On Thursday, September 8, 2016, WakeMed Rehab partnered with RDU International Airport and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to present a community Q&A session regarding air travel for people with physical challenges.
Improving Travel for Wheelchair-Bound Passengers
The program, Wheels Up: Navigating the Airport & Airplane by Wheelchair, all started with a WakeMed Rehab patient who had recently suffered a spinal cord injury. The patient had expressed concerns about getting back to travel and flying as a wheelchair bound traveler, which led to hosting an educational forum that would benefit others within the Triangle community.
As the largest health system in the state’s largest county, WakeMed constantly strives to make Wake County the best place to live, work, play, and raise a family. This includes working with local officials to make travel more accessible for those who may be faced with physical challenges.
Barriers to Travel for Wheelchair Users
Airports can be busy and confusing places for people – especially when that person is faced with mobility challenges. Of the topics covered at Thursday’s Q&A session, RDU Airport Guest Services and TSA representatives discussed information related to:
- Terminal parking
- Ticketing
- Security
- Transfer to aisle chair and airplane seat
- Storage of your wheelchair
- Transferring back to a wheelchair
- Baggage claim
- And more
Check out the full coverage on WRAL below.
