Just curious on what is and is not supposed to happen with wheelchaired passengers at airport security.

Anyone know anything substantive about what the procedures are.

I am also curious about the procedure for amputees with prosthetic legs and/or arms.

GUWonder, here's a link to an article about travel for the disabled:

http://www.bootsnall.com/guides/05-0...-security.html

The TSA cannot force a person to remove a prosthetic device.

The following is from another website, but the link was out of date, so perhaps the following information is also:

"Persons with Prosthetic Devices, Casts, Body Braces

Screeners will need to see and touch your prosthetic device, cast, or body
brace as part of the screening process.

You have the option of requesting a private screening at any time during the
screening of your prosthetic device, cast, or body brace.

A screening supervisor or a lead screener will need to perform an explosive
trace detection (ETD) screening of your prosthetic device, cast, or body
brace.

The screening supervisor or lead screener will describe the ETD sampling
procedure in advance to help you along with the process.

During the screening process, the screener supervisor or lead screener
will take a swab sample from the exterior of your prosthetic device,
cast, or body brace.

This ETD screening process may require you to lift or remove some of your
clothing in order to obtain the ETD sample.

The screening supervisor or lead screener should offer you a private
screening
if clothing will need to be lifted or removed in order to obtain the ETD
sample.
You have the right to refuse the offer of a private screening; however,
you'll
need to allow the screening to be conducted publicly if you wish to proceed
beyond the security checkpoint.

You may have a companion or family member accompany you into the private
screening area (once he or she has been screened) and remain throughout the
screening process.

TSA will make every effort to have two screeners of the same gender as the
passenger being screened present during the private screening.

Please notify screeners if you need assistance during the screening process
such as a hand, arm, or shoulder to lean upon, or a chair in which to sit.

Once the screening supervisor or lead screener has determined that you do not
represent a security risk, he or she will allow you to proceed through the
checkpoint into the sterile area."

A female passenger, with an artificial leg, made a stink last fall about being forced to remove her slacks so that the TSA could "inspect" her leg.

Thanks for that.

Because most people in wheelchairs can't stand up, they are usually patted-down in lieu of hand-wanded. It simply is not practical at all to attempt a partial hand-wand screening since the wand will alarm on the numerous metalic components of the wheelchair itself. However, not everyone is in a wheelchair simply because they are unable to stand, and this is where the screening process becomes tricky.

As a general rule, the screeners are supposed to determine if the person is able and willing to stand up out of the wheelchair for a hand-wand screening. With some of the elderly passengers, this easily becomes a matter of miscommunication. When the screener asks, "are you able to stand?" the passenger interprets that to mean "you need to stand up." And when this doesn't occur, it's also a matter of individual pride. Some people, regardless of age, don't want to be treated differently and will attempt to stand up even when physically unable to.

That's why, contrary to the written rule of the SOP but within the spirit of it, I discourage my screeners from having people stand up out their wheelchairs and have them screened while seated. Unless the passenger insists on standing up, I have them remain seated. The way I see it, they're in a wheelchair for a reason and we can accomodate wheelchaired passengers within the context of our screening procedures. Nothing disturbs me more than to see an elderly person wobbling to stand up, perhaps with the assistance of a family member, so that the screener can hand-wand that passenger. What I tell my screeners is something like, "Bill (or Alice), you followed the correct procedure; however, when I'm on the floor, here's how I'd like to see you do it...." and then I give my reasons why.

Some in here may criticize me for this; but I see it as not only a dose of common sense, but I, too, don't want to see anyone undergo the indignity that our screening procedures sometimes require when I know another way to avoid it entirely.

This process that you quoted is a little out of date. The lead screener or screening supervisor isnt needed for the process any more. Also there is restrictions on how much the passengers have to show you. It can all be done with a minimum of inconvenience and embarrassment.

This info can be found on TSA website. (I found it today, so I assume it is the most up-to-date.)


Persons with Prosthetic Devices, Casts, Body Braces

Screeners will need to see and touch your prosthetic device, cast or support brace as part of the screening process.
Screeners will not ask nor require you to remove your prosthetic device(s), cast, or support brace.
During the screening process, please do not remove or offer to remove your prosthetic device(s).
You have the option of requesting a private screening at any time during the screening of your prosthetic device, cast or support brace.
You have the right to refuse the offer of a private screening; however, you will need to allow the screening to be conducted publicly if you wish to proceed beyond the security checkpoint.
You may have a companion, assistant or family member accompany and assist you into the private screening area (once he or she has been screened) and remain throughout the screening process.
TSA will make every effort to have two screeners of the same gender as the passenger being screened present during the private screening.
If you are too weak or unstable on your feet to stand for an HHMD search because of your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace, you may request to sit down after you have passed the WTMD.
Please notify screeners if you need assistance during the screening process such as a hand, arm, or shoulder to lean upon, or a chair in which to sit. At any time during the screening process you can request a disposable paper drape for privacy.
Screeners will need to perform explosive trace detection (ETD) screening of your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace.
The screener will describe the ETD sampling procedure in advance to help you along with the process.
During the screening process, the screener will take a swab sample from the exterior of your prosthetic device, cast, support brace, palms, fingers, and footwear.
The ETD screening process may require you to lift or raise some of your clothing in order to obtain the ETD sample. (Sampling areas can be accessed by you lifting your pant leg or shirtsleeve or by raising your skirt to knee-level.)
The screener should offer you a private screening if clothing will need to be lifted or raised in order to obtain the ETD sample. You will not be required to remove any clothing during the process or remove or display the belt that holds your prosthetic device to your body.
If the device alarms the ETD and the screener cannot resolve the alarm, you will not be permitted into the sterile area.

Here is the one regarding mobility devices (also found on TSA website today)

Mobility Disability

Don't hesitate to ask a screener for assistance with your mobility aid and carry-on items as you proceed through the security checkpoint.
Let the screener know your level of ability (e.g., whether you can walk, stand or perform an arm lift) or if you cannot stand or walk through the walk-through metal detector (WTMD). This will expedite the screening process.
Ask the screener for assistance if you need help walking through the metal detector.
Inform the screener about any special equipment or devices that you are using and where this equipment or device is located on/in your body. This will help the screener be careful during a physical search if one is needed.
Request a private area for your pat-down inspection if you feel uncomfortable with having a covered medical device displayed while inspected by the screener.
Ensure that all bags and satchels hanging from, or carried on and under, your equipment are put on the x-ray belt for inspection.
Ask the screener for assistance with putting your items on the x-ray belt, if needed
Let the screener know if you need assistance removing and putting your shoes back on your feet when additional screening is necessary.
Let the screener know if your shoes cannot be removed because of your disability so that alternative security procedures can be applied to your shoes. Screeners are instructed not to require you to remove your footwear for screening if you tell him or her that you are unable to do so.
Ask the screener to monitor your accessible property, mobility aid(s,) and device(s) during the screening process and reunite you with them once x-ray inspection is complete.
Screeners will visually and physically inspect your wheelchair or scooter and perform explosive trace detection (ETD) sample of the cushion. These inspections will be conducted while you remain in your wheelchair or on your scooter if you indicate that you cannot get out of your wheelchair or off your scooter.
You should not be required to transfer from your wheelchair to another chair or be lifted out of your chair during the inspection process.

So my initial post is out-of-date:

This ETD screening process may require you to lift or remove some of your
clothing in order to obtain the ETD sample.

From Cookie Jarvis:

The ETD screening process may require you to lift or raise some of your clothing in order to obtain the ETD sample. (Sampling areas can be accessed by you lifting your pant leg or shirtsleeve or by raising your skirt to knee-level.)

Maybe the woman who was forced to remove her slacks had some effect on the TSA to make them change their methods.

Good Lord, I hope so!!

Additionally, the TSA is still conducting its survey on how disabled passengers are being screened: Survey on Customer Satisfaction with TSA's Screening Procedures for Persons with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

Hell, how about a survey for the rest of us are screened?

Bet we'll never see that.

There is also info about this in the disability forum here on FT. Interesting that everyone posts such questions in other forums all of the time.

Wonder how we can drive more traffic to the disability forum? Seems like the majority of questions about FWD (flying while disabled) are posted in other forums, where the folks who are most likely to have help and answers are not going to see them.

A few months ago, I needed a wheelchair in ATL because I had just gotten a cast off my foot. The screener asked if I could walk, helped me stand up and offered his hand so I didn't have to hop through on one foot. Totally unexpected, but much appreciated. ^

I had the experience of taking my father who is wheelchair bound and speech impaired through security at DFW, generally i was happy with his treatment which was carried out with proper respect. My only concern was that although i could always see him i had to stand 30 feet away whilst the screening went on, because of his speech impairment he could not answer any questions and although i explained this, i was still not allowed any nearer.
The screener was friendly however and did put my father at ease.