Reiter's = Handicapped ???

[Guest guest]

LAST WEEK I HAD TO TAKE A CONNECTING FLIGHT FROM NY TO DC. DUE TO BAD WEATHER

WE WERE FORCED TO MAKE A CONNECTION THRU PHILADELPHIA. WHILE CONNECTING IN

PHILLY, I NOTICED ABOUT 10 UNOCCUPIED SEATS IN THE DESIGNATED 'HANDICAP' AREA.

I WAS WAITING FOR A COWORKER WHO WAS BUYING BREAKFAST AT AU BON PAN. MY HIPS

AND FEET WERE KILLING ME SO I DECIDED TO SIT IN ONE OF THE 10 UNOCCUPIED SEATS.

AN AIRPORT WORKER (I GUESS SECURITY) APPROACHED ME AND SAID I NEEDED TO GET UP

AND SIT SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THESE SEATS WERE FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE. I GOT

UP AND THEN ASKED HOW SHE DETERMINES WHO IS OR ISN'T HANDICAPPED...WHICH

HANDICAPS QUALIFY FOR SUCH SEATING.... WHAT MADE HER THINK I WASN'T

HANDICAPPED....WAS IT BECAUSE OF MY APPEARANCE (40 SOMETHING GUY IN A SUIT AND

TIE GUY)....I TOLD HER THAT I WAS VERY UNHAPPY WITH HER TELLING ME TO GET UP

WITHOUT FIRST ASKING ME QUESTIONS ABOUT IF / WHY I NEEDED TO SIT DOWN FOR A FEW

MINUTES. I TOLD I HAD BAD ARTHRITIS AND NEED TO SIT. SHE SMIRKED AND WALKED

AWAY. WHILE I WAS STANDING, SHE LOOKED AT ME AND I CONTINUED TO SHAKE MY HEAD

IN DISAPPROVAL AND FRUSTRATION. THERE WERE A FEW SEATS ACROSS THE HALL THAT

I COULD HAVE USED. BUT I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO WALK ANOTHER STEP MY HIPS AND

FEET HURT. SHE APPROACHED ME AGAIN... AND I SAID I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY

SHE TREATED ME. WHY BECAUSE I DIDN'T LOOK 'HANDICAPPED'????

QUESTION: DOES ANYONE KNOW IF REITERS SYNDROME IS RECOGNIZED AS A FEDERAL /

STATE / LOCAL " HANDICAP " ? IF IT DOESN'T IT SHOULD!

THANKS.

JOEY