In a disturbing incident, Suzy Dahan Fahima, a woman with deafblindness, was denied boarding a KLM flight solely due to her disability. Despite four decades of traveling independently worldwide, she was suddenly barred from boarding by the pilot at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport. Her story sheds light on the discrimination faced by people with deafblindness, exposing how such experiences contradict the principles upheld by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which strives for equal rights and freedoms for all persons with disabilities, including those with deafblindness.
“After 40 years of traveling independently without issues, I am suddenly not allowed to fly?” Suzy expressed, devastated by the experience. “I am furious and deeply hurt.” The incident has disrupted her life and brought about a profound sense of exclusion. “The feeling that I can no longer travel independently has literally taken away my freedom,” she shared.
Suzy was born with Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that combines deafness and progressive vision loss. As a deaf woman since birth, she led a full and independent life, establishing her own successful businesses, volunteering, and raising her family. Throughout her life, she overcame barriers to live on her own terms. “I have always taken care of myself and others,” she explained. “My disabilities have never defined or held me back.”
This was not the first time Suzy had flown since her vision deteriorated, yet for reasons never previously questioned, she was deemed a “liability” by the pilot. She reflects on the moment, saying, “What an insult! As if I am a danger because of my disabilities.” Everything had been arranged, and assistance was already in place at both airports. Yet, KLM denied her boarding twice, leaving her feeling powerless and devastated. “I feel powerless and sad because, apparently, I am no longer allowed to fly without assistance,” she shares.
When a subsequent El Al flight finally accepted her, Suzy learned that even this arrangement was contingent on having a fellow traveler—an accommodation made through last-minute arrangements unknown to her. This discovery added further insult to injury. “I nearly fell off my chair in disbelief,” she said, realizing that she had only been allowed to fly due to someone else’s perceived “supervision” of her.
Reflecting on her lifelong fight for independence, Suzy expresses her frustration at being forced into a position of dependency. “The idea that I am dependent on others to travel to Israel, while I have done this independently for years, makes me sad and angry,” she said. The discrimination Suzy experienced epitomizes the barriers that people with disabilities continue to face in accessing basic rights.
This story represents more than just one individual’s experience; it showcases a systemic issue affecting many with disabilities who are restricted by arbitrary policies and biases. Suzy now advocates for the creation of a “green card” system, which would certify her ability to travel independently without interference from airlines. “Flying is not difficult for me,” she noted. “It’s just a matter of sitting, waiting until we land, and being picked up again by an airport assistant. It’s not that complicated.”
Her experience demonstrates a failure to respect the dignity and autonomy of persons with disabilities, in clear violation of CRPD principles. As Suzy says, “This is pure discrimination… Airlines should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their disability.”
Suzy’s story is a call for change, not only for herself but for all people with disabilities who are denied their basic rights. It is a power reminder of the barriers they face daily, the struggles they endure, and the rights that must be respected. She hopes her testimony will lead to reforms that ensure people with disabilities are treated with the respect, dignity, and equality they deserve, as stated in the CRPD. “I want nothing more than for this situation to improve,” Suzy declares, demanding an end to such exclusionary practices.
Suzy’s experience urges us all to confront these injustices and work toward a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can live freely and travel with dignity.
We thank Suzy for sharing her story with us. You can download Suzy’s full testimony here.