All Wheelchairs Aboard?

For many in the disabled community plane travel can be a hit or miss experience.  While some have a smooth journey free of any issues, there are others with unpleasant stories to tell of their wheelchairs being damaged beyond repair or lost.  Now, a US-based organisation, All Wheels Up, is re-thinking the way wheelchair users travel on flights and hopes to transform it worldwide, leaving the broken wheelchairs firmly in the past.

No More Flight Frights

The team behind All Wheels Up has been working to make travelling more convenient for disabled fliers since 2011.  One of the things they’re committed to is seeing the end of wheelchair users having to use unsupportive transfer seats and having uncomfortable journeys.  Their aim is for flyers who are wheelchair users to be able to travel in their chair.  To achieve this, they’ve taken inspiration from wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) manufacturers and public transport to reimagine the way people fly.

Spaces, not Seats

All Wheels Up want to re-design plane cabins to include removable seating with dedicated wheelchair spaces.  Just like when wheelchair users travel in their mobility vehicle, the hope is that passengers will be able to journey in their own crash-tested wheelchairs using lightweight but sturdy wheelchair restraints for safety and security.  This means that disabled travellers could fly in comfort with additional features their wheelchair has, such as prescription cushions and specialist supports.  It would also allow the travellers to finally be able to enjoy a seamless journey from beginning to end and, of course, avoid any costly broken chairs.

All Wheels Up

The group was set up in 2011 by Michele Campanelli-Erwin from Philadelphia.  Michele is a mother to a young son with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) who is a full-time wheelchair user.  After several frustrating experiences flying with him, including having to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan, Michele was sure there must be an easier way.

Michele explains: “Everything started because I was travelling with my son and I saw how difficult it was to travel as a wheelchair user.  All Wheels Up is the only organisation funding research, like crash testing wheelchairs at an approved FAA testing facility to improve accessible air travel.” (Travel Pulse Online, 2021)

The Future of Flying

While for now All Wheels Up is still at the research and testing stage, they’re hopeful that they can spread the word and encourage others to get involved.  If more passionate people join the cause to make a difference, travel can be reimagined and made safer and easier for everyone.  Rebekah Taussig, a writer and wheelchair user is optimistic that it can happen, regardless of the complexities.

She acknowledges: “There isn’t a simple fix.  Like a lot of messes in the world today, making planes truly accessible will require expertise, collaboration, dedication, money and time.  But I also think we are up to the challenge.” (Time Online, 2021)

To find out more about All Wheels Up’s mission to make travelling easier for wheelchair users head to: www.allwheelsup.org.