Improved Air Travel for Wheelchair Users

July 16, 2024

First of all, we’d like to give a huge shoutout to Paralyzed Veterans of America for their hard work in passing H.R. 3935 “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act” in the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee!

This means safe and improved access in air travel for wheelchair users!

The vote was unanimous, what a victory for @pva1946!

We thank them for their excellent work in being a voice for the disabled and making this happen!!

Improving access to air travel for passengers with disabilities has been a top priority. Too many have had their wheelchairs and other assistive devices damaged, lost, or destroyed. Others have been seriously injured, stranded, or humiliated during boarding and deplaning.

This bill will focus on airline training requirements for assisting passengers, properly stowing equipment, safe and secure in-cabin wheelchair storage, improving complaint processes, and more.

Below are some exciting initiatives that will improve air travel for wheelchair users.

Airplanes to Have Accessible Restrooms!

The US Dept. of Transportation is now requiring larger single-aisle aircraft to have fully accessible bathrooms.

Now passengers with disabilities can roll their wheelchair to the restroom without the inconvenience of having to ask attendants for help.

Currently some disabled wheelchair-users cannot physically use the small lavatories.

They fast or dehydrate themselves to travel by air, to avoid soiling themselves.

This new @usdot ruling will help eliminate a MAJOR hassle.

New Airline Seat Allows Travelers to Stay in Own Wheelchair During Flight

Have you heard that Delta and Air4All have unveiled a new “first-of-it’s kind” airline seat? This will allow wheelchair-users to fly in their own wheelchairs. This exciting new chair design has the disability community cheering.

Particularly, the flight chair has removable seat cushions and folds up so a wheelchair-user can back into the seat and use the airline headrest, center console and tray tables. This gives those with reduced mobility a seamless boarding and disembarking experience.

Hopefully, this will eliminate anxiety over lost or damaged wheelchairs!

This long-overdue innovation for air travel allows people with power or manual wheelchairs a safe and comfortable way to travel.

We applaud @delta and their flight chair design team, and look for other airlines to follow their lead in the air travel industry.

If you would like to support #accessibility for people with disabilities, consider a donation towards a wheelchair-accessible van for those who need them. See our website to donate.

by Special Kids Fund