When respect feels like a gift

Leeds Bradford Airport are currently demonstrating how assisted travel should be done. I generally don’t take assistance when flying as I’ve reached a point where I’m so tired of being treated like a piece of luggage, rather than a human being. However, I’ve never flown out of this airport before and will try anything once.

The assistance staff have done a few things that have made the experience really good so far. Firstly, they’ve spoken to me, rather than about me. We’ve chatted about my job and the conference I’m going to, and if they want to know if I need something, they have asked me directly rather than discussing my needs while I’m stood right there. Secondly, nobody has tried to take my documents off me. When checking in, I handed my passport to the person at the desk, and they handed it back to me. The assistance person was there, but did not get involved in the interaction.

At security, staff spoke directly to me. They told me where I needed to place my bag, and that I could leave all of my items in it. When they needed to check my bag, they told me this, and then handed it back to me. After security, you move to a different assistance team. They gave me the option of sitting in the assisted travel area, or doing my own thing. I chose to grab a coffee, which is where I’m writing this. They told me where the assistance meeting point was, and what time I should head back there.

You might read this and think but isn’t this how airports should work? Isn’t this basic respect? You’d be right for thinking that. But for disabled people, being treated like a human being who wants to enjoy travelling is rarely something we get to experience. I shouldn’t have to praise this kind of behaviour because it should be the norm. It is not the norm for me, and so I highlight when it happens, in the hope that someone, somewhere will read this who has the power to change things at other transport hubs. High quality, respectful assistance can be provided. There are disabled people who won’t require it, and that’s ok. There are also disabled people who do, or who would find travel less stressful if they could have a little bit of assistance. They shouldn’t be treated as less than human just because they need this.

It’s really encouraging to know that I can fly out of my local airport, and that if I need some assistance, I won’t have to sacrifice my dignity and humanity in order to receive it.