something that can show that they really need it. A child with some kind of 'hidden disability' is usually under the care of a physician. What the heck is wrong with a standing note from that physician, stating that the child can not be expected to do x, y or z?
Ah here we go again. Can you say rerun? I for sure can, and I'm not even from the US and don't deal with the ADA daily.
Very simple; it has too many 'faults' with it. It is too easily to exclude those that need certain services unconciously by setting up more thresholds. Consults cost money. For the very few very specific services airlines DO ask notes for, the notes have to be very up to date, no older than a few days. Notes don't get written that easily by most docs, they'll want to see you. Time of work, school, whatever.
What about that person that injures themselves on a vacation and needs wheelchair assistance to navigate the airport to get back home? Do they not only have to deal with the injury but also have to hunt down a doc for that silly note? Or even nicer; oops, hurt yourself at the airport. Also remember that airtravel is an international affair. Not all countries are created "equal". Low thresholds guarantee service being accessible for not just those from the US, but also those from outside travelling to, from or through the US. The list goes on and on as how requiring something as 'simple' as a note can exclude those that do need. Just mho, but that's probably one of the biggest reasons of no notes except for those situations you REALLY can not do without. For instance making sure somebody isn't possibly endangering other passengers, the flight etc. If somebody needs oxygen during a flight. If somebody is medically fit to fly, etc.
No one has to see such a note, just the gate attendant.
And that helps, what? GA's know squat. They're good at boarding a flight, doing their job, but when one needs assistance the GA isn't really on 'the list'. Things are taken care off way earlier. Months in advance, given the chance. If all goes as it should, all things needed are already put into place and the GA does little more than reading the screen and noticing who needs a preboard, who an aislechair etc. If you actively get the GA involved yourself, that tends to be a sign of things going wrong already in my experience. GA's have no clue about needs so how would they be able to judge a letter? And how would that GA ever know if a note is real or fake? Those that abuse will have no problem with making a fake note.
If you don't want others around you glaring at you and making snide comments, due to appearences of all being 'normal' (and I use that word very loosely!!!),
Needs do not have to be 'hidden' for that treatment. When it comes to anything folks are..... rather worried they aren't getting what they are entitled to. I dare say some of my needs are overly visable. Most will notice the wheelchair, powerchair, other aids etc. At which moment for a group of folks the 'oh boy, that's a threat to my rights' start. An amazing amount of folks really. So no, a note, or even wearing a sign on your neck or apologizing to each and everyone on the flight will not work. Some will still have their 'own ideas about it'.
Which does stil intrigue me is why the note keeps getting brought up for something as silly as preboarding a flight. It's not like the plane is going anywhere before all are aboard. It's not like a Disney buss.
It's not as if all overhead space will be used up. It's still not as if multiple dozens of people will use a preboard based on needs. It's not as if they all have groups of 40+ individuals tagging along. As said; it's not a Disney bus.
A lot of discussions keep repeating the "we are going overboard with the privacy thing". You know what? Since a couple of years, in the EU we've got our own legislation when it comes to flying with a disability. Very clearly describes what somebody is entitled to, what is an airlines responsibility, what the airport has to do etc. And guess what? No mention of any need of "proof", just a very plain "informing the airline at least 48 hours prior to the flight to be able to hold them and airport" to said legislation. Let's keep in mind that many countries in the EU, each and every little silly thing comes with it's own form of "proof" as soon as you do not fit the 'standard'. If there even are accomodations. And guess what? Apparently the EU has found no need for a form of "proof" to get certain things put into place when flying other than the passengers word in a timely manner.
But I know that it does happen. I'd gladly produce a note from a doctor if that would prevent people from abusing the system. We had something like that for our 
