"Enraged Father Sounds Off, but was He Heard?"

Our latest article for Abilities can be found (here).

Faking Disabilities (7.2.13)

Jacksonville International Airport

July 2, 2013

A lady came running at us from the side while pushing an airport wheelchair filled with carry on baggage as Kellisa and I approached the wheelchair line at security. She almost crashed into Kellisa on her way to the front. 

I kept my mouth shut because I already knew that TSA would just say that the disabled line is managed using the honor system and they can't question anyone about why they're in the line. 

I was ready to explode and was hoping the woman was going to use the wheelchair on our flight because after running through the airport, I knew she would need to be wheeled down the jetway to board first. I've been known to call out "fakers" during the pre-board process because it embarrasses them in front of everyone that will be trapped on the same airplane with them and the airlines will always board Kellisa first, unless there's another real disabled person needing to pre-board. Unfortunately for us, she wasn't on our flight.

I snapped the following picture while still in disbelief. As soon as I heard the "click", I thought security would pounce on me for taking a picture in the security line, especially since they probably have a picture of me hanging in their office from previous outbursts, but nothing happened.

Kellisa didn't care because she was just happy to be at the airport on her way to a plane. One look at this face and I began to settle down.

TSA Incident #1

Baltimore/Washington International Airport

BWI

August 2, 2010 

Kellisa and I were flying home from Baltimore after a quick weekend trip to bag three highpoints when I came close to getting arrested by TSA government employees at the airport. Why close? Because Lisa did not make this trip with us and I barely showed restraint at the last second out of concern for Kellisa.

Here's what happened: Most airports have a line for flight crews and wheelchairs. Not Baltimore's airport. OK, so we zigzag through the long line like everyone else without a complaint. After 15 minutes, we are probably halfway through the line. All of a sudden from behind, two airport workers are making their way through the zigzags pushing two people in airport wheelchairs. As they pass us, I follow them to the front of the line...assuming this is the "wheelchair procedure" in Baltimore.

I was wrong. TSA workers allowed the two wheelchairs to go directly to the front, but stopped Kellisa. I was told to take Kellisa and go back to the end of the line. I explained that I didn't understand the process. I was told that the other wheelchairs were escorted by airport workers and since Kellisa did not have this "escort", we would not be allowed to move to the front of the line. I tried to reason by explaining that Kellisa could not walk at all and out of the three wheelchairs, Kellisa's was the only "real" wheelchair.

While we are having this "discussion", the guy in the first wheelchair gets up, walks through the metal detector and starts gathering his bags, all while standing. I wasn't ready to explode, but my temperature was rising fast. Then I look over at the other line and see the little girl in the other wheelchair getting up and actually running through the metal detector. The TSA workers made her go back and asked her to walk slowly through the metal detector for a second time.

I was done talking and began yelling at the TSA workers. I pointed to the guy as he was still standing holding three bags without any assistance while he waited for his wife. He looked at me and then acted like he couldn't hear me as he started to walk away. Yes, walk away without his airport wheelchair and escort while holding three bags.

Then I pointed to the mother of the running daughter and accused her of having her daughter fake a disability just to get through the line faster. I told her I would apologize if she told me what caused her daughter to need an airport wheelchair while allowing her to run through the metal detectors. The mother turned away, dropped her head and proceeded through the metal detectors. Her daughter was probably 5 or 6 and unaware of what was happening because she was doing a little dance next to the wheelchair before running towards the gates while leaving her chair and escort behind. I told the mother and the man that I'd love to talk to them once they let us through security.

At this point, I was being surrounded by additional TSA workers who were all talking into their little radios. Several had guns drawn and a couple grabbed my arms. Kellisa had been giggling with all the attention, but at this point, she became visibly scared and nervous. I believe she could sense the situation becoming very serious for us. Looking at Kellisa's face, I actually settled down a little. I realized that I probably made a threat and I couldn't afford to get arrested because I didn't have anyone who could watch Kellisa.

During this moment of calm, the TSA supervisor approached through the crowd that was now gathered around us. She asked if I was OK and explained that the airport's policy was to let all escorted wheelchairs proceed to the front of the line without questioning if the people were disabled or not. I assume she was listening to the entire incident and possibly even watched the beginning on a monitor in a back room somewhere. Before I could argue my point, she offered to let us go through the metal detectors without going to the back of the line if I agreed not to continue the incident with the mother/daughter or the other guy. In hind's sight, I'm thankful that I agreed to her reasonable offer. We made it past security without further incident.

I'll admit to looking for the disability fakers as I pushed Kellisa through the terminal to our gate. I didn't see them. I would have liked to give them something specific to think about while hoping it would prevent them from ever faking a disability again.

To the man, I would have said, "I bet you wouldn't last a day in real wheelchair" and "what you are doing is like stealing a benefit granted to people with disabilities and it's a small concession when you are really disabled".

To the mother, I would have said, "do you realize what you are teaching your daughter" and "you should be thankful every day that your daughter can run through an airport because kids like Kellisa will never be able to even walk".