Contact: Michele Erwin
Phone: (917) 414-0897
November 11, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
All Wheels Up Supports Engracia Figueroa and Hand in Hand
The board, staff, and volunteers of All Wheels Up (AWU) grieve for Engracia Figueroa’s avoidable and tragic death due to the airline industry’s lack of prioritizing and implementing policy for safe treatment and stowage of assistive devices, often resulting in the destruction and damage to passengers’ mobility devices—specifically wheelchairs—when they are stowed on airplanes. The aviation industry has been working for years to come up with a solution for safer stowage of mobility devices yet has never implemented any change. While the industry claims it is supportive of working towards a more accessible future, action and funding have been minimal.
All Wheels Up stands in solidarity with Hand in Hand, of which Ms. Figueroa was a member, and co-sponsors Hand in Hand’s petition to the airline industry to make needed improvements to safer stowage of assistive devices and wheelchairs. AWU takes the plea one step further: AWU president Michele Erwin says, “We encourage all stakeholders—especially disability advocacy organizations, government, and the airline industry—to partner with us in our goal of true accessible air travel by providing a wheelchair spot on airplanes so that passengers with reduced mobility have the option to remain in their own custom wheelchairs throughout the entire flight.”
To be very clear, it’s important to understand that travelers who use wheelchairs have different needs, and they should be able to choose the option that works best for their bodies:
1. Wheelchair tie-down spot: Many wheelchair travelers are not physically capable of transferring to an aisle wheelchair and then again to a standard airline seat—the only way possible to board, fly, and deplane on commercial flights today. Many passengers with reduced mobility need to remain in their own wheelchairs with custom orthopedic support. AWU encourages the airline industry and government agencies to work with us to provide a wheelchair spot on airplanes for these passengers.
2. White-glove handling and stowage of mobility devices: Many wheelchair users are physically able and may prefer to transfer to a standard airline seat. If they choose this option, they should be able to remain in their own wheelchairs right up to the point of transfer to the airline seat. Furthermore, their wheelchairs should receive a special white glove handling service because they are extensions of their bodies and should be treated with respect and care.
AWU’s mission is to increase awareness for safer and more dignified accessible air travel through research and advocacy. AWU is the first not-for-profit organization funding research and development for a wheelchair spot on planes—as well as providing community outreach through its Fly Safe Today program.
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