Exploring cultures, countries and comfort zones
Get Off to a Flying Start
Traveling internationally is hard enough. With all of the connecting flights, airport terminal changes and thorough TSA screen- ings, making it to your
destination can be quite an accomplishment. For travelers who are disabled,
TSA screenings are only half the battle
because of the additional help they
need to get from point A to point B.
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)
states that no person will be discriminated against by any public airline.
Because of this, airlines are required
to make special accommodations for
individuals with any type of disability (mobility, hearing, visual and/or
hidden). Even though there are laws to
help those who are disabled, there are
still some things you should consider
before taking off on an overseas flight.
Hearing Impaired If you are hearing impaired, tell the staff at the boarding gate that you must be personally notified when it’s time to board. Once on the plane, tell the flight attendant that you will need to have any in-flight announcements communi- cated with you as well.
For any type of disability, planning
is the most important thing to do when
traveling. Schedule your connecting
flights with extra time as it may take
you longer to find your gate and you
may be one of the last people off the
plane. Call the airline within 48 hours
of your flight to remind them that you
need special amenities and assistance.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
When confirming your flight and when
you arrive at the ticket counter, ask
the airline for “maximum assistance.”
All airlines want your trip to go as
smoothly as possible, and their flight
staff will be prepared and eager to help.
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about traveling
with disabilities, the Department of
Transportation has created a toll-free
hotline to assist you: (800) 778-4838
(voice) or (800) 455-9880 (TTY).
If you need a wheelchair to get around,
make sure it is fully operational and has
been tuned up before you leave home.
any removable parts) as it will probably be stowed during flight. If possible,
attach directions for how to collapse
and assemble your chair so that flight
attendants can have it ready for you as
soon as the plane lands.
A Word about Wheelchairs
If you need a wheelchair to get around,
make sure it is fully operational and has
been tuned up before you leave home.
If it hasn’t been serviced for a while,
take it to a repair shop to make sure
everything is in perfect working order
before your trip.
Affix your name, address and contact
information on your wheelchair (and
Service Dogs
If you are traveling with a service
dog, be aware that dogs get jet lag,
too. An overseas trip might take them
a few days to get used to a new time
zone. Meet with your veterinarian
before you leave to discuss altering
your dog’s feeding times and find out
if your dog will be susceptible to any
diseases or parasites while traveling.
Before your trip, contact the embassy
or consulate in the country you will
visit to ensure service animals are
accepted and what documentation you
need to take with you.
Carrie Morley is NSA’s Chapter and Community Specialist. Her dad uses a wheelchair to get around, and she’s now more prepared to
help him navigate the skies. She can be
reached at Carrie@NSASpeaker.org.
