A week ago I read a New York Times story that angered me--"Rolling Past a Line, Often Exploiting a Rule" published on October 3. Here is the link:
 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/nyregion/a-few-passengers-use-wheelchairs-to-avoid-airport-lines.html?pagewanted=1&smid=re-share&_r=0

Apparently a new term has emerged when dealing with passengers in an airport terminal that request a wheelchair--"miracle flights". I have never heard this term but I have seen people who request a wheelchair and most likely do not need one. Some airports (not all) allow people with a disability, usually a wheelchair user, to go to the front of the security line. This supposedly great advantage does not happen every time I fly but it is not out of the norm. According to the New York Times:

In the modern airport experience, where the tedium of long lines, sudden delays and ever-more-invasive security checks is the norm, little can be done to avoid the frustrations increasingly endemic to travel. So it may be an expected, if uncomfortable, fact that some travelers appear to exploit perhaps the only remaining loophole to a breezy airport experience — the line-cutting privileges given to people who request airport wheelchairs, for which no proof of a disability is required.

I have not had a "breezy airport experience" in decades. The author of the article is very clear--not waiting on the security line is a significant perk. However, what the author utterly fails to mention is the downside to this policy to people like me who are paralyzed. There are no "miracles" for me. I am at the mercy of overworked, underpaid, and poorly trained employees. Thus when I read, "While wheelchair users face the same T.S.A. rigmarole as other passengers, their trip through security is often expedited," I was taken aback. I can assure you my passage through airport security has never been expedited. Never, as in not once. In fact I would estimate it takes me at minimum twice as long long to get through security. To state people with a disability are subject to the "same T.S.A. rigmarole" is grossly misleading. This is what I experience. I take off my shoes, belt, and personal items  and place them in a plastic container. I put my single small carry on bag and computer in separate containers. As I approach the entrance my items go through the xray machine. Here is where things goes awry. I approach a glass door between machines and catch the eye of a TSA agent. This person speaks very loudly telling me to wait. He then yells "male assist." I wait for anywhere from 5 minutes to 10 minutes for a"male assist" to appear. When this person ambles over he is often bored and disinterested. Once in a while the TSA agent is openly hostile, clearly I have ruined his day. I am asked "can you walk at all". I reply "no". Some TSA agents will then roll their eyes at this response. The TSA agent asks "do want to be patted down in a private room". I reply no. I am then escorted to an area where I am not within the flow of passenger traffic. I am also far away from my bag, wallet, phone, and computer--a perfect opportunity for my things to walk off (I have lost quite a few cell phone chargers this way and I would never dream of bringing my ipad with me). I am told to wait while the TSA agent walks off in search of gloves. He returns and explains I will be pat down. The pat down can be thorough, as in I am being arrested and searched for deadly weapons or cursory, as in this is a waste of time and energy. In recent months I am sure to fold the air valve under my cushion. Since last summer if the TSA sees this valve I am subjected to intense inspection by a supervisor. My entire body is frisked. Frisk complete I am then asked yet again can you stand. I reply no, more rolling of the eye--I am obviously a lazy shit in the estimation of the TSA. Once again the TSA agent walks away, comes back with a small pad to test for explosive residue. The small white pad is wiped all over my wheelcahir. Yet again the TSA agent walks away and returns. Total elapsed time--on a good day at non rush hour time at best 10 minutes. On a busy day, lets say Friday evening at 7PM when every miserably tired business man or woman wants to get home, it will take at least 30 minutes. When I am at last on my own, I go find my bags that have been left unattended and hope nothing has been stolen.

The above does not fall into the "expedited" category in my experience. Too bad the author did not consider the ramifications of people who lie about needing a wheelchair. The diversion of labor makes my experience as a paralyzed man all the more difficult.  Those hired to assist me on and off a plane assume I can walk. When it becomes clear I cannot walk--not even a little bit--they appear perplexed and hopelessly confused. The fact is airlines are hostile to people who use a wheelchair. In the post 9/11 era my expectations are exceedingly low. I want one thing from the airlines: to not be targeted for abuse. In other words I assume service will be subpar, airline employees over worked, stressed out, and miserable. I do not expect any food, a clean airplane or nice terminal. I simply want to get from point A to point B without being harassed.