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Public Awareness Campaign to Ensure Air Travelers with Disabilities Know Their RightsIn celebration of the 37th anniversary of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched a campaign, #AccessibleAirTravel, to raise awareness about the right of air travelers with disabilities to safe, dignified, and accessible air travel. DOT is partnering with disability organizations, airlines, airports, and ticket agents in this campaign. |
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) is a law that makes it illegal for airlines to discriminate against passengers because of their disability. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for enforcing the ACAA, which applies to all flights to, from, or within the United States. To learn more about the ACAA and its requirements, please follow this link to our ACAA webpage.
Airlines are also required to provide passengers with disabilities many types of assistance, including wheelchair or other guided assistance to board, deplane, or connect to another flight; seating accommodation assistance that meets passengers’ disability-related needs; and assistance with the loading and stowing of assistive devices.
DOT has developed disability-related materials, such as theAirline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights,to assist passengers traveling with disabilities better understand their rights. In addition, DOT has available disability-related training resources to ensure airline employee and contractors understand their responsibilities. To learn more about a specific aspect of air travel, please select one of the topics below:
- Wheelchairs and Other Assistive Devices
- Assistance Moving Throughout the Airport
- Seating Accommodations
- Service Animals
If you feel that an airline has discriminated against you on the basis of your disability, which includes not providing you required accommodations, you may file a complaint with DOT.
Other Helpful Travel Information:
- What to Do If You Encounter A Problem While Traveling
- Travel Tips for Persons with Disabilities
Disability Training Materials and Helpful Information
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (formerly known as the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings) and Office of Transportation Policy have developed informative modular programs that can be used to assist individuals with disabilities and to supplement the training and education of airline employees and contractors. The programs focus on the rights and responsibilities of individuals and airlines under the ACAA and its implementing regulation, 14 CFR Part 382 and were produced in cooperation with stakeholders from both the disability community and airline industry. Although many of the programs have an intended audience, we believe that all of the content is helpful for any passenger, airline employee, or contractor.
Individual program content is available by selecting the icon below:
Wheelchair and Guided Assistance
| Title | Intended Audience | Available Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Lead The Way! A video introducing a proactive approach for assisting individuals with disabilities throughout the airport. |  Airline Personnel |
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The ABCs of Accessible Travel. A tri-fold brochure and digital content that provide important information to individuals with disabilities who are traveling onboard an aircraft. |
Traveling Public |
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Wheelchair and Guided Assistance Tips. A wheelchair and guided assistance tip sheet and digital content that explain how to properly assist individuals who need wheelchair and guided assistance at airports. |
Airline Personnel |
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Assistive Devices
| Title | Intended Audience | Available Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Air Travel with an Assistive Device. A tri-fold brochure and digital content that provide an overview of the different types of assistive devices and how airline personnel should properly handle and stow these devices. |
Traveling Public |
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| Assistive Device Stowage, Damage, and Delay Interactive Guide. A helpful interactive guide designed to supplement airline disability-related trainings by describing various assistive devices and how to properly handle, stow, load, and return them to passengers. |
Airline Personnel |
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Seating Accommodations
| Title | Intended Audience | Available Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Seating Accommodations in Air Travel. An informative tri-fold brochure and digital content that highlight the rights of individuals who may need a seating accommodation for a disability. |
Traveling Public |
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| Seating Accommodation Interactive Guide. A helpful interactive guide designed to supplement airline disability-related trainings by describing the types of seating accommodation methods used by airlines, seating accommodation eligibility, and the types of seating accommodations available on aircraft. |
Airline Personnel |
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Last updated: Thursday, October 5, 2023
