Texas musician Cody Blackbird just hit a frustrating reality tied to his disability. While attempting to fly from Dallas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Southwest Airlines, he found himself removed from the flight after requesting a reasonable disability accommodation. The situation has since gained significant traction online, with his posts on Instagram and Facebook racking up over 250,000 views as he highlights the lack of awareness regarding federal disability rights.
The issue began when Blackbird placed his carry-on and backpack in the overhead bin. He explained that he requires the space under the seat in front of him due to a specific medical need. When a flight attendant asked him to move his backpack under the seat, he informed the crew that he had an “ADA” reason to keep the space clear. He also told the crew he was not comfortable discussing his private medical information in front of a full plane.
