The Experience of Going Through Airport TSA When You Are Disabled

Ahh, the holiday travel season is upon us. Chances are you may have a plane trip planned in the near future. Traveling when you have a disability is always an adventure in itself. In this blog post I want to share my experience of going through airport Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints when you have a disability.

I think it is really important for disabled travelers to continue share their experiences— not to complain— but rather to highlight the discrimination, inequity, and real potential harm that is placed on us, simply because we are disabled. Travel is something that is truly a universal experience. Disabled people travel for all different reasons, just the same as non-disabled folks do. Whether for business or pleasure, being able to go from Point A to Point B on a plane, train, boat, or bus, is something everyone should have equal access to experiencing in an efficient, affordable, and dignified manner.

I am by no means a frequent flyer, but before they pandemic I would take a plane trip at least once a year, maybe twice. For every trip, there would be at least two screenings through TSA. For as much uniformity and “standard regulations” that are supposed to be executed by TSA Agents, I can attest just the opposite. While I’ve never had a grossly inappropriate experience with TSA, I can say for sure that no two experiences have ever been exactly the same.

For me, going through TSA is always an adventure because of a) how I look physically b) I use a mobility device and c) said mobility device is often overloaded like a pack mule carrying all of my medical equipment I can’t put into checked baggage (yes, I’ve learned that lesson the hard way). Let's break these various details down.

A) I look different because I have kypho-scoliosis and I am 3 feet 11 inches tall. I also can't easily reach and extend my body the way you are asked to when going through a whole-body scanner.

B) When I approach the TSA security checkpoint it is always a random situation as to whether they are going to allow me to get off my scooter and be body scanned. Some let me get off, some direct me to stay on. Then there is the question of, if I do get off my scooter and get scanned, how does my scooter make it to the other side as well? Some agents won't attempt to move it. Others think they can just pick it up. While finally others drive it right into the wall. Let’s just say it gets interesting.

C) Whatever the exact sequence of events that gets me and all my stuff through security, I always know there will be more screening on the other side. Even though all of my medical devices have gone through the x-ray machine, they still must be swabbed for explosives residue, as does my scooter. And if I have not been allowed to use the body scanner, then I get a physical pat down myself.

Oh yes, that (not so) fun physical pat down. Thankfully, I can honestly say I have never felt like I have been "violated" by a too-handsy agent. Additionally, I am pretty sure that I have only ever been screened by female agents. For the most part they have been professional, been appropriate in their touching, and respectful of my feelings and my body. Some agents pat firmer than others; go faster or slower through the process; explain every single motion or just give their explanation at the beginning of the screening. That is the extent of various scenarios I have been subjected to. The one thing that affects an agent's screening process more than anything is their mood. You can tell which agents are having a good day and which are not. And let's face it, when you are sharing an intimate experience of a full-body pat-down, friendliness matters.

As far as my scooter goes, I use a Pride Go-Go mobility device. Thankfully these are a pretty popular scooter on the market, so I am sure TSA is used to seeing them. Nonetheless, every time they see mine, they act like it is the first one they've ever seen. As I alluded to above, for some reason (which I am sure is rooted in agency policy) some agents won't dare even touch my scooter. Some command me to stay on it at all times. And yes, I said command. While others allow me to get up from my scooter and get machine x-rayed, and then they awkwardly try to drive the scooter to the other side of the screening area.

Once I had an agent actually get on my scooter to drive it through the gated divide. I could tell he was having fun doing it, too. Unfortunately his supervisor didn't appreciate his little joy-ride and he got reprimanded as he got off of it. It didn't bother me. I have other things to worry about. Like the pace of which my irreplaceable belongings are making their way through the conveyor belt x-ray machine.

I have to be honest, being separated, even temporarily from my belongings is always the most stressful part of the TSA process for me. Sometimes I have to wait several (long) minutes for a female agent to be available to come do my physical pat-down. Meanwhile all my stuff is sitting on the other side of the screening machine waiting for me to retrieve it. I worry about my things being mistakenly picked up by someone else, or worse, stolen.

Once I have been screened or patted down, then that agent or another one is typically tasked with swabbing my ventilator, portable oxygen concentrator (POC), and its lithium batteries. They also swab and pat down my scooter. And lastly, the palms of my hands. Sometimes.

And that is the key word for this whole highly regulated yet variable process: sometimes. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I've never had one TSA screening exactly like the next. One time they will take my POC out of his carry case, another time they won't. One time they will pat down my scooter, another time they won't. One time they will want to examine my extra batteries, another time they won't even ask to see them. I don’t question anything. I just do follow the instructions I am given by agents.

Lessons Learned of Getting through TSA

With my years of being disabled and traveling, I have learned my share of lessons to make the experience easier. Hopefully they can be help to another disabled flyer as well.

• I set myself up mentally for the entire screening process. Even though I don’t know exactly how the experience will go, I know it will generally be unpleasant and stressful. So I keep my mindset patient, flexible and adaptable.

• While I know my rights as a traveler, I’m also very agreeable. I’m not looking to argue or do anything to slow the process. For example, even if I don’t know if I will stand in the x-ray scanner, I remove my shoes anyway, just in case.

• When placing my personal items in the bins for screening, I try to keep all my items in one or two bins. When placing my purse in the bin I try to hide it under my jacket. The x-ray will still see it, but should it sit on the other side for a few minutes, it makes it less likely to be stolen.

• I make sure the screening agent(s) know that I have personal items with me that need to be attended to while me and my scooter are in the process of being inspected.

• I make sure every single personal item I have has my name, phone number and email on it.

• I pay close attention to what is going on around me and I move as quickly as I can to get out of the security area as possible. I want to get on my way to my gate just as much as the TSA agents want me to, too.

I should note here that I have considered enrolling in TSA Pre-Check in an effort to ease some of my security screening process. I just haven’t done it yet because I don't feel that I fly enough to justify it. I also hear the process to get approved is difficult. Finally, I honestly don't trust the TSA screening process for a disabled person to be any better given the randomness I've just elaborated on in this post.

In closing, I know it might sound like I'm complaining. I am not. What I am trying to do is bring about some awareness on the topic of traveling by air when you are disabled. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve not personally had a traumatic, invasive, or illegal interaction with TSA. Unfortunately I know many of my fellow disabled travelers cannot say the same. Since TSA was created in our post 9-11 world, they have had ample time to be more inclusive and accommodating to disabled travelers. And while some progress has been made, the ableist attitudes, biases and prejudices that some TSA agents have toward disabled people negatively impacts their screening process.

That is why it is so important for the disability community to hold the TSA, and by extension the federal government, accountable for how they treat disabled travelers. I know that the overall goal for airline security has to be safety. With that said, I believe safety doesn’t have to be sacrificed in order to accommodate disabled people with policies and procedures that are respectful, inclusive and dignified.

If you have had a specific experience (good or bad) with TSA screening, I’d love to hear it. Please share it in the comments below and we can keep the conversation going.