A man named Brian posted a photo of people in wheelchairs waiting to board a Southwest flight. He tagged Southwest and multiple news outlets because he was outraged so many people were accessing mobility aids.
I don’t like posting content from the hellsite here… but since many businesses and airlines are only on that site … this felt worth a share.
Not because one ableist guy acted entitled and discriminatory. My issue is with the way the official Southwest account chose to deal with him.
Brian’s complaint? It’s unfair people get to use wheelchairs when they can walk. He’s mad they get to pre-board
He doesn’t understand dynamic disability. He can’t comprehend the reasons a person might require a wheelchair to navigate an airport but be able to board unassisted
Brian isn’t alone. When I was still well enough to travel I endured dirty looks and comments from other passengers whenever I would use a wheelchair.
I have invisible illnesses. I don’t “look” sick but my ability to walk or stand in lines is impaired.
I have severe POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). When I stand my blood pools in my legs and my heart rate goes over 150 to compensate & prevent me from fainting.
I sweat, I get dizzy, I throw up. Sometimes I do faint.
It’s uttterly exhausting.
Using a wheelchair in the airport meant I could keep my heart rate at a reasonable level & avoid a serious medical emergency
It conserved energy so that I was less sick when we landed.
Yet I denied myself this accommodation for years due to fear of being mocked by “Brian’s”
These days I expect the Brian’s. Ableism has only gotten worse the last few years - and people are shockingly cruel and entitled.
They get angered by wheelchairs, disabled parking placards and masks. Boy do they get angry over masks.
I’ve learned to tune them out
My devastation from this exchange is due to the response of Southwest Airlines. A major corporation with a huge platform (and I suspect a large number of disabled customers) had a chance to call out ableism and shut it down.
They could have told Brian he was in the wrong
Instead they apologized to him.
I know people will say they had to because they apologize to all upset customers … but they didn’t HAVE to.
The apology gave his complaint validity. It emboldens the ableists among us.
Saying sorry for people who need wheelchairs is sickening. Why are you apologizing for accommodating your passengers?
Why are we pandering and giving in to hate?
Ignore the post or tell Brian it’s wrong to photograph customers & he has no valid complaint
To add insult to injury - another ableist joined in the discussion to ask what Southwest are doing to do about this “problem”.
First - there’s no problem. People requiring accommodation are not a problem to be solved.
Second - the airline legitimized it again!
Their response was that many disabilities are invisible so they aren’t allowed to question the validity of requests.
They implied that there IS an issue with validity in some cases… but that they’re simply not allowed to address it
I can’t speak for Southwest - but every airline I’ve flown has required medical documentation to receive assistance. It HAS been validated.
Even if it wasn’t - no one is getting a wheelchair for “funsies” and even if they were - it doesn’t impact Brian’s experience.
Is his trip ruined because he had to walk to the gate and someone else was pushed? Does it really matter that he had to board after a few other people?
Does he complain about those in first class or who have elite status and get to pre-board?
Of course not. Because Brian isn’t aggrieved - he’s spiteful. He has disdain for disabled people. He doesn’t believe they “deserve” the help.
Shame on Southwest for pandering to people like this. Shame on them for even insinuating people with disabilities are faking
We need to do better. Call this behaviour out when we see it and try and educate others on dynamic disability. More and more people are becoming disabled thanks to “you do you” policies … let’s help build a more inclusive world for everyone.
Southwest… do better.
I’ve blurred the photo but it showed many mostly elderly people sitting in wheelchairs.
