All Wheels Up (AWU), the first non -profit organisation in the world to fund research with the aim of enabling a wheelchair spot to be fitted on commercial aircraft, has announced its appreciation and support of the US Department of Transportation’s final rule titled, ‘Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs’. This rule alters Air Carrier Access Act regulations to improve the air travel experience for people who use wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
This historic set of protections, announced on 16th December by Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, are the culmination of many years of cooperation, information exchange, and grassroots advocacy.
With bipartisan support, these new protections require airlines to achieve more rigorous standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities, especially passengers who use wheelchairs. The rule sets new standards for assistance, and mandates hands-on training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs. The rule also specifies actions that airlines must take to protect passengers when a wheelchair is damaged or delayed during transport.
“It takes a coalition of amazing stakeholders for something this monumental to happen,” said Michele Erwin, founder and CEO of AWU. “I cannot thank all of those involved enough for getting us to this point. This news puts us on the precipice of huge changes so those who use wheelchairs can travel.”
An estimated 5.5 million Americans use a wheelchair, and many encounter barriers when it comes to air travel. Department of Transportation data shows that for every 100 wheelchairs or scooters transported on domestic flights, at least one is damaged, delayed or lost. Prior to this new set of standards, those with damaged or lost equipment had to pay for repairs or replacements themselves. That is no longer the reality, following the US DOT’s final rule.
“We appreciate the bipartisan leadership in Washington that has driven this movement,” said Stephen Cullen, chair of the AWU board. “Our hope is the progress continues, aiming for more accessible air travel and achieving wheelchair space on commercial flights. This vision will become a reality.”
AWU says that for many travellers with disabilities, travelling by plane has become so difficult, and in some cases dangerous, that many have stopped taking to the air. From damage to equipment, to a lack of attention from airline staff, the negatives have outweighed the positives. These new protections are a gamechanger, said Erwin, whose son uses a wheelchair.
“This is very personal to me,” said Erwin. “The work done by many, many people with the same goal has led us to this point. This is not something that will help a few people, this is something that will positively help millions of Americans.”
This newly announced policy gives all advocates of travel rights hope for future protections. But the people behind AWU know the work is not done.
“As an organisation, we are excited to see these sweeping and significant rights granted to all disabled Americans,” said Alan Chaulet, vice president of AWU. “We look forward to seeing it help passengers with disabilities, and we thank the Department of Transportation and our many partners for making this happen.”
