Disability in 2012: Hayleigh Barclay

The athletes are on the blocks, the tension is palpable, and - bang - they’re off as the roar of the crowd reverberates around the Olympic stadium.

There’s nothing quite like a live event to get the blood pumping is there? That’s why so many of us applied for tickets to watch the Paralympics. Right now, sports mad fans from around the world are flying into London, eager to see elite paralympians at the top of their game.

Access to air travel

But what happens when you can’t fly? Hayleigh Barclay, 24, from Scotland didn’t even bother applying for tickets. “I’ll be watching from my sitting room, she says. “It’s not the same, of course, but I didn’t fancy spending hours on a cramped train.”

The last time Hayleigh flew to London she was 12 years old. Back then, she could move from her wheelchair into an airline seat without too much difficulty. Then her condition changed: “I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy which means I have severely weak muscles and scoliosis of the spine,” she says. “Now I can’t get out of my wheelchair, it’s just too painful.”

The Paralympics

“The Paralympics celebrates the talents of disabled people - talents which are often overlooked. But so many disabled people can’t fly to London to be part of this significant event. It’s a huge loss for us and it’s a huge loss for tourism in London.”

It’s almost unbelievable that in an era of ever-advancing technology, no clever boffin has designed a plane which can secure passengers sitting in their own wheelchairs. Yet it’s true. And it’s stopping many thousands of disabled people from exploring the world.

“Airlines say it’s to do with safety regulations,” explains Hayleigh who is a student at the University of West Scotland. “But the safety regulators say if a design was available, they would test it. It’s a total grey area. Someone needs to take responsibility.”

Not being able to fly means Hayleigh misses out on holidays in far-flung places. “My family has been to America and Canada without me. But they felt so guilty, it almost ruined their time away,” she says.

Rather than get angry, Hayleigh has channelled her energy into the Plane Fair campaign. “I’ve written to several airlines, MPs, and the aviation authority to demand action,” she says. “I explain that part of the world is shut out to me. I don’t want someone putting a limitation on where I can go and the experiences I can have.”

Petition on access to air travel

Hayleigh has also started a Facebook petition. “I want as many people as possible to sign,” she says. “It’s a matter of empathy. Imagine how you would feel if you had a passport but couldn’t fly?”

So, once aeroplanes are accessible to all, where will Hayleigh go first? “I dream of going to New York,” she says. “More than, I dream of the next generation of disabled people being able to fly where they want, when they want. If we act now, this dream can become a reality."