Avery Ottenbreit, 15. (right) with her family after finally arriving home.The Ottawa Citizen reported that Avery Ottenbreit, a teen with cerebral palsy stranded in Ottawa, Canada, because WestJet airlines said the harness she uses on her wheelchair didn't meet flight regulations, returned to Regina via air ambulance July 3.
"It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," said her father Randy Ottenbreit, from his home in Regina. "We've flown all over the place; we have used this device on all kinds of carriers."
Avery, who has cerebral palsy, flew to Ottawa June 27 for the Active Living Alliance Conference for Youth with Disabilities, but on the return flight, the airlines said the harness did not allow Avery to move into the "help" position - bent over, hands clasping knees - if the plane were in distress.
Disability advocates in Canada criticized Avery's treatment by WestJet.
Michael Richter, the executive director of the South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre, said a Leader Post story: "Avery's harness would definitely be considered a personal disability aid. The denial of its use could be considered discriminatory under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
Faith Bodnar, the executive director for the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living, added: "WestJet needs to realize that this is a human rights issue with her rights to travel and they have a duty to accommodate her. Unless they want to recognize her rights as any Canadian citizen to travel and the duty to accommodate her, they risk having these kinds of things taken through the courts."
