Passengers with visual disability in air transport: Evaluation of airports' accessibility

Abstract

Introduction: In the last decades, there have been changes in the understanding of disability and advances in the human rights of people with disabilities. Nevertheless, studies show that disabled people still encounter barriers which restrict their participation in various social contexts, such as air transportation. Objective: To analyze accessibility conditions and procedures in Brazilian airports and to understand the travel experiences of people with visual impairment in the pre-flight, embarkation and disembarkation phases. Method: Quantitative-qualitative research based on participant observation in air travel, auto-confrontation interview with visually impaired passengers, and verification of rules compliance of accessibility conditions and procedures through checklists based on ABNT NBR-9050/2015 and ANAC Resolution nº280/2013. Results: The participants were seven passengers with visual impairment, either blind or with low vision plus 30 managers and supervisors linked to four different airlines that operate in the Brazilian air transportation. Ten airports were analyzed, in which passengers experienced difficulties related, mainly, to the inadequacy, discontinuity and insufficiency of information and signage; noncompliance with and lack of knowledge of accessibility procedures; inappropriate allocation of preferential seats and attendance to passengers. Conclusion: Besides evidencing the noncompliance with the norms and resolutions related to accessibility, the study also evidenced problems that affect the spatial orientation, the displacement and the communication in travels. Having all this compiled data, contributions to transformation of accessibility in Brazilian airports is expected, with a view to favoring the participation of people with disabilities in air travel.