Nila Morton, a 25-year-old graduate student at Howard University with Ullrich muscular dystrophy, recently shared her challenging experiences traveling with Delta Airlines. Her story highlights the difficulties faced by passengers with disabilities and underscores the need for improved accessibility and support in the airline industry. Morton relies on a wheelchair due to her condition and had previously flown without incident. However, her recent Thanksgiving trip home to South Carolina and subsequent return to Washington, D.C., proved to be traumatic.
Upon arrival at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Morton waited for assistance deplaning. While being transferred to an aisle chair, she was dropped by airport staff, injuring her tailbone and left side. The pain persisted throughout her Thanksgiving break, impacting her comfort and mobility.
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Her return journey on December 2nd was fraught with further complications. Her first flight was delayed due to difficulties loading her wheelchair, despite pre-confirming its dimensions with Delta. In Atlanta, during a layover, she faced dismissive and insensitive comments from airport staff while being transferred to her aisle chair. To her dismay, her own wheelchair was damaged, with a bent headrest from improper handling.
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The final leg of her journey included a missing joystick cover on her wheelchair and a baggage claim experience where she felt abandoned by airport staff, left waiting outside in the cold for her Uber. Morton emphasizes that Delta has only addressed the damage to her wheelchair, neglecting the broader issues of inadequate assistance and insensitive treatment. Delta issued a statement apologizing for Morton’s experience and assuring that their customer care team is addressing the situation.
After returning home, a distraught Morton shared her experiences on TikTok, hoping to process her frustration with ableism. The video garnered significant attention, with over 150,000 views and 4,000 comments, highlighting a shared experience of discrimination and lack of accessibility for people with disabilities.
Morton’s story resonated with many, providing a platform for discussing the systemic challenges faced by disabled travelers. She hopes her experience will raise awareness about ableism and encourage true allyship, moving beyond superficial gestures to dismantle systemic barriers that perpetuate discrimination and exclusion. She advocates for a deeper understanding of the daily struggles faced by people with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of respecting their rights and dignity.
