Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids
Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions
- Prosthetic Devices, Casts, and Body Braces
- Walkers, Crutches, and Canes
- Augmentation Devices
- Orthopedic Shoes, Support Appliances, and Other Exterior Medical Devices
- Dressings
Prosthetic Devices, Casts, and Body Braces
- Security Officers will need to see and touch your prosthetic device, cast or support brace as part of the screening process.
- Security Officers will not ask nor require you to remove your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace.
- During the screening process, please do not remove or offer to remove your prosthetic device.
- You have the option of requesting a private screening at any time during the screening of your prosthetic device, cast or support brace.
- You have the right to refuse the offer of a private screening; however, you will need to allow the screening to be conducted publicly if you wish to proceed beyond the security checkpoint.
- You may have a companion, assistant or family member accompany and assist you into the private screening area (once he or she has been screened) and remain throughout the screening process.
- TSA will make every effort to have two Security Officers of the same gender as the passenger being screened present during the private screening.
- If you are too weak or unstable on your feet to stand for a hand held metal inspection because of your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace, you may request to sit down after you have passed the walk through metal detector.
- Please notify Security Officers if you need assistance during the screening process such as a hand, arm, or shoulder to lean upon, or a chair in which to sit. At any time during the screening process you can request a disposable paper drape for privacy.
- The Security Officer will describe the explosive trace sampling procedure in advance to help you along with the process.
- The explosive trace sampling process may require you to lift or raise some of your clothing in order to obtain the explosive trace sample. (Sampling areas can be accessed by you lifting your pant leg or shirtsleeve or by raising your skirt to knee-level.)
- The Security Officer should offer you a private screening if clothing will need to be lifted or raised in order to obtain the explosive trace sample. You will not be required to remove any clothing during the process or remove or display the belt that holds your prosthetic device to your body.
- If the device alarms the explosive trace machine and the Security Officer cannot resolve the alarm, you will not be permitted through the security checkpoint.
Walkers, Crutches, and Canes
- Walkers, crutches, canes, and other devices that can fit through the X-ray machine must undergo X-ray screening (with exception of white collapsible cane)
- Ask the Security Officer for assistance (arm, hand, shoulder to lean on) until you are reunited with your device.
- The Security Officer will perform a hand inspection of your equipment if it cannot fit through the X-ray machine.
- Notify the Security Officer if your device requires special handling.
- Walkers will be visually inspected and any attached basket, pockets, or compartment(s) will be physically inspected.
- All items hanging from a cane or walker must be submitted for X-ray inspection.
- Ask the Security Officer for assistance, if needed, when placing items on the X-ray belt.
- Ask for assistance with your device if you need it.
- Collapse canes whenever possible before they are put on the X-ray belt.
- Once device(s) have been screened, Security Officers will hand back your device(s) to you in such a manner that helps you proceed without difficulty.
Augmentation Devices
- Augmentation devices attached to your wheelchair are permitted through the screening checkpoint once they have undergone visual and explosive trace detection inspection.
- Security Officers should not request that these devices be disconnected for X-ray inspection.
- You or your companion may need to communicate to the Security Officer that this is an augmentation device and not a laptop computer.
- If the device alarms the explosive trace machine and the Security Officer can't resolve the alarm, the device will not be permitted through the security checkpoint.
Orthopedic Shoes, Support Appliances, and Other Exterior Medical Devices
- Advise the Security Officer if you are wearing orthopedic shoes, support appliances, or other exterior medical devices and where the devices are located.
- If you are wearing an exterior medical device and are uncomfortable with going through the metal detector or be handwanded, you may request a pat-down inspection and visual inspection of your device instead.
- You should be offered a private screening if clothing is required to be lifted to complete the inspection process.
- Security Officers should not be asking you to remove your orthopedic shoes, appliances, or medical device (insulin pump, feeding tube, ostomy or urine bag, or exterior component of cochlear implant) at any time during the screening process.
- Advise the Security Officer if you have an ostomy or urine bag. You will not be required to expose these devices for inspection.
- If you have a non-invasive (exterior) bone growth stimulator or other device that operates under a specific magnetic calibration, which cannot be X-rayed because the calibration of these units cannot be disrupted, you may request a visual and physical inspection of your device in lieu of being X-rayed.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) and other exterior disability and medical related devices are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened.
- At any time during the screening process you can request a disposable paper drape for privacy.
Dressings
- Whenever there is a metal detector alarm in the area of a dressing, the Security Officers will conduct a gentle limited pat-down of the dressing area over top of your clothing.
- Clothing will not be required to be removed, lifted, or lowered during the pat-down inspection.
- The Security Officer will not ask you to, nor will he or she, remove a dressing during the screening process.
- In the event a Security Officer is not able to determine that a dressing is free of prohibited items via a pat-down, you will be denied access to the sterile area.
Please refer to the links below to assist you as you make travel preparations:
