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Helpful Tips for the Airport Screening Process
The Transportation Security Administration has developed guidelines for
the training of airport screeners to make the screening process both
comfortable and secure for people with disabilities. If you're visually
impaired, take note of what you may ask the screener to do:
- Explain the security process to you.
- Verbally communicate to you throughout each step of the screening process.
- Provide you with assistance by placing your items on the x-ray belt.
- Provide you with assistance by providing you with an arm, hand, or shoulder as you move through the process.
- Find someone to escort you through the security process.
- Let you know where the metal detector is located.
- Let you know when you will be going through the metal detector.
- Let you know when there are obstacles you need to avoid.
- Perform a physical inspection (in lieu of an x-ray inspection) of your white collapsible cane. This will allow you to guide yourself through the walk-through metal detector. Inspection of your white collapsible cane will be completed after you go through the walk-through metal detector. If your white cane cannot be cleared by physical inspection, the screener will notify you that the cane must be x-rayed.
- Perform a hand inspection of equipment (e.g., Braille note-takers) if you are concerned that the x-ray inspection may damage them.
- Reunite you with all of your carry-on items and assistive devices after the x-ray or physical inspection of the items is completed, including electronic equipment that has been specially adapted for your use.
- Verbally direct you toward your gate once the screening has been completed.
Traveling With a Dog Guide
- If you have a service animal, you are encouraged to inform the screener that the animal accompanying you is a service animal and not a pet. This may result in moving you to the front of the screening line since the screener may need to spend more time with you.
- People using a dog for assistance are encourage to carry appropriate identification such as cards or documentation, presence of a harness or markings on the harness, or other credible assurance of the passenger using the dog for their disability.
- Advise the screener how you and your dog can best achieve screening when going through the metal detector as a team (i.e., whether walking together or with the dog walking in front of or behind you while you continually maintain control of the dog with the leash and/or harness).
- The dog's harness will likely set off the alarm on the metal detector. In such cases, the screener will perform a hand inspection of the dog and its belongings (collar, harness, leash, backpack, vest, etc.). The belongings will not be removed from your dog at any time.
- The screener should ask permission before touching your service animal or its belongings.
- At no time during the screening process will you be required to be separated from your service animal.
- Screeners have been trained not to communicate, distract, interact, play, feed, or pet service animals.
- If you need to leave the sterile area to relieve your animal, you must go through the full screening process again. Inform the screener upon your return to the security checkpoint and she/he will move you to the front of the screening line to expedite the screening process.
For more information about other disabilities, medical conditions, or assistive devices, log on to the Transportation Security Administration Web site and find the answers you may be looking for.