![]() MARTÍNEZ: The Department of Transportation says some changes, such as grab bars and accessible faucets, call buttons and door locks, will start to appear in airline bathrooms in about three years.ĬORY LEE: I'm really happy that, like, there is an effort at least being taken. IBACH: The time that it'll take to actually see this be implemented is disheartening. It will probably take years because the requirements apply to planes ordered a decade after the new rule goes into effect. INSKEEP: To be clear, these changes are not happening tomorrow or even next year. IBACH: It's also huge for some other populations, such as parents with young children or larger-set individuals that might need some extra space. INSKEEP: And Ibach, who is an advocate for accessible travel, says travelers with disabilities are not the only ones who will benefit. PETE BUTTIGIEG: We're excited about the potential to make it more accessible, more convenient and more dignified for millions of Americans to travel by air. MARTÍNEZ: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says it could make a big difference for wheelchair users. New, single-aisle planes that are a little bit on the larger side - 125 seats or more - will have to have at least one bathroom that can fit someone in an on-board wheelchair and also an attendant to help them maneuver as needed. This week, the Transportation Department announced new rules that could help travelers like Kelsey by requiring airlines to add more accessible bathrooms on planes. ![]() And so most times, I'm planning in advance so that I won't need to use the bathroom. Oftentimes, there is no accessible bathroom option in flight. KELSEY IBACH: Yeah, it's extremely difficult, especially for domestic flights in the United States. Kelsey Ibach is a wheelchair user who says that flying means limiting her fluid intake. But for people with disabilities, it can be an ordeal.
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