Traveling With A Disability Tanya Kelley ADA Coordinator American Airlines

Overview Travelers with disabilities protected under: – Title II of ADA of 1990 – Dept. of Transportation (DOT) ADA Regulations – Section 504 – Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Civil Rights – Air Carrier Access Act – Numerous State and Local Laws – NOTE: Laws differ outside of the United States – Contact consulate BEFORE leaving for trip

Before You Go Tips Speak with Health Care Provider – Destination? – When & length of time – Shots/Booster needed – Statement on letterhead Condition Medications Special Needs Contact Information Contact Airline, Train, Cruise, hotel, etc. – Be VERY specific and clear describing disability and your needs – Shuttle accessibility? – Ensure wheelchair/scooter accessible/ oxygen, etc.

Before You Go Tips, cont. Research location (country, state) – Local Laws Countries have websites – check them! Contact embassy if need additional information Request non-stop or direct flights – Wheelchairs and scooters are last to be loaded and may take time to get to jetbridge May have a short connection time – Recommend 90 minutes

Why take when you can rent? Specialneedsatsea.com – Provides equipment – not just for cruises Scooters / Wheelchairs / Powerchairs Walking Aids Oxygen / Respiratory Equipment Beds / Lifts Bath Equipment Hearing Impaired Aids

Enjoy the Beach on Mobility Device Who says you can’t play (or feed a giraffe)??

TSA Disability-related items permitted through the security checkpoint include: Wheelchairs * Scooters Canes* Crutches Walkers* Prosthetic devices Casts* Support braces Walkers * Baby apnea monitors Support appliances * Service Animals Orthopedic shoes * Exterior medical devices Assistive/adaptive equipment * Augmentation devices Ostomy supplies * CPAP machines & respirators Cochlear implants * Hearing Aids Tools for wheelchair assembly* Personal supplemental oxygen CO2 personal oxygen concentrators * Tools for prosthetic devices Medications and associated supplies * Braille note takers Slate and stylus All diabetes related medication, equipment, and supplies Any other disability-related equipment and associated supplies

TSA (cont.) Service Animals If you have a service animal, you are encouraged to inform the Security Officer that the animal accompanying you is a service animal and not a pet. This will provide you with an opportunity to move to the front of the screening line since the Security Officer may need to spend more time with you. It is recommended that persons using an animal for assistance carry appropriate identification. Identification may include: cards or documentation, presence of a harness or markings on the harness, or other credible assurance of the passenger using the animal for their disability. At no time during the screening process will you be required to be separated from your service animal. Security Officers have been trained not to communicate, distract, interact, play, feed, or pet service animals. The Security Officer should ask permission before touching your service animal or its belongings. You must assist with the inspection process by controlling the service animal while the Security Officer conducts the inspection. You are required to maintain control of the animal in a manner that ensures the animal cannot harm the Security Officer. If you need to leave the secure boarding area to relieve your animal, you must undergo the full screening process again. Inform the Security Officer upon your return to the security checkpoint and she/him will move you to the front of the screening line to expedite the screening process.

TSA (cont.) Dogs Advise the Security Officer how you and your dog can best achieve screening when going through the metal detector as a team (i.e., whether walking together or with the service dog walking in front of or behind you). If the walk through metal detector alarms in the situation where you and your service dog have walked together, both you and the dog must undergo additional screening. If the walk through metal detector alarms on either you or your service dog individually (because you walked through separately), additional screening must be conducted on whoever alarmed the walk through metal detector. If your service dog alarms the walk through metal detector, the Security Officer will ask your permission and assistance before they touch your service dog and its belongings. The Security Officer will then perform a physical inspection of your dog and its belongings (collar, harness, leash, backpack, vest, etc.) The belongings will not be removed from your dog at any time.

Train (Amtrak) Cannot make accommodation reservations on line. Must call (1-800-USA-RAIL) Must make a reservation for each of the following: – Wheelchair space – Transfer seats (you travel in a seat and stow your wheelchair) – Accessible sleeper accommodations Required to make reservations for accommodations on all trains, including "unreserved trains" (trains reservations ordinarily are not required). Amtrak offers a fare discount for passengers with disabilities.

Bus (Greyhound) Requests 48-hour advance notice. If not provided reasonable effort to help if accommodation won’t delay departure. Boarding assistance will be provided. Wheelchair lift-equipped bus – – Combined weight of customer and mobility aid cannot exceed 600 pounds. Mobility aid can be no more than 30” wide and 48” in height. Alternative lift equipment – – If you can transfer independently to/from mobility aid to the alternative lift equipment and are not dependent on manual lifting, your weight may not exceed 265 pounds. Manual lifting – – If manual lifting is required, weight may not exceed 200 pounds. Accomplished by using two-person fireman's lift technique. Travel with a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) - 50% discounted ticket to travel with you. Travel With Service Animal – Animal is the responsibility of owner and must be under the control of its owner at all times (i.e., leash, harness or carrier). – Ride within the customer's space – not in aisle or occupy seat. Oxygen / Respirators – Portable oxygen and respirators may accompany you. – Maximum 4 canisters (2 aboard bus and 2 in baggage compartment). Maximum dimension per container may not exceed 4.5” in diameter and 26” in length.

Air Travel Carriers may not refuse transportation to people on the basis of disability. Airlines may exclude anyone from a flight if carrying the person would be inimical to the safety of the flight. If a carrier excludes a person with a disability on safety grounds, the carrier must provide a written explanation of the decision. Airlines may not require advance notice that a person with a disability is traveling. Carriers may require up to 48 hours’ advance notice for certain accommodations that require preparation time (e.g., respirator hook-up, transportation of an electric wheelchair on an aircraft with less than 60 seats). Carriers may not limit the number of disabled persons on a flight.

Air Travel, cont. Carriers may not require a person with a disability to travel with an attendant, except in certain limited circumstances specified in the rule. If a disabled passenger and the carrier disagree about the need for an attendant, the airline can require the attendant, but cannot charge for the transportation of the attendant. Airlines may not keep anyone out of a seat on the basis of handicap, or require anyone to sit in a particular seat on the basis of handicap, except as an FAA safety rule requires. FAA's rule on exit row seating says that carriers may place in exit rows only persons who can perform a series of functions necessary in an emergency evacuation.

Air Travel, cont. Most commercial airlines have disability information on their web site (aa.com, delta.com, nwa.com, etc…) that’s easy to access. Take advantage of services offered – if not sure – ASK… A person dropping you off at the airport can get a pass to stay with you - on the secured side - until you depart.

Useful websites WorldOnWheelz.com SATH.org Barrier-FreeCruising.com DisabledTravelers.com TravelGuides.org GlobalAccessNews.com TravelOnTheLevel.com – Tour operator for slow walkers, wheelchair travelers Many disability organizations have information on traveling on their web sites (EasterSeals.com….)