Preventing damage to your chair—and unnecessary stress to you—requires taking some precautionary measures.

By Kleo King

While airlines are required to accommodate passengers with disabilities, each individual should also be adequately prepared for his/her trip, including ensuring that any assistive devices being taken on the trip are well protected.

The following is a list of tips which, if followed, will assure that air travelers with disabilities have a pleasant trip:

• Know the type of aircraft you will be flying so you can prepare for stowage of your mobility device either in the cabin or in the stowage compartment. Airlines may change the aircraft for many different reasons so don’t be surprised if the airplane is a different model from what you were initially told.

• Be prepared to explain to airline personnel how to assist you and how to handle your mobility device.

• Create a card that you can attach to your mobility device that explains how to disassemble and reassemble the device. For example, if the wheels can be removed, have a card explaining how to do it. The only time an airline would need to disassemble a mobility device is in order to fit it through the door of the stowage compartment in the stowage area.

• If parts of the mobility device are easily removed, such as foot rests or joy sticks, remove these parts before giving the device to the airline to place in the stowage compartment. Traveling with a collapsible duffle bag in which to put such parts will make them easier to carry.

• If fragile parts of the mobility device, such as a joystick, cannot be removed, consider having a piece of bubble wrap and tape to wrap around the part to protect it from being accidentally damaged.

• Know the weight of your mobility device and inform the airline so that they will know the personnel who should be assigned to lift the device, if necessary.

• Take any seat cushions with you so they do not get separated from the wheelchair.

• If you believe that you are not being given the service that is required by the Air Carrier Access Act, ask to speak to a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO).

Kleo King is program counsel