Transportation

For travelers with disabilities, a trip through the airport can involve challenges that many other passengers never have to consider. Finding the right assistance, navigating crowded terminals or managing sensory sensitivities can turn an ordinary travel day into a difficult experience. At San Antonio International Airport, the people who understand those challenges firsthand are helping shape a more accessible future.

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) has earned statewide recognition for its efforts to make air travel more inclusive. The airport's Accessibility Focus Group has been selected to receive the 2026 Martha Arbuckle Award, part of the Lex Frieden Employment Awards presented by the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities.

The recognition comes as SAT continues planning its future Terminal C while expanding accessibility improvements throughout its existing facilities. For San Antonio families, older adults, travelers with disabilities and those who need additional support, the effort is about making air travel safer, easier and more independent.

San Antonio Airport Accessibility Focus Group Helps Shape Future Terminal C

Rather than waiting until construction is complete to address accessibility concerns, San Antonio International Airport invited community members with firsthand experience to help guide the planning and design process.

The Accessibility Focus Group brought together 35 community representatives, including 25 individuals with disabilities, people with lived experience or medical-service professionals.

Over 10 months, participants identified barriers and developed more than 160 recommendations covering terminal design, customer service, technology and airport operations.

The recommendations reflect challenges that travelers may encounter throughout an airport visit, from arriving at the terminal to navigating facilities and accessing passenger services.

Miguel Castro, chair of the City of San Antonio's Disability Access Advisory Committee (DAAC), participated in the initiative and shared how important firsthand experience was to the process.

“As a wheelchair user and person with significant disabilities, I was able to provide firsthand insight into the barriers travelers with disabilities face in airports,” Castro said. “Throughout this process, we not only identified challenges but also shaped practical solutions to better serve our disability community. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the design process, and I’m impressed by the collaboration of the DAAC, Disability Access Office and San Antonio International Airport in creating a model that can elevate accessibility across airports nationwide.”

The airport's approach places community participation at the beginning of major infrastructure planning, giving people with disabilities an opportunity to influence decisions before facilities are built.

Accessibility Improvements Are Already Making a Difference at SAT

Although the Accessibility Focus Group was established to help guide Terminal C, its work is already influencing the passenger experience.

Recommendations that could be implemented immediately were incorporated into the Terminal A Expansion, which opened in March 2026, and existing airport operations.

The expansion includes ADA-compliant ground-loading ramps, family and companion restrooms, a service animal relief area, bilingual digital signage and a sensory room designed to provide a calmer environment for travelers who need it.

These additions build on accessibility features already available at SAT, including automatic doors, ramps, elevators with Braille buttons, accessible ticket counters, restrooms, drinking fountains, ATMs and public seating areas.

For travelers who rely on mobility assistance or accessible facilities, these features are an important part of navigating the airport with greater independence.

Tim O'Krongley, deputy aviation director, led the airport's collaboration with the Accessibility Focus Group.

“With accessibility one of our core operational pillars, we’re committed to removing barriers so every traveler can navigate SAT with greater ease, independence and confidence,” O'Krongley said. “This partnership has helped us think differently about the passenger experience and will have lasting impacts on Terminal C and how we approach accessibility across the entire airport.”

What Accessibility Services Does San Antonio International Airport Offer?

While the statewide award recognizes the airport's future planning, San Antonio travelers may be surprised to learn how many accessibility services are already available.

SAT provides a variety of accommodations for passengers with physical, sensory, hearing and visual disabilities, as well as families traveling with infants, older adults and individuals who may need additional assistance.

Sensory Room Provides a Quiet Space for Travelers

For passengers who experience sensory overload, crowded airport terminals can be especially challenging.

SAT offers a dedicated Sensory Room in Terminal A near Gate A2, providing a quieter setting for passengers with sensory processing difficulties, disabilities or other accessibility needs.

The room is available 24 hours a day, and travelers do not need a reservation or special authorization to use it.

The space can be particularly helpful for families traveling with children who have sensory sensitivities or anyone who needs a break from the airport's activity.

Free Aira Assistance for Blind and Low-Vision Travelers

San Antonio International Airport also provides complimentary access to Aira, a service that helps blind and low-vision passengers navigate their surroundings.

Through the Aira mobile app, users connect with trained remote agents who provide real-time visual information and navigation assistance.

Passengers do not need a paid subscription to access Aira services while at SAT.

For additional information, travelers can visit the Aira website or call 1-800-835-1934. 

Sunflower Lanyard Program Supports Travelers With Hidden Disabilities

Not every disability is immediately visible, and some passengers may need additional assistance without feeling comfortable explaining their circumstances to airport employees.

SAT participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative, which allows travelers to wear a sunflower lanyard to discreetly communicate that they may need extra time, patience or assistance.

The program supports individuals with a wide range of non-visible disabilities and conditions, including autism, ADHD, cognitive disabilities, hearing impairments and chronic health conditions.

Participation is voluntary, no medical documentation is required, and travelers do not have to disclose their disability.

Free Sunflower Lanyards can be requested by contacting aviterminalmanagement@sanantonio.gov, calling 210-207-3812, submitting a request through the airport's website or visiting an SAT Airport Information Desk. Lanyards can be picked up at the Terminal A information booth.

SAT's Altitude Inclusion Program Helps Travelers Prepare for Flying

For someone who has never flown, or who experiences anxiety about navigating an airport, understanding what to expect can make a meaningful difference.

SAT's Altitude Inclusion Program helps individuals with disabilities or flight anxiety become more comfortable with the airport experience before an actual trip.

Participants are guided through the travel process, from check-in to boarding, allowing them to become familiar with procedures and environments that might otherwise feel overwhelming.

The airport hosts sessions several times throughout the year and offers a waitlist for individuals interested in attending a future session.

Travelers can find enrollment information through the airport's official accessibility webpage.

Wheelchair Assistance, Accessible Parking and Family Amenities at SAT

Additional services are available for passengers who need mobility assistance, accessible transportation or family accommodations.

Travelers requiring wheelchair assistance can arrange the service at no charge through their airline. SAT recommends contacting the airline before traveling, although passengers with immediate needs or after-hours requests can call 210-207-3433. 

Accessible parking is available in both the Long Term and Short Term parking garages for vehicles displaying the appropriate identification. Courtesy phones are also available in the Long Term Parking Garage for travelers needing assistance.

Passengers requiring wheelchair-accessible ground transportation should make arrangements before arriving at the airport. SAT identifies Alamo City Taxi, National Cab and Yellow Cab as companies offering ADA transportation services.

The airport also provides family restrooms in Terminals A and B, including changing facilities and seating for adults and children. An adult changing station is available in Terminal B near Gate B3.

Lactation rooms are available in the Terminal A ticket lobby, near Gates A2 and A1A, and in the Terminal B food court.

For passengers with hearing disabilities, SAT provides TTY telephones in designated locations throughout both terminals, along with baggage belt start-up alarms and flashing lights in the baggage claim area.

Travelers with disabilities or medical conditions can also use the Transportation Security Administration's TSA Cares program to prepare for security screening and request additional assistance.

Together, these services reflect the airport's efforts to accommodate passengers with different needs throughout the travel experience.

Why SAT's Martha Arbuckle Award Matters Beyond San Antonio

The Martha Arbuckle Award recognizes innovative local initiatives that create meaningful improvements for people with disabilities.

Named in memory of Martha Arbuckle, an Austin disability rights advocate, the award honors programs demonstrating inclusion, community impact and approaches that other organizations can adopt.

SAT's Accessibility Focus Group was recognized not only for the recommendations it developed, but also for how those recommendations were created.

The initiative emphasizes involving people with disabilities early in a project, developing partnerships with community representatives, examining the complete passenger experience and maintaining collaboration throughout design, construction and operations.

Airport officials have shared the approach at national and international conferences, offering other airports an example of how accessibility planning can benefit from direct community participation.

For San Antonio, the recognition also highlights the role local residents can play in shaping public infrastructure that serves thousands of travelers.

What's Next for San Antonio International Airport's Accessibility Improvements?

The 2026 Lex Frieden Employment Awards ceremony is scheduled for October 21 in McKinney, Texas, where SAT's Accessibility Focus Group will receive its statewide recognition.

Meanwhile, accessibility remains one of four guiding priorities for SAT's broader terminal development program, alongside sustainability, customer experience and a sense of place.

Plans for airport improvements include accessible restrooms, service animal accommodations, wheelchair-friendly facilities, enhanced passenger assistance and technology intended to make navigation easier for travelers with disabilities.

Beyond Terminal C, additional renovations are underway for Terminals A and B, with work planned through 2030. The modernization program includes restroom improvements, updated passenger areas and accessibility upgrades to existing facilities.

The airport also continues to welcome public feedback. Travelers who encounter accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvements can submit comments through SAT's online feedback system by selecting ADA Accessibility as the feedback category.

For San Antonio residents, the statewide recognition is a reminder that community participation can influence how public spaces are designed and improved.

The travelers who contributed to the Accessibility Focus Group brought perspectives that cannot always be captured through architectural plans or technical assessments alone. Their experiences are helping guide decisions that may benefit passengers for years to come.

As San Antonio International Airport continues to grow, the effort represents an investment not only in new buildings and passenger amenities, but also in making sure more people can travel with confidence.

Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for updates on San Antonio International Airport's Terminal C development, airport improvements and community initiatives making San Antonio more accessible for everyone.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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