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Part 1: Close Up Radio Spotlights Bonnie Hayes of Access 382

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Double Oak, TX – How do airlines ensure they do not discriminate against people with disabilities, but treat them with respect and dignity?

In 1986, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) was enacted to ensure people with disabilities are treated fairly when flying and that all services offered by airlines are accessible to them. This important legislation, signed into law four years prior to the American with Disabilities Act, provides passengers with disabilities rights and expectations when traveling by air.

With a near 40 year career with American Airlines, Bonnie Hayes has extensive experience in serving passengers with disabilities, training front line employees on how to deliver services and developing policy and procedures that impact the travel experience for people with varying types of disabilities.

“I can remember the years before the ACAA was enacted and how passengers with disabilities were treated,” says Bonnie. “This regulation has brought about many necessary improvements to the aviation industry.”

Today, Bonnie is an expert on 14 CFR Part 382 and the founder of Access 382, where she specializes in litigation consulting and expert witness testimony relating to cases involving with airline passengers with disabilities. Many aviation consultants or expert witnesses are pilots whose focus are aircraft incidents and safety of flight. They aren’t familiar with accessibility for people with disabilities and how federal regulations protect them from discrimination.

As for the future, Bonnie says she would like to see airlines partner with the disabled community to not only meet their needs but exceed their expectations.

For more information, visit www.access382.com