A team from Phoenix says their wheelchairs were mishandled by Southwest Airlines as they traveled to Richmond, Va. for theabout the issues showing the various problems she and the team encountered upon landing in Richmond. It's a reality that many in the disability community say is an example of a systemic problem of the airline industry not taking care when dealing with wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
PHOENIX — A team from Phoenix says their wheelchairs were mishandled by Southwest Airlines as they traveled to Richmond , Va. for theabout the issues showing the various problems she and the team encountered upon landing in Richmond . It's a reality that many in the disability community say is an example of a systemic problem of the airline industry not taking care when dealing with wheelchairs and other mobility devices .
"When we got here to Richmond there's 120 wheels literally sitting in the jetway," Justin Walker, a wheelchair athlete with Ability360's basketball team said. Each chair, which costs thousands of dollars a piece, is tailored for the specific person who uses the wheelchair. "It's disheartening," Christopher Rodriguez, Ability360's President and CEO said."These guys train for years and they go out there for a national competition and to be distracted by something so egregious is just heartbreaking."
"There's a national conversation that's being had right now about the treatment of individuals with disabilities and their equipment and their wheelchair with the airline industry. But yet we continue to see these incidents taking place almost on a daily basis," Rodriguez said. "It's unacceptable," Representative Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, said.
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Phoenix Wheelchair Mishandled Southwest Airlines Richmond Disability Community Systemic Problem Airline Industry Mobility Devices
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