(And how to do your best to NOT BREAK YOUR LEGS)
Earlier this year, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) passed a rule to protect wheelchair users in air travel — one of the biggest steps forward we’ve seen in years.
But fast-forward to now… major airlines are pushing back hard — and winning.
🧾 WHAT THE RULE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO
🛠️ Handle wheelchairs with care — and be accountable.
🔧 Repair or replace damaged chairs quickly.
🧑✈️ Train employees properly to assist disabled passengers.
🪙 Accept responsibility when mobility equipment is damaged.
⚖️ WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW
🧳 Major airlines and their trade group sued the DOT.
🧨 DOT announced it won’t enforce key parts of the rule while it “reconsiders.”
🪫 That includes the strongest protection: holding airlines financially responsible when they mishandle wheelchairs.
🚨 In short: what was a win earlier this year is already being rolled back.
💥 WHY THIS MATTERS
A wheelchair isn’t luggage. It’s mobility. It’s safety. It’s independence. When an airline breaks a wheelchair, it can mean:
🚫 Being stranded in an airport.
🚑 A medical emergency.
💰 Huge repair costs.
🧠 And trauma most people never see.
🛡️ MY SAFETY PROTECTION STRATEGY
While we fight for systemic change… we still have to travel. I fly often for work and fun, and I’ve built my own survival plan to protect my wheelchair.
Many U.S. planes (like the 737) have cargo holds just 35–38 inches high. If crews can’t fit your chair, they’ll often tip it or lay it flat. That’s basically the wheelchair equivalent of putting a laptop in a blender. 🫠
🕒 I arrive three hours early.
📞 I call ops, ground crew, anyone with a headset.
👩✈️ I speak directly with the team loading my chair.
🚫 I don’t board until I’ve talked to them face-to-face.
I’m pleasant… and extremely persistent. (Golden retriever energy. Lawyer precision. 🐶⚖️)
📦 My chair gets wrapped like it’s starring in “Wheelchair Survivor” — cellophane, bungees, carpet protectors. Ground crews are usually amazing and sometimes even send me photos when it’s tucked in safe.
No, it’s not easy. Yes, it’s a Herculean effort. And yes, I’ve had my fair share of “is this real life?” tarmac moments. 😅
🧭 CALL TO ACTION
We can’t stay quiet on this.
✍️ Speak up to policymakers.
🧑⚖️ Demand real accountability when wheelchairs are damaged.
🛫 Remind airlines that accessibility isn’t PR — it’s practice.
Because when a wheelchair is broken, it’s not “just an inconvenience.” It’s someone’s freedom being taken away.
