[Ohio-talk] fyi not just us

[richard payne]

Feature Writer John Christie - Airlines Mishandle Wheelchairs for the
Disabled and End Up Breaking Them

 

Yomi Wrong, a disabled passenger who depends on a motorized wheelchair for
mobility flew to Florida for a conference. When she got to her destination,
she waited for an hour until finally the airline found her wheelchair. When
the wheelchair was given back to her, the headrest and backrest were broken
off the wheelchair and lying on the seat. When she asked if someone from the
airline or airport could assist her with fixing the chair, she was told that
they couldn't get involved because of liability reasons. 

 

"It goes to a lack of awareness and effective training. Ultimately this
amounts to discrimination to one group of passengers, people with
disabilities," she said. 

 

Wrong's wheelchair is made specifically for her. She attempted to fix the
wheelchair with no tools. However, in doing this, she lost many hours when
she was supposed to be at a conference. After her return to California, the
airline repaired her damaged chair. 

 

"This chair costs $26,000 -- more than some people pay for a vehicle. When
you hand your keys over to a valet you don't expect that they're going to
crash your car and not take responsibility for it and that's what happens to
us," says Wrong. 

 

With wheelchairs that are electric, there may be damage that the naked eye
can't see but this damage may make the electrical circuits malfunction. 

 

The main reason why these wheelchairs end up damaged on airline flights is
because they are put with the luggage and go up a conveyor belt. 

 

The disabled have been fighting for decades to get laws passed and enforced
on this issue. 

 

The Air Carrier Access Act was passed in 1986. This law prevents
discrimination against the disabled. The law has to be overseen and enforced
by the Department of Transportation. However, this law has weak enforcement.
That's why we are not seeing a resolution to these civil rights issues when
it comes to the disabled. 

 

Meanwhile, if you have a broken wheelchair you may have to wait awhile to
see if the airlines will repair it. You'll have better luck with the
airlines getting a new wheelchair repaired than an old one. 

 

The Air Carrier Access Act as of right now is weak. The law has to be made
stronger and enforced. Without this the disabled won't have a leg to stand
on or a wheelchair to sit on. 

 

Source:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/10/18/disabled-wheelchair-
airlines-damage-air-carriers-access-act/2962483/