Travelers with disabilities have rights. Advocate for yourself
In a Harris poll on behalf of Open Doors Organization, in 2018-2019, 27 million travelers with disabilities spent $58.7 billion on their personal travel.
For people like me, traveling with a disability can be difficult. The Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that the percentage of people with travel limitations increases after age 50 from less than 10% to more than 18.4% by age 70. Knowing our rights under certain federal laws can make business and personal travel easier for everyone.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), close to 1 in 3, or 1.7 million Tennesseans have a disability. That’s above the national average of 1 in 4. The 2023 Tennessee Disability Scorecard report also highlights the importance of addressing the growing number of aging Tennesseans. “Tennessee is projected to be home to 1.65 million residents aged 65-plus by 2040 – a whopping 40% increase from 2020.”
Nashville airport has expanded access
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public and private transportation providers must ensure their services are accessible. City buses, paratransit services, and regional rail services operated by state and local governments are covered under the ADA.
The ADA also applies to private businesses that provide taxis, airport shuttles, long distance busses, and more. The ADA also ensures equal access while travelers are in airport terminals.
Travelers with disabilities also have rights under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). This law prevents discrimination against passengers on airplanes because of their disability. Nashville’s BNA, Tennessee’s largest airport, has recently expanded, including more flights to and from the state. BNA has a program called BNA Cares, offering programs and services to accommodate people with disabilities.
Services include adult changing tables in some restrooms, communication devices for people who are deaf or have low hearing, paging services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and service animal relief areas.
Here’s what the passenger Bill of Rights says
Airlines must assist people who use a mobility device, like a wheelchair or walker, to board, deplane, or connect to another flight. Airlines must also assist passengers with disability-related needs, and responsibly stow mobility devices.
The DOT has developed an Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights.
This includes, among other things, the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to get information in an accessible format, the right to accessible facilities, the right to receive assistance on an airplane, the right to receive seating accommodations, the right to travel with a service animal, and most importantly, the right to a timely resolution of a disability related issue.
Last year, one of the authors of this guest column traveled to Kansas City for business and to a family reunion in New Orleans. She called the airline in advance to notify them she would need help (an accommodation) to navigate the terminals. She also notified the hotels that she would need an accessible room. With assistance from both the airlines and hotels, she was able to get through the airport on time for her flights, retrieve her luggage from baggage areas, and enjoy comfortable lodging. She really appreciated the help from the airlines and hotel, but she learned to call in advance, and knew her rights under ADA and the ACAA!
As we age, the risk of developing a disability increases. Knowing our rights under these important laws can make travel more enjoyable anywhere, anytime! To learn more about your rights under federal law, contact the Southeast ADA Center at 1-800-9494232 or visit adasoutheast.org.
Donna Destefano is assistant executive director of Tennessee Disability Coalition. Janice Baldon-gutter is DEI senior consultant at Southeast ADA Center.