At this year’s Annual Cure SMA Conference in Anaheim, California, more than 2,800 attendees from across the country came together to learn, connect, and imagine a better future—including a future where air travel is safe, accessible, and dignified for all wheelchair users.
While progress is being made, many individuals and families in the SMA community still experience serious barriers and risks when flying to and from Cure SMA’s conference. One adult with SMA shared, “They told me I might have to switch flights because my wheelchair didn’t fit in the cargo hold. Our flight was delayed an hour while everyone sat on the plane watching them struggle with my chair.” Another attendee returned home from the conference with critical parts of their mobility device—their headrest and joystick—damaged beyond use. These are not isolated incidents. For many, air travel remains the only form of transportation that requires people with disabilities to give up their primary mobility device.
Despite these challenges, this year’s conference also showcased the promise of change. Delta Flight Products (sponsored by Biogen) brought a groundbreaking display to Anaheim, featuring their prototype accessible lavatory, in-cabin wheelchair seating concept, and aisle wheelchair. Individuals with SMA were able to see and test accessible airplane equipment—from their own chairs.
The impact was clear: hope, energy, and renewed determination. As one attendee said, “It was incredible to feel like we were being seen—not just accommodated but included in the future of travel.”
Thanks to the advocacy of the SMA community, bipartisan champions in Congress, and the leadership of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 included historic wins for accessible air travel. The DOT now has a critical role in implementing these new protections and working with industry to eliminate the risks and indignities that wheelchair users face every day when flying.
Together, we can help shape a future where traveling by plane is not an act of courage—but an open door to new experiences.