Flying is meant to be a normal aspect of life in the modern world. Millions of people take flights every single day. For me and many others who have a disability, flying is not an easy experience. It is something that causes a great amount of stress and anxiety.
My last flight was in 2016. It was really tough. The fluctuation of air pressure caused my spasticity to get worse, which made my legs tighten uncontrollably. I also used my walker during the trip, and even before getting on board I thought about what could happen if my walker was broken or lost. Unfortunately, that’s a common fear of disabled travelers.
Those memories came rushing back when I saw the recent viral video of Steve Gleason, a former NFL player being transferred onto an airplane. It wasn’t the airline employees who were assisting him in the clip. It was his family, the people who know his body best, know his medical needs, and who love him. Despite this, they had to turn off his ventilator just to get him into his seat.
The failure to provide a more appropriate solution, reveals just how hard the process is for disabled travelers. No one should have to disconnect a life-sustaining medical device due to an airplane’s inaccessibility.
Air travel is known for its precision and predictability, but not for disabled passengers. Just sitting in a regular airplane seat was hard enough for me. The confined area, and the pressure changes exacerbated my CP symptoms. Any change in the plane’s trajectory or any jolt made my muscles tighten.
Mobility equipment, especially power chairs, are not treated as extensions of a person’s body, but rather like luggage. These chairs provide independence, circulation, breathing and posture support. They are medical devices tailored to a person’s needs, and they can be more expensive than a car. However, airlines load them into cargo holds. If the chair sustains damage, it can mean losing mobility, being unable to get out of bed, and spending months fighting to get repairs.
Airlines still use chairs for the aisles that haven’t changed for decades and use the same manual lifting methods to accommodate passengers. The fact that Gleason’s ventilator gets disconnected is not an exception; it’s to be expected in an unmodernized system. Disabled travelers still have to bear the emotional burden of imagining every possible failure, even if things are going well.
I’m struck by the fact that none of this is inevitable. The technology, training and design standards already exist that can ensure safe, predictable travel for disabled people. People can stay in their wheelchairs in cars, on buses and on trains, but not planes.
Disabled travelers deserve transportation systems that acknowledge their humanity. Accessibility is not charity, it’s a commitment.
Source:
Jeansonne, Nate. How we get @stevegleasonofficial on an airplane. Instagram, 2026, https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaTynESPpqR/.