Info on People w/ disabilities & airline security
From: claudia@ncil.org (Claudia Romero)

Fact Sheet

Steps Taken to Ensure New Security Requirements Preserve and Respect
the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and the Department of
Transportation's implementing rules prohibit discriminatory treatment
of persons with disabilities in air transportation. Since the
terrorist hijackings and tragic events of September 11, the Federal
Aviation Administration FAA)has issued directives to strengthen
security measures at airline checkpoints and passenger screening
locations. In securing our national air transportation system, where
much of FAA's efforts have been directed to date, steps were also
taken to ensure that the new securityprocedures preserve and respect
the civil rights of passengers with disabilities. This Fact Sheet
provides information about the accessibility requirements in air
travel in light of strengthened security measures by providing a few
examples of the types of accommodations and services that must be
provided to passengers with disabilities. The examples listed below
are not all-inclusive and are simply meant to provide answers to
frequently asked questions since September 11 concerning the air
travel of people with disabilities.

Check-in

Air carriers must provide meet and assist service (e.g., assistance
to gate or aircraft) at drop-off points. The lack of curbside
check-in, for certain airlines at some airports, has not changed the
requirement for meet and assist service at drop-off points.

Screener checkpoints

Individuals assisting passengers with disabilities are allowed beyond
the screener checkpoints. These individuals may be required to present
themselves at the airlines' check-in desk and receive a "pass"
allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a ticket.

Ticketed passengers with their own oxygen for use on the ground are
allowed beyond the screener checkpoints with their oxygen canisters
once the canisters have been thoroughly inspected. If there is a
request for oxygen at the gate for a qualified passenger with a
disability, commercial oxygen providers are allowed beyond the
screener checkpoints with oxygen canisters once the canisters have
been thoroughly inspected. Commercial oxygen providers may be required
to present themselves at the airlines' check-in desk and receive a
"pass" allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a
ticket.

The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or
briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or
assistive devices. Passengers with disabilities generally may carry
medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the
aircraft.

All persons allowed beyond the screener checkpoints may be searched.
This will usually be done through the use of a hand-held metal
detector, whenever possible. Passengers may also be patted down during
security screenings, and this is even more likely if the passenger
uses a wheelchair and is unable to stand up. Private screenings remain
an option for persons in wheelchairs.

Service animals, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not
concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft. Any backpack or
sidepack that is carried on the animal will be manually inspected or
put through the X-ray machines. The service animal's halter may also
be removed for inspection.

Assistive devices such as walking canes, once inspected to ensure
prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an
aircraft. Assistive devices such as augmentative communication devices
and Braille'N Speaks will go through the same sort of security
screening process as used for personal computers.

Syringes are permitted on board an aircraft once it is determined that
the person has a documented medical need for the syringe.

Personal wheelchairs and battery-powered scooters may still be used to
reach departure gates after they are inspected to ensure that they do
not present a security risk. Any backpack or sidepack that is carried
on the wheelchair will be manually inspected or put through the X-ray
machines.

Personal wheelchairs will still be allowed to be stowed on board an
aircraft.

Air carriers must ensure that qualified individuals with a disability,
including those with vision or hearing impairments, have timely access
to information, such as new security measures, the carriers provide to
other passengers. For example, on flights to Reagan Washington
National Airport, persons are verbally warned to use the restrooms
more than a half an hour before arrival since after that point in time
passengers are required to remain in their seats. Alternative formats
are necessary to ensure that all passengers, especially deaf persons,
understand new security measures such as the one at Reagan Washington
National.

We hope this information is helpful to you. Members of the public, who
feel they have been the subject of discriminatory actions or treatment
by air carriers, may file a complaint by sending an email, a letter,
or a completed complaint form to the Aviation Consumer Protection
Division (ACPD). ACPD's e-mail address is airconsumer@ost.dot.gov and
its mailing address is: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Room 4107, C-75, Washington, DC 20590.
Complaint forms that consumers may download and/or print are available
at
http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/problems.htm .

Issued on 10/29/01 by the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for
Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings and its Aviation Consumer
Protection
Division.

Marcie Roth
Director of Advocacy and Public Policy
National Council on Independent Living
1916 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 209
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 525-3406 (V)
(703) 525-4153 (TTY)
(703) 525-3409 (F)
marcie@ncil.org (E-mail)
www.ncil.org

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