TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Disability Advocates

Senator Duckworth’s Wheelchair Advocacy Will Not Be Crushed

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Senator Duckworth in a wheelchair at a. Democratic event

Change can and does happen, even in Washington, D.C.—at least if you are the invincible Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois). As a direct result of legislation introduced by Senator Duckworth in 2018, the Department of Transportation (DOT) revised the Air Travel Consumer Report, requiring airlines to disclose the number of damaged wheelchairs and scooters monthly. That number hadn’t been previously available (wheelchairs had been reported as ‘luggage’ in the past). Senator Duckworth is a longtime advocate for people with disabilities (see earlier posts)

We applaud you, Senator Duckworth, for helping to measure what matters with our all-new “Duckworth Damage Report,’ below.


chart of totals airline chair damage for 3 mostThe fine print: U.S. airlines with at least 0.5 percent of total domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues must report the damage to any chair or mobility scoot transported in its aircraft cargo departments. This report covers December 2018, January & February 2019. Year to Date numbers reflects the change in reporting required by 14 CFR 234 and consolidated data from branded codeshares. Source: Department of Transportation Statistics Bureau

 

Expectations Crushed…as Was Senator Duckworth’s Wheelchair 

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Senator Duckworth in a wheelchair at a. Democratic event

When Senator Tammy Duckworth (D, Ill.) pushed for a ruling mandating that airlines report damage done to wheelchairs and assistive devices, disability advocates predicted the monthly numbers would be crushing. And then…the first month predicted that the reporting went public, Duckworth’s chair was on the Department of Transportation’s damaged list. Ok, mistakes happen, but really? Read the full story, here.

 

 

photo credit: Flickr/Senate Democrats

 

What the Bleeptastic Were You Thinking? Disabled Travelers Force Sacramento to Revise Evacuation Plans

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It took six years to get Sacramento International Airport to agree to what one disabled airport user and many other disability advocates wanted—an emergency plan that included how to evacuate and assist people with disabilities in case of a disaster. A new protocol is finally in place (but don’t count on finding out what the bleeptastic transportation officials were thinking when they approved the original one). The case was settled.

Sacramento airport also wisely decided to give employees training on how to identify and assist disabled people. Finally, Sacramento’s Terminal B has a ‘Plan B’ that is a model of compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Need a refresher on what the ADA is?  Read the details, here. Read more from the Sacramento Bee, here.

 

These Multi-City Film Festivals Are Different by Design

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logo of a city with words reel abilities

When film critic Kristen Lopez set out to learn more about how accessible films are to people with disabilities she got a welcome surprise—an inside view of how a festival focused on disabilities has grown exponentially.

Founded in 2007, the ReelAbilities Film Festival has been taking up the cause of showcasing films made by and about people with disabilities. The goal isn’t merely to show films but to shift the way people see disability on-screen, according to film critic Kristen Lopez, who wrote about ReelAbilities recently for Forbes. Find the full story here.

This year the film festival was held at SXSW in April. Details on locations/cities hosting a film or festival, here.

 

New Digital ‘Card Decks’ Help Special Needs Travelers Navigate Las Vegas Airport

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escalator with lots of people going up and down in airportThe in-airport travel app provides step-by-step instructions to walk a person through the airport in a way that’s easy to understand. McCarran will be the first in the nation to use it. READ MORE