The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) needs to clean up its act when it comes to airport security screenings for people with limb loss, according to the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA). Results of a survey of 7,300 amputees that was released this week showed that travelers with limb loss have been subjected to what the ACA calls “inconsistent, unfair, abusive, and often embarrassing” screenings by TSA employees.
“We respect that TSA’s job is to protect our skies, but the lack of training and inconsistent practices in dealing with travelers with limb loss is unacceptable,” said Kendra Calhoun, ACA president and CEO. “We are disappointed to learn about amputees who have been required to take off their arms and legs, expose their amputated limbs, and give up equipment required for their prosthetic legs. We recognize there are many TSA employees who are doing outstanding jobs with amputee screenings, but clearly our survey data shows there is a lot of room for overall improvement by TSA.”
The ACA survey results concluded the following:
- TSA agents are often confused about how to manage screening prosthetic arms and legs.
- Amputees are often denied the ability to have their caregivers accompany them into screening rooms.
- Amputees report being screened by TSA agents not of the same gender.
- Seventy-five percent of respondents said they were unsatisfied with their most recent TSA experience.
- Fifty percent said they were required to lift or raise their clothing during a procedure called “explosive trace sampling,” with no explanation given by TSA personnel.
- More than half of the amputees who responded indicated TSA personnel exhibited a lack of training relative to disability populations-namely, amputees.
- Respondents stated that they were 70 percent less likely to travel by commercial airline due to negative experiences with TSA personnel.
Survey respondent Peggy, a lower-limb amputee who lives in Gainesville, Virginia, recalled of a recent trip, “I had just been put in the plexiglass screening booth-which I expected. My four-year-old son was made to sit across from me, crying because they would not let him touch me. Everyone was looking at us. Then the TSA agent asked for my prosthetic leg. I knew they could wand my leg, but he insisted on taking it from me. And if that wasn’t humiliating enough, he asked for the liner sock that covers my residual limb, saying I had to give it to him. I felt pressured to give him my liner even though it is critical to keep it sanitary. I was embarrassed to have my residual limb exposed in public.”
Jeff Cain, MD, who is a bilateral amputee, pilot, and member of the ACA board of directors had a similar experience. He said, “TSA confiscated my vacuum system required to fit my prosthetic legs. I told them I need those tools to put on my legs-without them, it can’t be done. They eventually gave them back after I boarded the plane, but it would have been more appropriate to have a conversation with me about it and let me know. Had they not given the tools back, I could not have put on my legs for my entire trip. This was the worst of my many TSA experiences, but because I fly a lot, I am also concerned about the level of radiation to which I am exposed. I have had as many as 20 exposures during one trip.”
Calhoun stated, “Amputees have reported to us that there are different procedures at different airports and sometimes different procedures at the same airport, depending on when you fly. We have gotten reports of more than 15 X-rays being taken for an amputee to get through the TSA screening. We want our skies to be safe, but there has to be a better way than the approach TSA is using. We need better training for TSA staff in dealing with disability populations.”
