Center on Disability’s Post

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced new rules to improve air travel for passengers with disabilities. Airlines must provide better assistance, enhanced staff training for handling wheelchairs, and protections for damaged or delayed mobility devices. These updates strengthen the Air Carrier Access Act. #DisabilityRights #AccessibleTravel #AirTravelEquality

The US Department of Transportation has issued a new rule to improve air travel for people with disabilities, requiring airlines to provide safe and dignified assistance, enhanced training for employees, and prompt enplaning and deplaning assistance. This rule aims to ensure that passengers with disabilities can travel safely and with dignity, and holds airlines accountable for mishandling of wheelchairs and other assistive devices. By prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity, we can create a more equitable travel experience for all individuals, regardless of ability. #AccessibilityMatters #AirTravel #DisabilityRights #Inclusion #DOT #TravelWithDisability #WheelchairAccessibility #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAdvocacy #Accessibility

Big news for travelers with disabilities! The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the largest expansion of rights for airline passengers with disabilities in decades. 🛫 Key changes include: ✅ Improved training for airline staff assisting passengers with disabilities and handling wheelchairs. ✅ Faster assistance for boarding, deplaning, and making connections. ✅ Stronger protections for wheelchairs and assistive devices, including loaner devices and repair/replacement at no cost if damaged. ✅ Rebooking passengers at no cost if mobility devices can’t be transported. This is a significant step toward ensuring safe, dignified, and equitable air travel for the 5.5 million Americans who use wheelchairs. The rule will take effect in January 2025, with further improvements rolling out by 2026. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ev83fDk6 #DisabilityRights #AirTravelAccessibility #InclusionMatters #GUCEDD #TravelForAll

The United States Department of Transportation under Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued new protections for travelers with disabilities with a new rule expanding rights for disabled travelers and a guide for airlines and airport workers to ensure safe, dignified travel for those with disabilities.  The new rule, which is part of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and goes into effect on January 16, 2025, sets new standards for assistance, requires hands-on training for airline employees and contractors and sets rules for how an airline is to act when a wheelchair is delayed or damaged during transport to protect the passenger. #Disability #AccessibleTravel https://lnkd.in/gnHxWY_F

Congress has recently passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935) to improve air travel for passengers with disabilities. New requirements include accessibility upgrades at airports, mandated training for airline workers assisting wheelchair users, and more. Read more about the upcoming improvements in this article from Disability Scoop. https://bit.ly/3KhSPQu #AmputeeCoalition #LimbLoss #LimbDifference #DisabilityAwareness #Inclusion #InclusionMatters #DisabilityInclusion #NoAmputeeAlone #AirTravelForAll #DisabilityRights #AccessibleAirports #WheelchairAccess #InclusiveTravel #TravelAccessibility #AccessibleTravel

✈️ Secretary Pete Buttigieg Announces Sweeping Protections for Airline Passengers with Disabilities ✈️ This newly released U.S. Department of Transportation final rule is the biggest expansion of rights for passengers with disabilities in a generation! ✈️ “The new final rule requires that airlines meet more rigorous standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities, especially for passengers who use wheelchairs. The rule sets new standards for assistance, mandates hands-on training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs, and specifies actions that airlines must take to protect passengers when a wheelchair is damaged or delayed during transport." https://lnkd.in/gTfXXdjh

“Every passenger deserves safe, dignified travel when they fly—and we’ve taken unprecedented actions to hold airlines accountable when they do not provide fair treatment to passengers with disabilities,”- Secretary Buttigieg As I typed this, believe it or not, I found myself sitting alone on a plane, waiting as they searched for my wheelchair. . . again. All other passengers were long gone, a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by those of us with disabilities. That moment underscores a critical need for systemic change. Until there are stringent requirements ensuring a reasonable level of care and respect for passengers with disabilities and their mobility equipment, true change will remain unrealized. Recent rulings, such as the protections announced by Secretary Buttigieg for airline passengers with disabilities, are important steps in the right direction. https://lnkd.in/gu4etFF6 These protections are not just about compliance but about fostering a culture of empathy and inclusivity. By establishing these standards, we can motivate real change in accessibility and ensure that the dignity and needs of disabled individuals are upheld. #WellbeingWednesday #Accessibility #Belonging #Inclusion #DisabilityAwareness

“The era of tolerating poor treatment of airline passengers with disabilities is over,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “With this penalty, we are setting a new standard of accountability for airlines that violate the civil rights of passengers with disabilities. By setting penalties at levels beyond a mere cost of doing business for airlines, we’re aiming to change how the industry behaves and prevent these kinds of abuses from happening in the first place.” This is an incredibly important #Settlement and #Accountability for the #AirlinesIndustry in #DisabilityRights. #Disability #Transportation #CivilRights https://lnkd.in/gdcnAVsP

✈️ There was a big win in the US for airline passengers with disabilities this week! U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced new, sweeping protections to make air travel safer and more #accessible for people with #disabilities. 🔹 Key highlights: - Airlines are now required to better protect mobility aids, like wheelchairs, to prevent damage. - New standards ensure more accessible seating and improved support for passengers with disabilities. - Better training for airline staff on assisting disabled passengers. This is a critical step in making air travel not just more accessible, but more dignified for millions of people. 🛫 For those of us in the disability community, this isn’t just about comfort – it’s about independence and the freedom to travel with confidence, knowing our needs will be met and our equipment respected. 👏 Let’s keep pushing for a world where inclusion is the standard, not the exception. #DisabilityInclusion #AccessibleTravel #AirTravel #InclusionMatters #MobilityMatters #InclusionMatters #DisabilityAwareness #CaregiversSupport #HolidayEmpathy #BeAnAlly #DiversityEquityInclusion #CelebratingSuccess #KindnessCounts #Accessibility #Inclusion #WorkplaceInclusion #Leadership #disabled #disability #DiversityAndInclusion #inclusivity #DisabilityPride

✈️ Holiday Travel Reminder: Know Your Rights! As the holiday travel season approaches, it’s important to know your rights as a passenger with a disability. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights outlines what you’re entitled to when flying, including: – The right to accessible seating arrangements. – The right to timely assistance at the airport and on the aircraft. – The right to bring assistive devices like wheelchairs. Make sure you’re prepared for a smooth journey by reviewing these rights: https://lnkd.in/gkzvFSrE Travel confidently and ensure you’re getting the accommodations you need this holiday season! #AccessibleTravel #KnowYourRights #DisabilityInclusion