National Accessible Air Travel Day highlights the ongoing challenges faced by wheelchair users and other Persons with Disabilities during air travel. Despite efforts to improve accessibility, the travel experience remains fraught with difficulties, often a result of mishandling and damage to wheelchairs. Traveling with a wheelchair can turn into an ordeal, marked by broken equipment, inconsistent treatment by airline staff, and the lack of accessible infrastructure in airports.

One of the most significant challenges wheelchair users face is the high incidence of damage to mobility devices during air travel. According to a 2019 report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines mishandled an average of 29 wheelchairs per day. These mishandlings often result in significant damage leaving wheelchair users without essential mobility for days or even weeks.

Our own Next Step Foundation Board Member, Ali Ingersoll, consistently experiences difficulties flying with her power wheelchair.

“Damage or even breaking happens fairly regularly, Ali shares. It’s heartbreaking to me because we are people. We want to be independent. We want to travel safely and with our assistive devices making it safely as well.”

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) offers legal protections for Persons with Disabilities, but inconsistent enforcement remains a challenge. Passengers with wheelchairs often face airline staff who lack the necessary training to handle assistive devices properly, leading to mishandling and a lack of sensitivity in treating these essential items with the care they deserve.

Navigating airports themselves can also be daunting for Persons with Disabilities. Many airports lack accessibility features, such as ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms. Additionally, the physical layout of airports often makes it difficult for wheelchair users to move independently, forcing them to rely on airport staff to navigate.

National Accessible Air Travel Day serves as a reminder of the significant hurdles Persons with Disabilities face in air travel, from broken equipment to inadequate support and infrastructure. As we raise awareness of these challenges, we work toward and hope for a future where air travel is accessible to all, ensuring that every passenger, regardless of ability, can travel with dignity and peace of mind.