There is a new federal law in the US that now requires airlines to declare how many wheelchairs they damage or lose. Unsure as to why this is now law? Well, this is here to help many wheelchair users when it comes to picking their airline of choice. You see, many wheelchair users fear that their wheelchair may become damaged when they fly and the risk is too high.
Disembarking from a flight only to find that your treasured items are lost or damaged is one of the worst cases for any traveler but for a wheelchair user it takes away their independence and mobility. If a wheelchair is damaged it can’t be easily replaced in a foreign country.
This new law will essentially allow wheelchair users to check a government website to find out which airlines are better or worse at handling wheelchairs. Thus taking the stress away for wheelchair users when planning a journey.
There were 32,445 disability-related complaints filed with domestic and foreign air carriers in 2016. These facts were given from Liz Deakin, spokeswoman for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth
U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth is a war veteran. She is a Hoffman Estates Democrat who helped pass legislation to speed up this new federal law. Senator Tammy Duckworth believes the new law is consumer-empowering. She herself has had 2 of her wheelchairs break on a flight. In one instance, the solid titanium rod that connects the seat and the frame had been broken. When Tammy sat in it, she sunk strait to the ground.
After that, she was then offered an inferior model that didn’t even allow Duckworth to roll herself in it.
Airlines must report damaged or lost wheelchairs starting this month. The data will be available to travelers in February at the U.S. DOT’s Consumer Air Travel Reports website.
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