TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Airlines

Little Known Lavatory Options Available For Disabled Travelers

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Lack of onboard lavatory accessibility is a primary impediment to travel for persons with disabilities. And while U.S. airlines don’t have to provide accessible lavs on single-aisle aircraft, some carriers already offer semi-accessible facilities on portions of their narrowbody fleets.

Unfortunately, they do little to let people know about it.

“The fact that something exists that some people can use is just kind of a big secret,” said Ken Shiotani, senior staff attorney for the National Disability Rights Network, adding that those who can use those lavs “really should know that they’re there.” Read More.

IATA’s Linda Ristagno Recipient of Disability Access Professional Award

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Linda Ristagno, Assistant Director of External Affairs, International Air Transport Association (IATA), is the eighth recipient of the Open Doors Organization’s Disability Access Professional Award in recognition of her contributions to accessibility and equity in aviation. The ceremony took place on October 26, 2022, at ODO’s Universal Access in Aviation event, co-hosted this year by American Airlines at their Skyview Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

Linda joined IATA in 2010 and worked initially on various projects including Human Anti-Trafficking and various Cargo initiatives. Since 2018 Linda has devoted her energies to bringing accessibility to the forefront of all segments of IATA. Her tireless work led to the landmark 2019 IATA AGM Resolution on Passengers with Disabilities that committed IATA’s members to adopt policy and process principles to advance accessibility for passengers with disabilities. Read More.

A $30,000 motorized wheelchair is broken by Air Canada. Here’s what happened next.

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By Maayan Ziv | Toronto Life

In September, Maayan Ziv got off a flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv to find her wheelchair completely destroyed. Here, she explains why—and how—we need to improve travel for people with disabilities. Read her story.

Delta Partners with MSP Airport to Create One-of-a-kind Disability Airport Training Center

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Man with guide dog inside mockup airplane cabin.

In partnership with the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Delta Air Lines has unveiled a unique, try-before-you-fly mock aircraft cabin, designed for the benefit of people with “sensory, physical or cognitive disabilities, those with fear of flying, and service dogs a place to experience and become familiar with an aircraft cabin in a serene setting.”

“We are always looking for ways to build travel equity,” said Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Chair Rick King. “It’s easy to take air travel for granted, but for many it presents unique challenges and requires different resources. The Travel Confidently MSP Education Center is one more way we can provide resources to the community and lower the barriers to flying for as many people as possible.”

To learn more about this new partnership, read the press release from Delta Air Lines.

Department of Transportation Releases Bill of Rights for Disabled Air Travelers

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Exterior of USDOT headquarters.

The Air Carrier Access Act, which attempted to guarantee equal access in air travel for persons with disabilities, was signed into law in 1986. Despite being in place for more than 30 years, travelers continue to encounter barriers and many airlines have not prioritized compliance with the regulations.

Many disabled people are unfamiliar with the protections afforded to them by the ACAA, and the Department of Transportation is hoping to change that. The agency, led by Secretary Pete Buttigieg, has released the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, a document that simplifies and condenses the lengthy regulations into an easy-to-read document. The hope is that better informed travelers will be equipped to better advocate for their better treatment on airplanes and in airports.

To learn more about the bill of rights for disabled air travelers, see this article in The Washington Post (in which I am quoted).