Originally Posted by Linus (Post 540355)

I haven't traveled with a special needs person but my immediate thought is contact the airline you are traveling on and see if they can help you navigate TSA et al. Often they provide a service like this for elderly or families traveling in groups. You may also want to go to the TSA (or Canadian equivalent) website and see if there is any FAQs on this kind of thing.

Originally Posted by genghisfawn (Post 540345)

I've been fairly lucky with airports. I think it's because I'm always ready with my coat and shoes off, laptop and camera ready for the bin and usually with a don't-mess-with-me-I-have-no-coffee-so-I'm-looking-placidly-neutral look on my face.

I'm interested in what Corkey said about neuro stimulators... my brother is 21 with various disabilities, including epilepsy, and has a VNS. A friend came to stay with me last week, and he's taking nuclear medical technology, and he reassured me that they would pat him down. My concern is being able to stay with him, even if that means getting a pat-down myself (every time I've had a pat-down it's almost as though it didn't happen - very light touch, very respectful, open flat hands, no grabbing... my doctor gets more personal during a throat exam!)

My friend also reassured me that the amounts of radiation coming from a backscatter machine are negligible according to the recommended limit of radiation to which one should be exposed per year. Everyone has their own opinion about radiation exposure, though. Naturally I asked him all these questions because the answers are generally interesting!

I'm only wondering just because I wanted to take a flight within Canada sometime with my brother so we can visit our dad in another city. He's autistic with lots of learning disabilities, PDD and epilepsy. I just hope the pat-down doesn't freak him out and that they understand and respect that he's not exactly going to just stand there like a statue for him. I also hope that they understand that I'm in charge of not only my own effects, but of his safety, behaviour and belongings, as well.

Has anyone travelled with a special needs person? How has your treatment been at security? From the experts like Morgan, what should I keep in mind?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by genghisfawn (Post 540386)

Hi Linus,

Thanks very much! When the time comes, I'll certainly take your advice as it seems sound. It's not even travelling from Saskatoon I worry about - it's coming back through Edmonton, which is a much bigger airport. I suspect I'll have all the time in the world to sort it out both ways, though.

My brother is pretty trusting. If I say it's okay, he'll submit to a pat-down. I just don't want them abusing him or anything, because he can't tell me, so I want to supervise. This isn't to say that I think they will... it's to say that anything could happen.

I'll keep watching this thread... thanks!

Originally Posted by Andrea (Post 521149)

Anyone else care to share their thoughts?

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh (Post 540589)

Im flying out of sherveport to go to the reunion this year,I do hope I dont have a prob with the tsa folks,I wear short hair,my voice is deeper than most men's are and I shure wont be dressed in anything that resembles womens clothes.I do know that the tsa folks use a walk thrue scaner and have a wand,beond that I have no clue since its been several years since ive been to the ariport.I will be bringing my pro air inhaler with me on my persons the rest of my meds can go in my checked bag,I hope they dont get lost cause I must take them 2X a day.I will also be bringing pain paches for my back and if needed be wearing one.I wish I didnt have to fly but it will work out best for me.

Originally Posted by Ciaran (Post 540607)

As a generalisation, my experience of security checks through US airports has been worse than elsewhere (Europe / Asia). This is because, in my experience, there's more chance of being taken aside and, more importantly, the attitude of the officials has tended to be more formal and more stilted than the attitude of officials in other countries.

I'm not sure why but the new bodyscanners have thrown up particular problems for me. Anytime I need to go through one of these machines, I'm invariably pulled aside. Twice in the past six months I've had what I would perceive to be rather intrusive "pat down" of my buttocks region .. I may appreciate this in other circumstances but not at an airport.

No doubt I don't make things easy for myself - I don't do small talk with most folk, let alone TSA officials, I don't smile or act in a deferential manner and I wouldn't attempt to joke or be sarcastic with them as they'd likely not understand.

All-in-all, I'm not a fan. On my trips to the US, it's another reason for me to regret the lack of good rail travel !

Originally Posted by The JD (Post 540567)

I get pulled out of the line for additional security checks nearly every time I fly. Even when I didn't set off the metal detector, I have often been asked to step out of the line to be wanded. One male TSA agent started to wand me before getting a better look at me, and called out, "Need a wand check for a female over here!" Another male TSA never noticed, or didn't bother to get a female TSA agent.

Even with the backscatter scans, I get pulled out and patted down. I've never felt inappropriately touched or treated less than professionally. But the frequency of searches does suggest that it's not entirely random. My ex-gf and I traveled together a lot, and since she never got pulled, it was all the more obvious that it was specific to me. It made her angry that the TSA is targeting butches as if we're terrorists, but it kind of amuses me. I'll admit here that I'm usually the last to notice homophobia directed at me, and when I do, I see it as their problem, not mine.

Oh, and I've had my palms swiped with a piece of paper that was fed into a machine that checks for trace explosives. On three different trips. :|

The irony here is that I'm a U.S. federal employee (Health and Human Services, not Homeland Security). I've been thoroughly documented and verified by dozens of government checks as a routine part of my job, and use radio-chip card keys and biometric readers (fingerprint scans) just to access my office. I'm used to government scrutiny and as long as it's done professionally, I take it in stride.

Originally Posted by The Oopster (Post 540603)

I have never had any problems in regard to my gender identity and have never been pulled out for any special screening, my id is female and i don't match that gender id at all ... all my pat downs were when i was in a wheel chair and the one time i made a mistake and wore overalls and the metal set off the detector. I had a cane and the person actually was hitting me with the wand in my back.

Originally Posted by Andrea (Post 540801)

Did you feel the hitting you with the wand in your back was retaliatory or accidental? Did you say something to the agent or report the incident up the chain of TSA?