Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Month: Disabilities and Medical Conditions - TSA Pre✓® vs Standard Screening

Sep 18, 2026

Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Month guidance explains screening options for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions, comparing TSA Pre✓® eligibility with standard screening. It outlines what to do at the start of screening, how to communicate needs to TSA officers, and how assistive devices and mobility challenges may affect screening. The instructions also describe items that are generally not required or required to remove, plus recommended steps to expedite the process. TSA Cares resources are provided for advance communication.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

WHAT TO KNOW

TSA Cares

Passenger Support Specialists

Planning Your Trip

Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Month: Disabilities and Medical Conditions | TSA Pre✓® | Standard Screening | | --- | --- | | Travelers eligible for TSA Pre✓®:
o Proceed to the TSA Pre✓® line ;
o Present your boarding pass and government-issued ID to the TSA travel document checker;
o The TSA travel document checker will scan your boarding pass barcode.
At the beginning of screening:
o Passengers may use TSA’s notification card to communicate discreetly with TSA officers. However, showing this card, or other medical documentation, will not exempt a passenger from screening.
o Inform the TSA officer if you:
􀂃 have a preferred mode of communication;
􀂃 have assistive devices that need to be screened;
􀂃 have difficulty walking or standing alone and need assistance; | Travelers not eligible for TSA Pre✓®:
o Proceed to the standard screening line;
o Present your boarding pass and government-issued ID to the TSA travel document checker;
o The TSA travel document checker will scan your boarding pass barcode.
At the beginning of screening:
o Passengers may use TSA’s disability notification card to communicate discreetly with TSA officers. However, showing this card, or other medical documentation, will not exempt a passenger from screening.
o Inform the TSA officer if you:
􀂃 have a preferred mode of communication;
􀂃 have assistive devices that need to be screened;
􀂃 have difficulty walking or standing alone and need assistance; | Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Month: Disabilities and Medical Conditions | TSA Pre✓® | Standard Screening | | --- | --- | | 􀂃 have difficulty raising your arms;
􀂃 have medically-necessary liquids or other medications that need to be screened. These should be separated from other carry-on items;
􀂃 have any pain or medical complications that could happen if touched;
􀂃 would like to move to the front of the screening line;
􀂃 would like private screening if a pat-down is provided.
During the screening process:
o Generally, TSA Pre✓® lines are shorter and have less wait times.
o If eligible, passengers may be screened using advanced imaging technology, or a walk-through metal detector, or they may be screened using a pat-down.
Not required to remove:
o Belt | 􀂃 have difficulty raising your arms;
􀂃 have medically-necessary liquids or other medications that need to be screened. These should be separated from other carry-on items;
􀂃 have any pain or medical complications that could happen if touched;
􀂃 would like to move to the front of the screening line;
􀂃 would like private screening if a pat-down is provided.
During the screening process:
o Generally, passengers experience longer lines depending on the date and time of travel.
o If eligible, passengers may be screened using advanced imaging technology, or a walk-through-metal detector, or they may be screened using a pat-down.
Required to remove:
o Belt
o Shoes | Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Month: Disabilities and Medical Conditions | TSA Pre✓® | Standard Screening | | --- | --- | | o Shoes
o Jacket/Coat/Light Outerwear
o 3-1-1 compliant bag
o Laptop and large electronics from carry-on
o CPAP/BPAP
It is recommended that you remove items from your pockets to expedite the screening process and minimize the opportunity for additional screening. | o Jackets/Coats/Light outerwear
o 3-1-1 compliant bag
o Medically necessary liquids
o Laptop and large electronics from carry-on
o Video cameras that use video cassettes
o CPAP/BPAP
It is recommended that you remove items from your pockets to expedite the screening process and minimize the opportunity for additional screening. | Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Month: Disabilities and Medical Conditions WHAT TO KNOW • TSA Cares: o TSA Cares is a toll-free helpline (1-855-787-2227 or Federal Relay \#711), available for pas

FAQs

What should a traveler do at the beginning of TSA screening for a disability or medical condition?

Communicate specific needs to the TSA officer before or at the beginning of screening, including preferred communication mode and any assistive devices or mobility limitations. Using the TSA notification card can help communicate discreetly, but it does not exempt a passenger from screening.

How do TSA Pre✓® lines generally differ from standard screening lines?

TSA Pre✓® lines are generally shorter with less wait time. Eligible passengers may receive screening using advanced imaging or a walk-through metal detector, or may be screened using a pat-down.

Which items may be required to remove during standard screening?

Standard screening may require removing items such as belts and shoes. Additional items listed for removal include jackets/coats/light outerwear, 3-1-1 compliant bags, laptops and large electronics, video cassette-based cameras, and CPAP/BPAP, depending on the item and screening requirements.

Sep 18, 2026

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