Trying to Travel, Part Two

Now the preparations for airline travel with Amanda begin.The very first thing I had to do, before researching accessible beaches or planning our itinerary was to learn how the Americans with Disabilities Act impacts air travel. I discovered that there is another law, the Air Carrier Act, that specifically addresses commercial airlines. Other parents get to read travel guides; I get to learn disability law.

When we booked the flights we carefully specified that we required wheelchair assistance. Now, however, we need additional assistance due to the broken hip. I had to contact AirTran and request bulkhead seats for her and one companion as she has an immobilized leg.  AirTran responded very promptly with two bulkhead seats and two immediately behind so we can stay together as a family. I also need to make sure that they will have an on board wheelchair and that the flight attendants will understand her rights.

I ordered her a new wheelchair backpack that doubles as carry on luggage. It looks really cool. We've always needed at least one extra hand to get the kids and our luggage through the airport. Hopefully this bag will help. I like it better than the backpack we've tried to use in the past because it was designed to fit onto the handles of a wheelchair and it has several convenient exterior pockets for us to stow a soda bottle, her IPad, and little items. She may miss the Jonas Brothers logo that is on her current backpack, but I won't!



New backpack

Getting through TSA should be easy. There is a special line for mobility impaired passengers. A same-sex agent should scan her and the chair with a wand, while the rest of us go through the regular screening. They should let one of us go through ahead of her so we aren't separated. At least in theory that's how it should work. 

You'll notice I used the verb should in every sentence. We have run into some real idiots in the past. One agent wheeled her away from us with no instructions while I stood frantically screaming, "Don't take my child!" Another insisted that she get out of the wheelchair and walk unaided through the scanner. I think this is because the majority of "disabled" people TSA and flight attendants see are simply elderly people who are bit infirm and may use the wheelchair service for convenience getting through the airport rather than necessity.

We're able to navigate Amanda through the airport in her wheelchair without problem, but getting on board will be another trick. Wheelchair passengers are the first to board and the last to get off. The law requires that at least one folding wheelchair per flight  be accommodated in the cabin - even if means displacing the crew's or first class passengers items. This is the best way to ensure the wheelchair isn't lost or broken. Even a basic manual chair like Amanda's costs more than $3,500. This isn't an umbrella stroller that can be replaced at the nearest WalMart for $15.

If there is already another wheelchair in the cabin, they will gate check the chair and take it down to be loaded in the baggage compartment. So we need to make sure they know how to handle her wheelchair.We will need to put any detachable parts in a carry-on duffel bag and tape a list of instructions & parts on the wheelchair. By law access equipment doesn't count toward the passengers' carry on limit, so if we have to bag the parts, they have to stow them in an overhead or on board compartment.

Aisle Chair

 In the past Amanda has always been able to walk on board after her wheelchair is stowed. That isn't an option now so I'll have to call Airtran and request assistance with an on board wheelchair (typical wheelchairs are too wide for airplane aisles). This is called an "aisle chair" - a narrow high back chair with no sides. The catch is that she has to be "semi-ambulatory and able to transfer... into and out of these chairs."

Right now she still has a NO WEIGHT BEARING restriction. Hopefully the surgeon will remove that soon so that she can stand to transfer in and out of her wheelchair. Currently I have to use a slide board to transfer her. Kevin (aka He Man) just picks her up.

Those are the mechanics of traveling with Amanda. The actual flight should go well. She will have her IPad and headphones with her so she will have games and videos. They will require that she shut it off during take off and landing. Technically, as it is her Assistive Communication Device they are not allowed to require that it be shut off, but I doubt either of us is willing to fight that battle. The only other thing she needs is a spill proof cup since she can't drink reliably from a regular cup.

The flight should go smoothly assuming that the airline provides the accommodations we've requested, since all fall within the scope of the Airline Carrier Act as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act. Based on my recent experience with the Fulton County School System I no longer believe that the existence of a law creates compliance. I'll let you know how things go...

For information on Air Carrier Act and accessibility on airlines go to

http://www.disabilitytravel.com/airlines/air_carrier_act_details.htm

http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/asp/airacc.asp