Prosthetics & Airport Security

[21disney]

It has been two years that I have flown on an airplane and I know screening has gotten tougher since 9/11. I have never had any problem passing through the metal detector with my prosthetic leg but now I figure that there is going to be a problem since they make you take off your shoes which I can't do (at least one of them). My question is will they make me show my prosthetic leg in public? Also is there any way I can request a private screening? What can I do if I encounter a problem with security?

 

[WDWBetsy]

I wear AFOs and was nervous about having to remove my shoes when going through the security checkpoint when my husband and I traveled to Orlando last November. I notified security personnel in both Indianapolis and Orlando of this. I was told that if they needed to search me, they would. I passed through without setting it off, and was not searched.

According to the Department of Transportation's website (http://www2.faa.gov/acr/dat.htm):

Security Screening

An individual with a disability must undergo the same security screening as any other member of the traveling public.

If an individual with a disability is able to pass through the security system without activating it, the person shall not be subject to special screening procedures. Security personnel are free to examine an assistive device that they believe is capable of concealing a weapon or other prohibited item. If an individual with a disability is not able to pass through the system without activating it, the person will be subject to further screening in the same manner as any other passenger activating the system.

Security screening personnel at some airports may employ a hand-held device that will allow them to complete the screening without having to physically search the individual. If this method is still unable to clear the individual and a physical search becomes necessary, then at the passenger’s request, the search must be done in private.

If the passenger requests a private screening in a timely manner, the carrier must provide it in time for the passenger to board the aircraft. Such private screenings will not be required, however, to a greater extent or for any different reason than for other passengers. . However, they may take more time.

Hope this helps!

 

[LindaR]

This really made me smile. I haven't been in an airport since 9/11 either. Since then, I've had my lower spine fused and have 2 large screws in my back. I asked my doctor for a note in case I set off the alarm and he told me not to be shocked if they ask to see my back!!!! Hello, I am NOT pulling my pants down so they can see the scars........Doctor laughed and said that they would take me into a private room and that security would be a female, too.

I leave in less than two weeks. If security is THAT tight where they don't believe the machines and note from doctor, then I will just go home............I am NOT proving that I had back surgery by showing my *ss to some stranger.

I doubt that security would go "that far" to ask to see certain body parts.......after all, what would they do for a person with a metal plate in his head?????

 

[SueM in MN]

We traveled in March with DD and her wheelchair. She doesn't have an AFO, screws or other things like that, but we didn't really know aht to expect with the new screeners. We were pleasantly surprised. The screeners asked (nicely) if she could get out of the wheelchair and walk thru the detector. When we said that she could not, they said "no problem" and a female wanded her and patted her down (they did mention that they have a same sex person do any procedures like that). We did see someone else who obviously did have pins or screws. They wanded him with a handheld device and just patted him (over the clothing) when it went off.
We were not asked to take off our shoes, but my MIL was worried she would have to. She wears orthotics and really can't walk without them without a lot of pain. They told her to walk thru the detector and that if they needed her to take off her shoes, they would provide her with a place to sit down to remove them. She didn't make the detector go off and didn't need to take her shoes off.

 

[ppony]

Unfortunately, my mom who had at that time (within 9 months after 9/11) had one knee replacement and it did set things off. They took the wand over her and then grabbed her knee and twisted it drastically making her shudder in agony! She had tears streaming down her cheeks and had a LOT of trouble walking after that for a while. It was incredible!!!!!! My mom and a VERY high tolerance for pain so it must have been extrcruciating! I know she did complain, which is NOT normal for her.... but what could they do. Hey, I'm ALL for security...but that was just WRONG!!!!

On the HOPEFUL bright-side, she just had her other knee replaced and in her extreme fear of having that done to her again, she asked the Dr. about it because she is coming with us on her first WDW ever this Dec.! He said that now, they will be fine if they can just see her scars. She's going to wear shorts so it's easy. Obviously, that's another issue when a person doesn't have scars in an easily seen place. But when I was booking tickets online tonight, NWA said that a private screen could be requested.

So...there's what I know. Not much but it's something.
Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

Unfortunately, my mom who had at that time (within 9 months after 9/11) had one knee replacement and it did set things off. They took the wand over her and then grabbed her knee and twisted it drastically making her shudder in agony!

You'll be glad to know that we found things much better when we traveled in March this year and I have read newspaper articles that say things are better since Jan 1 this year for people with disabilities. That is because there is now one Federal agency that is overseeing security at all airports. In the past, the security people often had no training in how to deal with people with special needs. Now, they are supposed to all be getting the same education (and some customer relations info, which they were sadly lacking before). That's not to say that all trips thru security for people with special needs will be wonderful/without problems, but the chances of some sadistic person twisting your mom's knee whoudl be much lower. And actually, them twisting it could have been considered assault. They were allowed to pat people down, not hurt them.