Making International Air Travel Accessible

Submitted by Karen Stallings

Air travelers with disabilities will soon have greater freedom in the skies! The Department of Transportation has updated the Air Carrier Access Act - a ruling that will make international air travel accessible for the first time.
The Air Carrier Access Act has mandated accessibility on airplanes traveling within the United States since 1990. The updated law applies accessibility standards to foreign airlines traveling to and from the United States, clarifies some of the original Air Carrier Access Act rules, and updates accessibility computer bookings. The law says:

No one can be refused a flight basis of a disability;

Aircraft with more than one aisle must have an accessible lavatory roomy enough to accommodate a wheelchair;

If a plane has more than 60 seats and an accessible bathroom, it's required to have wheelchairs on board. Otherwise, passengers must request a wheelchair in advance;

Each aircraft with over 30 seats must have removable aisle seats to accommodate people with mobility problems;

Passengers with disabilities are guaranteed transportation to connecting flights

Additionally, the 2008 Air Carrier Access Act addresses situations new to the 21st century: 

If computer check-ins are inaccessible, a disabled passenger has the right to be assisted by airline personnel or go to the head of the ticket line;

If an airline's website is inaccessible, special web discounts must be made available to people with disabilities, even if they book by phone. To check on web discounts, identify yourself as disabled when booking.

Airlines advise people to call 48 hours ahead to make sure the aircraft has the accommodations they need. The new rule will be effective in May 2009 to give carriers time to comply. For more information, go to regulations.gov and type in the docket number DOT-OST-2004-19482

Karen Stallings, Community Liaison NC, is the Executive Director of the Association of Self-Advocates of North Carolina, and is a writer and an actress currently working on her autobiography.