Air travel is a dangerous endeavor for passengers with disabilities, specifically wheelchair users. According to Department of Transportation data, there are approximately 1,000 wheelchairs, mobility devices or scooters lost, damaged or completely destroyed every month. This is unacceptable. Every five years, Congress must renew the authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which gives Congress the opportunity to make needed reforms for the benefit of wheelchair users and all passengers with disabilities.
The current FAA authorization expires at the end of September 2023. Congress has been writing up a new FAA bill. On July 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3935, Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. The Senate version, S. 1939, has not yet been voted out of committee. Both versions include provisions that can improve air travel for people with disabilities. The House FAA bill includes provisions from the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (ACAA) – (H.R. 1267/S. 545), introduced by Representative Dina Titus and Senator Tammy Baldwin – which has been a long-term policy priority of United Spinal.
House and Senateputting in place improved training standards for assisting passengers who use wheelchairs and training standards for stowage of wheelchairs
requiring DOT to issue reports on disability-related aviation consumer complaints
extending the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee to 2028
requiring the Secretary of DOT to provide guidance to airlines on publishing information related to powered wheelchairs regarding cargo dimensions, ticket refunds and data on mishandling of devices, including a study on in-cabin wheelchair spot
ACAA language/Houseestablishing standards for accessibility of websites, software applications, and kiosks for individuals with disabilities
requiring DOT to respond in writing within 120 days of receipt of any accessibility-related complaint
setting accessible standards for boarding and deplaning, communications, lavatories and improved procedures for in-cabin stowage of manual wheelchairs
Houseproviding accessible information on air carriers’ websites regarding the email address and telephone number of the air carrier to be able to submit complaints
codifying the passenger with disabilities bill of rights in statute
Senateexpanding the mission of the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence to include research into safe and accessible air travel for passengers with disabilities, such as establishing criteria for the safe movement of all passengers, including using individuals’ personal wheelchairs in flight awarding grants to improve airport accessibility
modernizing evacuation standards to include passengers with disabilities
requiring airlines to post information about the availability of on-board wheelchairs to be used with accessible lavatories
Now is the time for our community to take action! It is critical to ensure that the final version of this year’s FAA Reauthorization Act includes provisions which will meaningfully improve the air travel experience for all wheelchair users with provisions for worker training, better data collection and analysis, improved complaint processing, continued research into the ability of passengers to fly while seated in our wheelchairs, and more accessibility standards.
Please contact your members of Congress today.