TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES

Delivering the best service and ensuring accessibility to all Delta customers is our primary concern. Our agents and attendants are always available to help passengers before boarding, in the air and at the destination airport.

Some assistance can be requested through My Trips after you have completed your booking.  Please visit My Trips to let us know if you:

  • Will need wheelchair assistance
  • Have a peanut allergy
  • Would like to let us know that you are blind or have low vision
  • Would like to let us know that you are deaf or hard of hearing

ZOEK MIJN REIS

If you require services in addition to the options available on My Trips, please contact us at 404-209-3434.  You may also complete our Accessibility Service Request form located in My Trips if you are more than 7 days away from travel; one of our specialists will review your request.  We may contact you by phone or email if we need more information.

Real-Time Resolution at the Airport

For extra help at the airport, ask our customer service personnel for a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO). Our CROs have been specially trained and are aware of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) disability regulations. Our CROs are available at all airport locations, and they will be glad to respond to your concerns.

For assistance with your personal wheelchair or mobility device, please complete our online wheelchair handling form.

LET US ASSIST YOU

  • As you travel through the United States, Caribbean, and Canada, if you require additional assistance related to wheelchair service, please call 1-800-984-8935 and someone will be available to assist you.

    Available daily from 07:00AM-01:00AM EST
     

  • Reservations Requirements

    The sooner you make your reservations, the more time we have to prepare for your flight and get ready to meet all of your special needs. Most special services require at least one hour advance check in on the day of departure. Keep in mind that security screening and pre-boarding processes are likely to require more than an hour advance check in.

    We make every effort to accommodate your travel needs while also taking into consideration the health and safety of other passengers. Please review all the information in Special Travel Needs section or contact Delta Reservations with questions.

    To accommodate special requests, we need 48 hours advance notice and at least one hour advance check in on the day of departure if you:      

    • Need to use an approved Portable Oxygen Concentrator during the flight.
    • Require the packaging of a wheelchair battery for shipment as checked luggage.
    • Are traveling with a group of 10 or more people with disabilities.

    Although we don't require information concerning the extent of your disability, the more facts you can share with us about your travel needs, the better we are able to assist you. Our reservations agents will be happy to discuss your specific requirements when you call. Should you require transfer assistance at a connecting point, let us know so we can arrange for a wheelchair to be available when you arrive.

    Medical Certificates

    Under certain conditions, you may need to present a medical certificate from a doctor. When you purchase your ticket, tell your reservations agent if you have one of the following conditions:     

    • You need medical oxygen.
    • You have a communicable disease or infection.
    • You have a medical condition where there is reasonable doubt that you cannot complete the flight safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance during the flight.

    If you do have one of these conditions, obtain a medical certificate dated within 10 days of the flight from a certified medical doctor as follows:      

    • If you need medical oxygen , the medical certificate must state your need for oxygen and the rate of flow per minute required. There is a charge for onboard medical oxygen services.
    • If you have a communicable disease or infection, the medical certificate must state any conditions or precautions we must take to prevent transmission of the disease or infections. The certificate must also state that the disease or infection is not communicable to other people on the flight.
  • Delta's Advisory Board on Disability promotes accessibility for all of our customers by providing leadership in achieving our mission: Making Delta the carrier of choice for customers through thoughtful, reliable and innovative service to the disability community. Over 70% of the Advisory board is comprised of individuals with different disabilities who are regular Delta passengers.
     
    We’re proud to count the following leaders among the members of our Advisory Board:

    Shanti Aaron - Atlanta, Georgia
    Work Incentive Planning and Assistive Services Project Lead,
    Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, External Affairs

    Shanti Aaron is the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Services Director for Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA). She holds a MS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Vocational Rehabilitation, as well as post-graduate certification in Management. She has worked in all facets of Vocational Rehabilitation for twenty five plus years. Ms. Aaron has served on a variety of Boards and Committees as an advocate for persons with disabilities. She is currently the Chair for the employment Committee for the Georgia Coalition for the Blind, and serves on the Training Education Compliance and Outreach Committee for the Delta Advisory Board for persons with Disabilities. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and has two adult children and two grandchildren.

    Grover Evans, Ph.D. - Little Rock, Arkansas
    Evans & Associates of Arkansas

    Grover Evans is the founder and CEO of Evans and Associates of Arkansas. He served as special consultant for system design for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and Department of Health and Human Service. He is the former Director of Disability Determination for the Social Security Administration for Arkansas. Grover was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame, publisher and author of numerous articles on wellness, goal setting and other health related issues. He and his wife, Helen have two children and a granddaughter.

    Catherine Leigh Graham - Blythewood, South Carolina
    Executive Director - SC Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund

    Catherine is the Executive Director of the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund which promotes research to develop better understanding of causes and effective treatment strategies for paralysis, sensory loss and other consequences of spinal cord injury and disease.  Catherine also works as a rehabilitation engineer with over 20 years as owner of her ADA consulting group providing assessments and transition plans for businesses throughout the US. 

    Carol Gray - Zeeland, Michigan
    Social Stories - Author, Speaker, Subject Matter Expert

    Carol Gray is a Consultant to Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Autism.  She is an internationally sought-after keynote and seminar speaker, and has completed over 1.000 presentations. She is best known for the development of Social Stories, a well-respected evidence-based practice used worldwide with people with autism of all ages. Carol is the recipient of several awards for her contributions to the education and welfare of individuals with autism worldwide.  For more information about Carol and her work, or to contact her, visit www.CarolGraySocialStories.comopens in a new window.

    Robert Haas – Columbus Ohio
    Amputee Coalition of Columbus Ohio, Retired US Navy, Motivational Speaker

    After a distinguished career in the US Navy, Robert experienced disability in a profound way while serving in the US Navy Reserve.  He became acutely aware of what happens as many of our returning veterans experiencing debilitating injuries and vowed to make a difference in their lives as well as his own.  His mission is to help veterans return to an active recreational lifestyle instead of a sedentary one.  Robert is the founder of Amputee Recreational Support Group for Central Ohio.

    J. R. Harding, Ph.D. - Tallahassee, Florida
    External Affairs Manager, Agency for People with Disabilities

    Dr. JR Harding is a recognized disability leader from both personal and professional experiences. As a 2x quadriplegic, author of "Now What?",opens in a new window accessibility expert, and international speaker, he has contributed for over 30 years to national, state, and community policy for the independence and self-sufficiency of persons with disabilities. He has served under 2 US Presidents, 4 Florida Governors, and continuously serves on a number of community-based organizations. This service currently includes: The Able Trust (Ambassador), Evergreen Life Services, the Florida Alliance for Assistive Service and Technology (FAAST), the Florida Network on Disabilitiesopens in a new window (Director) and the Delta Disability Advisory Boardopens in a new window (member). He is the first person with a significant disability to graduate from both Leadership Florida, Leadership Tallahassee, and he is also a co-founder of Florida Disability Mentoring Day (DMD). He completed his doctorate from Florida State University (FSU) in Higher Education and Public Policy. He works full-time for the state of Florida with the Agency of Persons with Disabilitiesopens in a new window (APD). He and his lovely wife Erika live and work in Tallahassee, FL.

    Michael Harris - Novi, Michigan
    Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) - Michigan

    Michael F. Harris is Executive Director of the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America. PVA members are honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Services who have incurred spinal cord injury or disease resulting in paralysis and are dependent upon the use of a wheelchair for mobility. He has served on the Customer Advisory Board at Northwest Airlines since 2001.
     
    Minna Hong - Atlanta, Georgia
    Shepherd Center

    Minna A. Hong is the SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) Peer Support Coordinator at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also a Board Member of Disability Resource Group and distribution committee member for Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, GA. She also serves as a guest lecturer for Emory University, the University of Georgia, Mercer University and Georgia State University's physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistant students. Minna is a spinal cord injury survivor, wife and mother of two young adults.
     
    John Kemp – New York, New York

    President and CEO of the Viscardi Center

    John D. Kemp, Esq. became only the fourth President & CEO of The Viscardi Center a non-profit organization providing a life span of services that educate, employ and empower people with disabilities. He is widely respected for his many achievements, both in the corporate and non-profit worlds. As a person with a disability who uses four prostheses, he inspires others to achieve the impossible through knowledge, experience, vision, personality, and persistence. Mr. Kemp graduated from Georgetown University in 1971 and from Washburn University School of Law in 1974. In maart 2006, Mr. Kemp received the Henry B. Betts Award, widely regarded as America's highest honor for disability leadership and service. With more than 50 years of direct experience in the disability movement, John D. Kemp has partnered with, worked for and served as Board Member/Chair or CEO of some of the leading disability and nonprofit organizations.. In 1995, Mr. Kemp co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities with Paul G. Hearne.  In 2001, he became a partner in the Washington, DC Law Firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, P.C., where he developed an active federal legislative and lobbying practice.  In januari 2014, Mr. Kemp received the David Award, bestowed upon ‘Renaissance men’ of Long Island by Networking magazine who have excelled in business or academics and also accomplished outstanding heroic and humanitarian acts.  John was recently awarded the prestigious Robert Dole Award for his exemplary leadership to the disability community.

    Alan Muir – Knoxville, TN
    Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities – University of Tennessee

    After joining the University of Tennessee (UT) in 1998, Alan Muir recognized the disconnect between post-secondary offices of disability services and career services at universities across the country.  Subsequently, Mr. Muir co-founded Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD), and became Executive Director.  Under his leadership, COSD experienced significant growth, bringing together member entities including universities, employers, and U.S. Government agencies to focus on career employment of college graduates with disabilities.  He has presented at universities, employers and many conferences nationwide.  Mr. Muir’s previous experience was as a Vice-President with Chase Manhattan Bank for 16 years.  Mr. Muir’s outside involvement in disability and employment issues includes current memberships in Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), Tennessee AHEAD, National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE).  In 2011, Mr. Muir received the Fred Strache Award for Leadership from the California State University Northridge (CSUN) Center on Disabilities at the 26th Annual Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference.  Mr. Muir also was the recipient of the 2004 AAPD / Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, a distinguished and highly competitive national honor.  Community service involvement includes membership on the Board of Directors of the Disability Law and Advocacy Center in Nashville, TN .

    David Nelson - Washington, DC
    National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

    David Nelson served as President of the District of Columbia Association of the Deaf and the Florida School for the Deaf Alumni Association and has been with NAD since 1978. He represents NAD on issues concerning telecommunication and transportation. David is Sr. Community Outreach Specialist in Government Affairs/Corporate Communications at the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). David is responsible for providing accessibility information, managing outreach activities by Amtrak to the disability community and overseeing internal projects to ensure accessible compliance. He holds a bachelor's degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), as well as degrees from the National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID).  He attended high school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. In addition, David has received NAD’s most prestigious award, the Fred C. Schreiber Distinguished Service Award, as well as the RIT 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award for the NTID.

    David Rosenthal- Minneapolis, MN
    Director, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division

    David, who is Deaf, was the Executive Director of the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing when he worked with the Kansas Corporation Commission to establish the Kansas Relay Center service prior to the establishment of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  David served 17 years as manager and area manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (now AT&T) in the Kansas Relay Center.  During his time with Southwestern Bell, David also was involved with the National Emergency Number Association by helping them help Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to improve their communications accessibility and responding effectively to people with hearing loss when they call 9-1-1 for assistance. After leaving AT&T, David was president of the Kansas Telecommunications Industry Association for 6 years.  He is currently the director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

    Jay Stiteley – Houston, TX

    Manager – Department of Neighborhoods, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities – Houston Texas

    Jay Stiteley currently works for the City of Houston, Department of neighborhoods, as Division Manager of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, since February of 2014. Prior to this, Jay has worked in the field of services to individuals who are blind and visually impaired since 1978.  He has served as a rehabilitation teacher for newly blinded adults and has taught assistive technology.  In the area of assistive technology, his accomplishments include the establishment of computer access centers for the Veterans Administration in Palo Alto, CA and the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center in Austin, TX.  He served as Field Representative with The Seeing Eye, Inc. in Morristown, NJ and Houston, TX, traveling extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada.  His experience in management includes work as National Technology Program Director with the American Foundation for the Blind in Chicago, IL and Dean of Students with the Tennessee School for the Blind in Nashville, TN.  Most recently, he held the post of Director of Rehabilitation Services with World Services for the Blind in Little Rock, AR.  His advocacy work includes previous service on the Federal Communications Commission Consumer Advisory Committee and Verizon’s Customer Advisory Board. Currently, he serves on Delta’s Advisory Board for Disabilities, a post he has held since 2009.  A native of Plainfield, IL, Stiteley holds a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Teaching (Northern Illinois University - DeKalb, IL), Master of Science in Management (Thomas Edison State College - Trenton, NJ) and Bachelor of Arts in History/Education (Rockford University - Rockford, IL).  In 1980, he participated in the Olympics for the Disabled (now called Para-Olympics) in Arnhem, Holland as a member of the U.S. swimming and track team. Jay is chair of the Education and Outreach Committee for the Advisory Board.

    Mallory Weggemann – Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Paralympic Gold Medalist, Motivational Speaker

    Mallory has been a competitive swimmer since the age of seven.  After her injury at the age of 18, Weggemann chose to return to the pool.  In april 2008, her older sister found an article in the local newspaper discussing the Paralympic Swimming Trials.  Still learning her new life with a disability, Weggemann found one thing unchanged, her love for swimming.  Mallory showcased her amazing abilities by winning gold and setting a Paralympic Record in the 50m freestyle.  Mallory also anchored the bronze medal winning 4x100m medley relay team, bringing USA back from fifth place to almost capturing gold!  It has been deemed one of the most memorable moments of the London Games, and it inspired many across the world. Mallory is also a highly sought after motivational speaker for corporations and has been a speaker at TEDX.

    Glen W. White, Ph.D. - Lawrence, Kansas
    Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas

    Glen is Director of the Research & Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas, serving as Principal Investigator of the Research and Training Center on Community Living. He conducts research that focuses on increasing opportunity for consumers with disabilities to more fully participate in the community.  Dr. White has regularly conducted research and training in Perú and has more recently conducted research with colleagues in Korea and Japan.  He is past president of the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, past Chair of the American Public Health Association's Disability Forum and serves as an adviser and consultant to many national organizations. Dr. White is Professor of Applied Behavioral Science, where he teaches behavioral, community psychology and disability studies. Dr. White is the current Chairman of the Delta Advisory Board on Disability.

  • Questions and Additional Resources

    We are dedicated to providing convenient and comfortable service for all our customers. We strive to ensure our services and aircraft are accessible to all individuals with disabilities.

    If you have any concerns regarding discrimination, accommodations, or services for any related to passengers with disabilities please report these to an airport customer service agent and request to speak with a complaints resolution official (CRO).

    Our CROs have been specially trained on Department of Transportation (DOT) disability regulations and Delta policy. They are available at all airport locations during the airport operating hours and will be glad to respond to your concerns while you are at the airport. If you are away from the airport, we invite you to call our dedicated accessible services line for assistance at 404-209-3434 and ask to speak to a CRO.