07/07/2025
MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 July 2025
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Wheelchairs – The Need for Change
By Sam Ren, Perth, Western Australia
My name is Sam Ren, and I live in Perth, Western Australia. I have cerebral palsy and use a customised electric wheelchair that I control with head switches. This wheelchair isn’t just how I move—it’s how I live. It’s my freedom, my independence, and my safety. But every time I board an airplane, I’m forced to give that up.
Currently, airline policy requires all powered wheelchairs to be stored in the cargo hold. Passengers like me must be transferred—often uncomfortably and unsafely—into standard seats that don’t meet our physical needs. The process is invasive, often painful, and completely outdated. No other form of public transport treats people this way. On buses, trains, and ferries, we can remain in our wheelchairs, safely secured. So why not airplanes?
Flying with an electric wheelchair is more than just difficult—it’s a risk. These chairs are complex and expensive. Baggage handlers, though well-meaning, often aren’t trained to handle them properly. They get damaged. And when that happens, it’s not just frustrating—it can be life-altering.
Last year, I flew to Queensland for an assistive technology conference. But I couldn’t take my electric chair. We were too afraid it would be damaged. So I had to use a manual chair instead, which left me dependent on others and unable to move freely.
Cruising is the only type of travel that currently accommodates my needs safely and comfortably. But even that is becoming harder. My friend Kieran and I have dreamed of cruising again—something we haven’t done in over eight years. But cruise ships no longer depart and return from Fremantle like they used to. Most sailings now leave from Sydney, Melbourne, or Queensland. And that means flying—something that, for me, is nearly impossible.
That’s why I’m inspired by the work of All Wheels Up, a U.S.-based advocacy organisation pushing for inclusive airline seating that lets wheelchair users remain in their chairs onboard. Their work proves that accessible flying is possible. We just need the will to make it happen.
It’s 2025. The technology already exists to secure wheelchairs safely in cabins—just like we do on buses and trains. The airline industry must recognise powered wheelchairs for what they are: not baggage, but essential mobility aids that cannot be checked like luggage. We need onboard wheelchair spaces. We need proper training for staff. And we need regulations that put dignity, safety, and equality first.
People with disabilities deserve the same freedom to travel as everyone else—without having to risk their safety, comfort, or independence. We are not asking for luxury. We’re asking for access.
Let’s make the skies accessible. Let’s make the change.
Contact:
Sam Ren
Perth, Western Australia
📧 samrenproductions@gmail.com
Note: I have a speech impairment and do not use a phone. For any face-to-face meetings or interviews, I am happy to speak via Microsoft Teams with the support of my occupational therapist, John, who can assist with communication. Thank you for respecting my communication needs.
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For further comment, images, or interview requests, please reach out via email.
