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The Florida Grantor, Fall 2001

Footnotes

Orlando is Host City to First Self-Determination Conference

Florida's Self-Determination Advisory Group is planning the first statewide Self-Determination Conference, January 18-20, 2002 in Orlando at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. The conference will offer participants an opportunity to hear from people with disabilities who have learned how to speak for themselves and will launch the state's inaugural self-advocacy organization led by people with disabilities.

The conference has five tracks: Transition from School; All About ME!; Self-Advocacy; Providers Supporting Self-Determination; and Family Members Supporting Self-Determination. The conference will provide national and statewide speakers with an opportunity to inspire and inform individuals with disabilities, their family members, educators, support coordinators, service providers, state agency employees and others.

Financial reimbursement is available to Floridians with developmental disabilities and, if necessary, their personal assistants. The reimbursement will pay for the conference registration, which includes three meals during the conference, and the participant's hotel room based on two people sharing a room. Financial reimbursement is available on a first come, first served basis. The deadline for financial reimbursement application is December 14, 2001. The general registration deadline is also December 14th.

Funded by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. (FDDC), additional funding and support has been provided by: The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.; The Florida Department of Education; and the Florida Department of Children and Families, Developmental Disabilities Program Office. Wilson Resources, Inc. is assisting the Advisory Group in organizing the conference.

The Advisory Group is seeking additional sponsors to ensure that all persons with developmental disabilities who want to attend are able to. Speakers and exhibitors are also being sought.

For more information and to receive a conference brochure, please contact Deborah Courtney at 850-386-2022, email Courtneywri@aol.com, or go to the conference website at: www.flsdc.com.

Steps Taken To Ensure New Airport Security Addresses Disabilities

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and the Department of Transportation's implementing rules prohibit discriminatory treatment of persons with disabilities in air transportation. Since the terrorist hijackings and tragic events of September 11, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued directives to strengthen security measures at airline checkpoints and passenger screening locations.

In securing our national air transportation system, where much of FAA's efforts have been directed to date, steps were also taken to ensure that the new security procedures preserve and respect the civil rights of passengers with disabilities. This Fact Sheet provides information about the accessibility requirements in air travel in light of strengthened security measures by providing a few examples of the types of accommodations and services that must be provided to passengers with disabilities. The examples listed below are not all-inclusive and are simply meant to provide answers to frequently asked questions since September 11 concerning the air travel of people with disabilities.

Check-in

Air carriers must provide meet and assist service (e.g., assistance to gate or aircraft) at drop-off points. The lack of curbside check-in, for certain airlines at some airports, has not changed the requirement for meet and assist service at drop-off points.

Screener checkpoints

Individuals assisting passengers with disabilities are allowed beyond the screener checkpoints. These individuals may be required to present themselves at the airlines' check-in desk and receive a "pass" allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a ticket.

The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices.

Service animals, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft. Any backpack or sidepack that is carried on the animal will be manually inspected or put through the X-ray machines. The service animal's halter may also be removed for inspection.

Assistive devices such as walking canes, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft. Assistive devices such as augmentative communication devices and Braille 'N Speaks will go through the same sort of security screening process as used for personal computers.

Personal wheelchairs and battery-powered scooters may still be used to reach departure gates after they are inspected to ensure that they do not present a security risk. Personal wheelchairs will still be allowed to be stowed on board an aircraft.

Air carriers must ensure that qualified individuals with a disability, including those with vision or hearing impairments, have timely access to information, such as new security measures, the carriers provide to other passengers.

For more information, visit the Department of Transportation's website at www.dot.gov.