Public Awareness Campaign to Ensure Air Travelers with Disabilities Know Their Rights

In 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.

Air Carrier Access Act

The ACAA, which was enacted on October 2, 1986, prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in commercial air transportation. Its passage represented a watershed moment for non-discrimination in air transportation. Since the passage of the ACAA, DOT has issued many regulations to remove barriers to accessible travel by air.  

Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights 

DOT developed the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights (Bill of Rights) as an easy-to-use summary of the fundamental rights of air travelers with disabilities under the ACAA and DOT’s implementing regulation. The Bill of Rights was developed using feedback from the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of passengers with disabilities, national disability organizations, U.S. and foreign air carriers, airport operators, contractor service providers, aircraft manufacturers, wheelchair manufactures, and a national veterans organization representing veterans with disabilities. The Bill of Rights was developed to empower air travelers with disabilities to understand their rights, and to help ensure airline personnel and their contractors uphold those rights. 

DOT Video

The Public Awareness Campaign, #AccessibleAirTravel, will draw attention to the Bill of Rights through an informative DOT video to empower individuals with disabilities to understand and assert their right to safe, dignified, and accessible air travel.

Please click this link for an audio-described version of the video above.

Public Awareness Campaign Partners 

DOT is partnering with airlines, airports, ticket agents, and disability organizations in this campaign to improve public awareness of the Bill of Rights and ensure that travelers with disabilities know their rights by linking to the Bill of Rights video on their respective websites and by sharing the video on social media.