How have your experiences been when passing through airport security and/or dealing with TSA agents? A friend of mine recently had a really scary experience when she was taken to one side and made to wait, alone and unsure what was going on, for over half an hour. Her story is just like countless others, not just when dealing with security checks, but from the whole damn door to door experience – checkin, security, boarding, in-flight, you name it!
I’d be interested to hear below in the comments if you guys have any harrowing experiences of your own that you’d like to share. Or, on the other hand, any extremely positive experiences you could share, just to lighten the mood!
https://theworldisaccessible.com/disability_discrimination_at_airport_security/
theworldisaccessible.com
Disability Discrimination at Airport Security: A TSA Nightmare -
Have you found yourself being discriminated against at airport security because of your disability? Julia Betancourt sure has and here she tells all.
Josh Grisdale5 Comments
In Japan, the body check is done on the spot – which may be less desirable than in a private room if you get embarrassed easily. Though I have been called into a separate room once in Toronto I think.
I recently was stopped by security to check my battery (which cannot be removed from my wheelchair without a specialist) even though I had received an OK from the airline minutes early. Nearly missed my flight!
That comment about not “recognize my humanity” was really powerful. Thank you for sharing!-
I wish I could remember now what my experience was like when flying into Japan, but sadly, it’s a memory lost! I’ve had a lot of body checks on the spot though! Happens every time I fly into Brazil too. I prefer them, to be honest, except when they squeeze my butt 😳😂
Agree that “recognize my humanity” was a powerful statement. Julia rights so well – did you see her article in July’s edition of my newsletter? She wrote a brilliant piece on the topic if Disability Pride Month. Next month she is also our feature and it’s another cracker on the language surrounding disability!
While I have always been very respectfully treated, I have both heard and witnessed some pretty appalling things at security checkpoints. I feel like there is a real opportunity for some diversity training of staff here.
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I’m trying to think about my experiences and I really can’t remember an incident where I felt as uncomfortable as Julia was made to feel with her experience. I have heard horror stories too. Really awful 🙁
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Oh I just remembered! I was in a seminar the other day about airports in Japan starting to use the Sunflower Lanyard and they had a “success story” where someone on the spectrum was going through security and was separated from something important to them. They started to panic and the untrained staff called the police. Thankfully a trained staff recognized what was going on and guided them to a calm-down room. They were able to calm down and make their flight.
So, a good story too. 👍
